5th of November 2026
25 Cheshvan 5787
Shabbat Shalom everyone! Well, one couldn’t say that this was an
uneventful week in politics! Maybe I’ll start there so that we can look at the
gentler side of life afterwards.
As you know I search for an appropriate quote each week and after
both the USA elections and our own this seemed to say it all “Let us not seek
the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us
not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility
for the future.” John F. Kennedy
Whatever side of the political aisle we stand on, democracy means
accepting the results of a free and fair election — and remembering how
fortunate we are to have the freedom to choose our leaders at all. But this
election tsunami in the United States leaves me both concerned and wondering
what it is really telling us. Is it simply a reaction to the current President
and his policies, or is something deeper happening in American society? How
much responsibility lies with the media, and how much with a genuine desire for
change? And what should we make of the election of candidates such as Abdul
El-Sayed, now the first Muslim elected to the US Senate, and the re-election of
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez? Is this a warning sign, or perhaps democracy doing
exactly what democracy is meant to do, giving voters the power to decide, even
when the result makes many of us uncomfortable? I don't pretend to know the
answer, but I think we would be wise to listen carefully to what America is
telling us.
However, my 17 year old grandson, Zachary, who understands politics
far better than 99.99% of this world’s population, believes that Jon Ossoff is
a future star on the American political map. Ossoff is the 39 year old rising
star Senator for Georgia. An interesting prognosis Zac.
I am confused about the apparent decisions of both Trump and
Netanyahu to end the supposed “aid” to Israel. Virtually every penny goes on
buying (i.e. exchanging) aid for arms and planes. In other words no cash, just
jobs created in the US industry. American Aid to Israel which amounts to
several billions, is almost exclusively used to buy American Military and
aircraft. I just don’t understand the point.
JD Vance blames all of the
above on Israel.
And so to our own politics; where to begin? Our election results
are, as always, complicated by the extraordinary number of parties, and now
comes the even more complicated business of trying to put together a
government. Oh, how I wish we could simply have a handful of parties, representing
the interests of the country rather than their own particular sector! I
remember the British system, where voting for an individual constituency MP
brought a very direct sense of responsibility to the people who elected you.
Our system is rather different — wonderfully democratic, certainly, but
sometimes it feels as though we need a degree in political mathematics just to
understand who is going to govern us!
Yesterday, the 4th of November, reminded me of the
danger of slander in political campaigns and the ensuing incitement. Yesterday
was 31 years since Israel lost its innocence. 31 years since the assassination
of Yitzchak Rabin after a peace rally in Tel Aviv. The campaign of the right,
posters of Rabin wearing a kaffiah; an ugly rally in Jerusalem when the current
Prime Minister stood on the balcony of the Hotel Ron in Jerusalem to address
the crowd as the mob below chanted “Death to Rabin”. In another demonstration
they carried a coffin with Yitzchak Rabin’s name. The inevitable happened and the generational
grief has never really disappeared.
The 2nd of November, 1917 was a day of hope, written in
a letter to Lord Rothschild by one Lord Balfour announcing support for a
"national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine. It was the first
time a major world power backed a Jewish national home in Ottoman-controlled
Palestine, elevating the movement to an international objective. A brilliant
scientist, a need for acetone during wartime and the ability of that scientist
to swim in the sea of the British aristocracy brought about the Balfour
Declaration. Chaim Weizman brought the need for a Jewish state to those who
mattered just weeks before General Allenby defeated the Ottoman control of Palestine
On the other hand today is the 5th of November,
gunpowder, treason and plot!! Guy Fawkes, lauded for an unfortunate attempt to
blow up the British Houses of Parliament! Bonfires, potatoes roasting in the
fire, children laughing and lots of fireworks. I wonder how many remember the
political significance?
I think I told you about my lovely friend Bryan Isaacs and his incredible
relationship with Magen David Adom, the Israeli ambulance service. A short
while ago Bryan donated an ambulance in the name of his beloved late wife Helga
and this week, MDA brought the ambulance from Tiberias to Tel Aviv and told
Bryan that since he brought it to Israel in March 2025, it has answered no less
than 4,200 calls. What a wonderful contribution Bryan.
