150219 Herzliya,Benny Gantz, Politics, Daniel and family,

​150219

19th February 2015

Shabbat Shalom dear friends. For a change I am not looking at the view of Jerusalem from our veranda but rather the stormy waves of Herzliya.With the impending snowstorm hanging over Jerusalem we came a day early to Herzliya, where I undergo minor surgery tomorrow.

This has been a turbulent week in an ever less stable world, but for me it has been a glorious week as my eldest son Daniel, his wife Karen and their two amazing children came to visit us in Jerusalem. Seeing our city through the eyes of a 7 year old child and watching all the children of our now extended family playing together was absolutely amazing. Children manage to cross language barriers so much more successfully than we do. I will tell you about our adventures and visits later but I owe you a short description of our upcoming elections before the sweet dessert of talk of small people.

Actually, I am beginning to think that all politicians are small people too. They don't have the verve and elan of children but they don't seem to have learned how to put the brakes on their tongues either.  This election is about dirtying the reputation of ones opponents rather than informing us of what they intend doing.  As a Brit I learned about Party Manifestos, the intentions and plans of each party set out clearly so that any choice will be educated rather than rumour driven. When the accusations are flying about profligate spending in the PM's house I assumed it was more politicking but apparently it was already in the works.

Then one comes to the international interference in the Israeli electoral process. I always try to stay out of the politics of other countries but sometimes they don't stay out of ours which demands a response. At a time when it is fashionable to kill people for being Jews and even more fashionable to demean and malign Israel it does not behoove an American President to allow his White House press briefings to contain strong condemnation of the Israeli Prime Minister. There is not another country in the entire region, and possibly further afield, that has given such unconditional support to the United States and the current slap in the face is unwarranted.

Mr Netanyahu has stated clearly and unequivocally that he does not wish to electioneer but rather to express his deep concerns about the current policies concerning Iran. Iran is of clear and present danger to Israel and also to other American Allies in this region and I cannot begin to quote Shimon Peres yet again about countries where many citizens are willing to become hangmen. This is a time for all Allies to work together, to listen to each other and to speak out very clearly against evil regimes and the horrors that are taking place in the world as I write.

Sorry, I know I tend to "bang on"about this particular situation but it is devastating when ones greatest friend and ally hits the headlines of popularity at ones expense.

As you know, I am not particularly right wing - nor left wing actually - but rather a pragmatist, an intensely pro-Israel pragmatist, but pragmatist I am. My girlfriend Sheila Zucker (some of you New Yorkers will remember the SheilaShow) is probably right of my thoughts but we have the same convictions as to our right to live in peace in our own land. Sheila wrote this piece in 2004, but it rings true today - even more so. http://zioneocon.blogspot.co.il/2004/05/voice-from-jerusalemisrael-is.html

The fact that we wake up and switch on the news, then watch or listen to news every hour on the hour is not a matter of obsession but rather of the need to know what is happening. We are a happy people that wants to be informed........... just in case.

To my own amazement I am about to give you a link to the Guardian newspaper. Yair Lapid wrote a very interesting article about the 700 second class artists who signed their evil pact to boycott Israel. http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/feb/19/israel-boycott-painful-truths-middle-east

Another lady who is not for turning is Maureen Lipman, outstanding actress and wit, and proud Jewess, she gives her honest opinion about the boycotting actors, especially the Jewish ones. http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/maureen-lipman-shame-jewish-boycotters/

I am not certain that the Supreme Courts decision to overturn the Election Committees ban of two electoral candidates, Haneen Zoabi and Baruch Maazel, extremists from the very opposite side of the political map, is a good or wise move. Both are dangerous, both have taken their right of free speech to places outside democracy.

