23rd July 2026
9th of Av, Tisha b’Av
Shabbat Shalom dear friends. We are back!
Today is Tisha B'Av, a day of fasting and remembrance. For
thousands of years, Jews have mourned the tragedies that have befallen our
people — from the destruction of the First and Second Temples to the
expulsions, persecutions and ultimately the horrors of the Holocaust. Yet one
lesson our history should teach us is never to belittle the suffering of
others. That thought was very much on my mind during our visit to Kosovo.
Our friend Damian, together with his lovely partner Brickela,
collected us from our hotel for the 400-kilometre journey across the border
from Albania into Kosovo. Kosovo is a beautiful country, but one that still
carries deep scars from the 1999 war with Serbia.
Brickela's family lived through that war, and hearing her speak
about it through her tears, brought their history painfully to life. She spoke
of slaughter, rape, burned homes and families forced to flee. As I listened, I
was struck by how hatred so often follows the same dreadful path. The horrors
of 7th October remain our own terrible wound, but recognising the suffering of
others does not diminish it. If anything, it reminds us that innocent people
everywhere pay the price when hatred is allowed to flourish. The memorials of
Kosovo speak quietly of a grief that still endures and, thanks to Brickela,
became far more than names on a monument.
Another thing struck me. Although Kosovo is an independent country,
it remains staunchly Albanian. Albanian flags are everywhere. If there is a
wedding, the invitees decorate their cars with Albanian flags and drive in
procession through the streets. It is not a question of dual loyalty; rather, a
recognition of shared history, language and peoplehood. Watching it, I understood
instinctively. Thoroughly exhausted by the end of the day; from 08:30 until
02:00 the next day with 800 kilometres under our belts we understood that
history experienced is thoroughly different from history in the news, Who
should understand that better than Israelis?
One lesson stayed with me throughout our travels in Albania, Kosovo
and Azerbaijan. These are predominantly Muslim countries, yet everywhere we
encountered warmth, hospitality and a quiet acceptance of people who may pray
differently or come from different backgrounds. It made me wonder whether some
Western societies, so quick to lecture others about tolerance, might have
something to learn from them.
So what’s been happening since our return?
Jewish settlers, extremists, set fire to a mosque near Hebron. I
wonder what the Jewish world would say if it was the opposite and Palestinians
set fire to the Jewish Synagogue in near Hebron
There comes a point when difficult questions can no longer be
avoided. This week, groups of Haredi protesters once again blocked the entrance
to Jerusalem, threatened passers-by and brought parts of the country to a
standstill. Their anger is directed at military service, yet many refuse even
to attend the recruitment centres to obtain the exemptions to which they may be
entitled. I say this as someone who loves Judaism, values Torah learning and
respects those who dedicate their lives to it, but there is nothing Jewish
about intimidation, threats or treating fellow Jews as enemies. A country at
war cannot function if entire sectors insist that the burdens of citizenship
belong only to others. Faith deserves respect; so, do responsibility and the
rule of law. Surely Tisha b’Av is the time to fight together not each other.
Iran has been firing missiles at most of the countries surrounding
it, the countries of the Gulf which include Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the Emirates
and for two days running they have been firing at Aqaba, the Jordanian port on
the Red Sea. It is as if they are waving a red flag at the United States while
all of us pray that it will not come to an all out war. What drives the
Ayatollahs? Is it desperation or are they ready to take on the world? What
drives them to attack other Muslim countries when we know that Islam
specifically decries such action? What is the advantage of Turkey, or should I
say of Erdogan, in joining their confrontation while currying favour with Trump?
While the threat of Iran looms, things are warming up on the
election front and rhetoric is rife, as it always is when faced by politics! What
party will win I do not know, although I hope it will be led by an honest man
or woman who cares deeply about our country and cares less about their own
position.
Just by the way, Mamdani’s threats to arrest the Israeli Prime
Minister are not only empty threats they bear no resemblance to the policies of
New York. NYC has the reputation of accepting all, now there is yet another
stain on that glorious city’s reputation.
One issue Israel must address honestly is the relationship between
its Jewish and Arab citizens.
While having dinner in Tirana, we found ourselves sitting beside a
delightful family. "Where are you from?" we asked. Rather hesitantly,
the husband replied, "Israel," as though he was unsure what reaction
he might receive. We laughed and immediately switched into Hebrew. The next
question, of course, was where in Israel. Again, somewhat cautiously, they told
us they were from Sachnin and hoped to move to Carmiel. Lina is a lawyer with
the Israeli State Attorney’s Office and Mohammed is a mechanical engineer. As
we wished them luck, they shared a painful story. They had found an apartment,
agreed a price and reached the final stage of the purchase. Then, they told us,
the sellers saw the name Mohammed and withdrew from the sale.