Boy George, is Catholic by birth, Gay by choice, British and
supports Israel. He’s in Israel now and loving it. It isn’t his first time but
I loved his response to showbusiness critics, regarding political nonconformity
vs. blind repetition. Criticizing fellow artists and cultural figures who
repeat slogans without critical independent thought, he wrote that he would not
be "another 'Free Palestine' parrot” He visited the Nova Festival Memorial
site, prayed at the Western Wall, met with President Herzog, travelled around
and then last night gave a huge concert in Tel Aviv.
This week’s Torah reading is the only one which is named for a
woman. Chayei Sara, the life of Sara. Sara, wife of Abraham was said to give
birth to her first child at the age of 90 and was a truly pure person. Through
her and husband Abraham the Jewish Dynasty, the Tribes of Israel began, but
through her husband Abraham and his concubine Hagar, the Tribe of Mohammed
began. We were surely destined to be as one, to be family rather than dire
enemies.
The time has almost arrived! I am excited beyond words because
Yosef, Yosef Eliahu, my first grandchild, is about to get married to his
Tsofia! In just three days he will be a married man, he will have broken the
glass and made his promises, he will have slipped a ring, bought with his own
money on her right forefinger and promise to be a good husband, to care for her
and cherish her, and it’s all written down in the Ketuba (the marriage
contract). I am excited beyond words. My incredible friend Valerie is already
here and were having fun (more about that in a moment), Rachel’s father Philip
and his wife Barbara, Marylin and Marcos, are ensconced in the hotel; tomorrow
Gideon and Zachary land from London at the same time as Martin lands from
Madrid, Richard from London and Justin (Paddy) Raffi and I am so thrilled for
Yosef. He is a truly good young man, ready to help anyone, kind and polite…..not
that I am biased!
OK so I told you that Valerie and I were having fun, but so much
beyond our usual ability to laugh at the same jokes, today we went to the Museum
of Islamic Art. The watch and clock
collection of Sir David Solomon is magnificent, the timepieces dating anything from
100 to 400 years. The Marie Antoinette Breguet is the crown jewel of the
collection which emphasizes the mechanical genius, craftsmanship, and the 823
intricate components that make up the watch. The entire collection from minute
watches, tiny cuckoo clocks, carriage clocks and so much more throughout the
other exhibits is exceptional. One aspect, explained beautifully by Gilad
Levian, the Director and old friend, is how he tries to explain to people that
there are “Arab” Jews, or Jews from Arab countries whose heritage is just as
much from the lands they lived in for, in the case of Iraq, thousands of years,
and that heritage should not be lost but should be exhibited. A Museum well
worth visiting. Tell Gilad I sent you! https://www.islamicart.co.il/english/
I just saw a newsflash that while the United Torah Judaism party
refused to back anyone for the governmental race, Mansour Abass is backing Eizenkot.
Good man!
Looking over the week’s news I now want to find you appropriate
songs.
On a Friday night after the lighting of the candles, as the family
stands around the table waiting for the blessing over the wine, the man of the
house sings (or says) this song praising the lady of the house. Maybe it isn’t Woke
any more but it is surely the most beautiful way to say thank you. https://youtu.be/uno7_nCfxCI?si=y2a8uNrP8oy6vsHi
Yachad Tamid, Always Together. This song makes it clear, we always
stand together and it’s going to be alright. I chose this rendition to honour
the IDF.
https://youtu.be/M8Nz-wBEf7o?si=A-y4PrJcPVXvndvp
Koolulam honouring incredible women, heroines of Israel. I love
this, you will see their faces as they sing and an insert of their jobs, brave
women, strong women one and all. The
sheer joy and togetherness in the hall is phenomenal https://youtu.be/pB8LhGTvI5c?si=_AunndMvlcp_c0O3
That’s it. By the time was talk next I will have a married
grandson!! It seems like yesterday that I stood in the labour ward, beside Rachel,
at his birth! I tell all three of Rachel’s children that I saw them, held them
before anyone else in the world!!!
I wish you a Shabbat Shalom. I hope and pray that we will have a
peaceful week with no rash actions, that the riots will end in Europe, that our
leaders will understand what their duty is, that those who oppose them will
temper their rhetoric because 31 years ago the rhetoric killed a great man, a
soldier for democracy who loved Israel and her people more than anything.
Yitzchak, I pray that you will re-find the Israel we lost on that awful day
With all my love from Jerusalem, the centre of the world, the city
so beautiful that everyone wants ot call it their own.
Sheila