This week we have all been racing to show Joshua (my grandson) everything possible in Jerusalem without disturbing his baby sister Callie. We went to the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo, a huge and beautiful zoo, so big and beautiful it really impressed my NYC family with the sheer variety of creatures in natural settings; then we went to the Bloomfield Science Musem which he adored, the Herzl Museum which set him thinking and which he also loved. Inevitably we went to the Kotel on the new shuttle bus from the First Station and as we were leaving that incredibly spiritual site we saw two big black cars arrive, Israeli flags aflying alongside the IDF flag and out stepped both Benny Gantz and Gadi Eizenkopf - the outgoing and incoming Commanders in Chief of the Israel Armed Forces. After their official ceremonies they both came to the Kotel for the swearing in ceremony - where else? Soldiers have their passing out parades here and it is the one place on earth where to swear an oath - especially a Jewish oath to protect the Jewish State - is right at the very core of our faith. Joshua was so impressed, as were the adults!  May G-d bless our new Commander in Chief and give him the wisdom to make the right choices. Benny Gatz talked to Christiane Ananpur on CNN, a brilliant man http://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2015/02/16/intv-amanpour-benny-gantz-retiring-gaza-iran-isis.cnn

My favourite part of the entire week was watching the children playing together. Watching them enjoy each other and seeing my daughter Rachel soaking up her time with big bruvver. I admit to being whacked but it was fabulous and Rachel actually hosted them and also their cousins Sagi and Ditty and the children and making them home-made pizza, felafel, tehina, and all the amazing goodies that she makes so beautifully.

I would love to continue - there are so many events that I missed this week including seeing my hero Malcolm Hoenlein and joining the Conference of Presidents Jerusalem conference and hearing Khaled Abu Toameh speak -  but actually, I am going into hospital for minor surgery tomorrow so am conserving my energies!!!!

As I told you I am writing facing the window of our hotel, watching the stormy sea lashing the sands, sands that are more used to laughing tourists than powerful rollers crashing on the unsuspecting shoreline.

Hopefully by this time next week I will be writing to tell you that it is all behind me and will be back looking at my favourite view - the View from our Veranda.

I wish you Shabbat Shalom with this song Shabbat Menucha - Shabbat Rest. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uphFhOEHf5Y

One of my favourite songs of all time is "Tishmor al ha Olam Yeled" Guard the World Child - sung by the Israeli counter tenor David D'Or. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7EV4IWgR2A The words are so important that I give you those too. The song tells that we, our generation has done a poor job of saving our world so it is up to our children. http://www.hebrewsongs.com/?song=shmoralhaolamyeled 

So I wish you Shabbat Shalom, with all our love from Herzliya, with our hearts in Jerusalem.

With love

Sheila

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If the media does not inform us we must inform the media

Sheila's blog http://shabbatshalom-theviewfrommyveranda.blogspot.com/

Facebook      Sheila Silver Raviv
Involvement   http://www.impact-se.org/   http://www.yurishtern.org.il/eng/content.php?id=17

Shabbat Shalom letter from jerusalem

110218
18th February 2011

Shabbat shalom from Jerusalem!!!!

This has been a very busy news week so I will fill you in on the world news, the local news and then our journey home and the days since.

Our first paragraph is dedicated to the Palestinian Authority. Mr Abbas dissolved his parliament last week, dissolved and reinstated a new one without any elections – and without the media yelling "Democracy" at him! In addition Saeeb Erakat, chief negotiator with Israel, resigned his position after Wikileaks proved that he is far more pragmatic than his rhetoric suggests. Finally, despite the fact that Turkish Moslems massacred one and a half million Armenians, who then fled to Jerusalem where they found safe haven, Mr Abbas decided that the Armenian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem is Palestinian!! I have a feeling that he takes into account the many, many buildings in new Jerusalem owned by the Armenian Church as a good start on further ambitions! http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=208557

The media has said little of the massacre of Christians in the Sudan, prompting the division of that country into two- North and South – one Moslem and one Christian and other faiths. Many persecuted Sudanese fled on foot and faced a huge trek through Egypt to Israel, where they learned they could live in peace. Those who survived the trek were then heinously abused by the Bedouin of the Sinai to the almost silence of the foreign press. Egypt shot those who reached the border and now Israel must find a solution to the ever increasing numbers of refugees.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/16/world/16bedouin.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

The Daily Mail, a British, middle class, tabloid newspaper has always been conservative with a small "c", pro-British, pro-Israel. The newspaper has often bewailed the loss of British standards with the ever growing demographic threat of Pakistani and other Moslem immigrants, This article proves their fears of a school, a Madrassa, one of many where corporal punishment is used regularly and anti-British sentiment the general leaning.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1356361/Shame-Britains-Muslim-schools-Secret-filming-shows-pupils-beaten.html