I found myself wondering how we would react if the story were
reversed. Israel's Arab citizens are doctors, dentists, nurses, lawyers,
engineers, teachers, judges and soldiers. They are part of the fabric of this
country. We do not have to agree on everything to recognise a simple truth: a
society is judged not by how it treats those who are like us, but by how it
treats those who are not. 78 years after Independence we must recognise that
every single Israeli citizen, with the exception of criminals, is an essential part
of our society and just as we demand that Jews should be accepted as equal
wherever they may live in the world.
Lake Kinneret has many names and so does its most famous fish.
Christians know it as St Peter's Fish, Arabic-speaking fishermen call it Musht (comb
in Arabic) because of its comb-like fin, in Hebrew it is Amnon, you may know it
as Tilapia. Whatever the name, it brought back memories of my very first visit
to Israel in 1963. I crossed the lake by boat to Ein Gev, then living under the
shadow of Syrian guns on the Golan Heights, and there ate my first Musht. What
caught my attention this week, however, was not the fish but the fisherman.
Menachem Lev has been fishing the waters of the Kinneret for more than forty
years. Once there were hundreds of fishermen on the lake; today he is the last.
In a country that changes so quickly, there is something rather moving about a
man who sets out at dawn to cast his nets, keeping alive a tradition as old as
the lake itself.
So here we are again. The IDF is on high alert, Iran is increasing
its threats to the United States and its closest ally in the region, Israel,
aka the Big Devil and the Little Devil. There may well be another confrontation
ahead of us; in this part of the world, we have learned never to say never. Yet
despite the headlines, despite the threats and despite the uncertainty, I am
enormously relieved to be home. Actually, I’m not relieved to be home, I’m
delighted and thrilled to be home. It may sound strange to those of you who
haven’t been to Israel, but it shouldn't. Israel is where I feel safest, not
because there are no dangers, but because we face them with our eyes open. We
prepare, we protect ourselves and, when necessary, we stand together. That is
why, when we wish each other Shabbat Shalom, we truly mean it.
Finally, the World Cup. We watched the Argentina–England match in
Tirana, surrounded by Argentinian supporters, apart from one English family
whose ten-year-old son proudly wore his England shirt. The football was
competitive but enjoyable until the Argentinian players turned it into a
political statement by displaying a "Malvinas" banner, resurrecting
the Falklands dispute. Fans will always wave flags; international sportsmen
should know better. Spain deservedly won the final, but what followed was
deeply disappointing. Instead of accepting defeat with dignity, several
Argentinian players became involved in ugly confrontations with their Spanish
opponents. What should have been a celebration of football became something
rather less admirable. Instead of being remembered as Messi's moment, it became
Argentina's shame.
My, oops I mean OUR mirpesset (veranda) is blooming! While we were
away Gideon came for a quick visit with his little sister (Rachel) in our otherwise
empty apartment, a rare moment for them both, and they ensured that the irrigation
system was sufficient in the searing heat of an Israeli summer. Gideon enjoyed
one of the delicious apples on the little Ana tree which was so full of
delicious apples that Rachel had to add another bamboo support to stop it
keeling over! The new herb garden was absolutely full of basil, dill, parsley, sage,
rosemary, thyme and the scent greeted me as I neared. All the citrus trees are
either flowering or in various stages of bearing fruit and the hibiscus, oh the
Hibiscus, red, crimson, peach, orange and purple all welcoming us home. The
other herb corner with mint, lemon balm and louisa is growing so fast that they
needed cutting back and what was a dry stick with straggly roots that my lovely
friend Averil gave me is becoming a shesek (loquat) tree that is growing like a
triffid!!
My first song is very tongue in cheek, sung by the excellent Eli
Luzon, complaining about everything, but we wouldn’t live anywhere else! Ayzo
Medina – What a country https://youtu.be/5jRCs94IfEw?si=Q_NUPfdmaFg4HIKi
This song, written in the 70’s for my children’s favourite show
Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat is still so relevant, sung by Donny Osmond
“Close Every Door to Me” Listen
carefully. https://youtu.be/d8reEiq4ui8?si=RJTtHAFvnHcA5Ee_
This last song shows my age from the time I was a flower child and
thought that love could conquer the world Where Have All the Flowers Gone was probably
about the Vietnam War but could have been about any war because sadly there is
always one somewhere. https://youtu.be/ZgXNVA9ngx8?si=dKEg37TfdzA6gEt2
I want to finish by telling you about a very special man, my
brother in law Raymond who passed away yesterday. I still remember the first
time I ever saw him, I was just 11 years old, when my eldest sister Eddie came
home with a handsome, if rather skinny, young man from Manchester and the whole
family fell in love with him. They were married for 69 years and I know few
couples as devoted. I send all my love to Eddie, Paul and Marilyn and to Ruth
and all the grandchildren and great-grandchildren who will miss him horribly.
Sending you wishes for a Shabbat Shalom from our home to yours
Sheila
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