Lara Logan is an American journalist with ABC. Blonde, beautiful, clever she confidently stood among the jubilant crowd in Tahrir Square, Cairo; reporting the scene when she was surrounded by a group of men who taunted her and her crew, then grabbed her and separated her from her crew, sexually abusing and raping her, as they did so they screamed Jew Jew Jew before attacking her. The silence and lack of fury is inconceivable. http://www.nypost.com/p/news/international/cbs_reporter_cairo_nightmare_pXiUVvhwIDdCrbD95ybD5N

The Independent newspaper claims no responsibility for its blogs (!) This one goes far beyond the pale in its denigration of Israel. Please write in and respond.
http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2011/02/15/the-palestinian-non-authority/

Lt. General Benny Gantz is the 20th Chief of Staff of the IDF. He is the ultimate Jewish story – his Mother was one of the few survivors of the Bergen Belsen death camp, a survivor whose son grew up to be a fine soldier, defending his Jewish country which led ultimately to his becoming Chief of Staff. He is married and has four young Sabras (Israeli born), his children - surely the greatest revenge upon the lunacy of anti-Semitism of all. I met him last year when, as Deputy Chief of Staff, he gave a presentation to the Conf. of Presidents led by the wonderful Malcolm Hoenlein. We were deeply impressed by this highly personable gentleman and the obvious devotion shown by "his" soldiers. We wish him Mazal Tov and love from his people and success as the leader of his soldiers – our boys.
http://idfspokesperson.com/2011/02/14/lt-gen-benny-gantz-appointed-20th-idf-chief-of-the-general-staff/

I love this article. Kosher food can be gourmet, just like treif it simply depends on the chef!! I remember when Chef Shalom Tsadok brought a dozen world famous chefs to Jerusalem for the King David Feast; they cooked a totally kosher super duper gourmet meal of 12 courses (one per chef) and no one had difficulty!
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2011/0215/Orthodox-Israeli-chef-says-kosher-can-be-gourmet?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+feeds%2Fworld+%28Christian+Science+Monitor+%7C+World%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

So here we are, back in Jerusalem. Our last few days in Miami were fabulous, spending time with people we love, but I have to admit that as we climbed the Jerusalem hills my heart skipped a beat of joy!! We were collected from the airport by my daughter Rachel and amazingly the suitcases fitted in! We stopped to kiss the grandchildren in Modi'in and Givat Zev before heading for home. Walking in the front door I ran straight to raise the electric blinds to see our veranda, somewhat neglected and wind tousled, but the view, ah the view! The sun was setting and the pink light hit the white stones in the familiar glow that told me that the apartment would soon warm up and welcome our homecoming because Jerusalem lay before us. The first days flew by in a flurry of friends and tours of the Old City and new and even squeezing in a trip to Tel Aviv and another to Modi'in to see my girlfriends. We both spent time with the grandchildren who received most of their presents, about two suitcases were dedicated to them!!!!

And so to Shabbat. The apartments beneath me are producing familiar aromas of international delicacies; the shoppers are wending their weary way back home and the shopping malls closing; the buses roar their way up the hills to their weekend garage; the men sit in cafes at their parliaments, putting the world to rights and many women too. Newly washed tiled floors gleam and tables are set with white cloths to receive the families who come to eat the Friday night supper with their parents, aunts and uncles; each guest carrying a large pot of favourite dishes. Tonight, as always, we will go to Zvi's amazing mother Ala, Headmistress Ala who touched the lives of so many young people, giving them purpose, confidence and a complete education. She doesn't cook any more, I do, at 97 she is entitled to be served, and we will be joined by Zvi's boys and grand-daughters – four generations around a tiny table. Zvi will sing the Kiddush (blessing over wine) in his mellifluous bass baritone and his Mother will look at him with adoration knowing that he absorbed his Jewishness from her home with the wonderful Kalman, as Zvi's boys and little grand-daughters do from his.

Jerusalem, heart of our hearts, centre of our world. Each and every day I thank G-d for letting me live here.
Shabbat Shalom dear friends, Shabbat Shalom and much love
Sheila