101126
26th November 2010
Shabbat Shalom to you.
We have an enormous amount of news to cover today so I will give you a precis and a link where appropriate and just a headline where not – I don't want you getting bored!!!!!
Refugees from hunger, war and oppression in Africa walk to Israel over the Egyptian/Israel border......... yes to Israel not to the Arab countries. Egypt shoots them rather than arrest them! Genuine refugees, such as those from Darfur are accepted and given safe haven and amnesty in Israel but there are thousands who some here because through word of mouth they learn that we are a civilised and generous country. We cannot accept everyone, like other countries we must choose our citizens but there is a problem........... how do you send people back to hunger, even those who steal across the border at night? We cannot do what America does and build a colossal wall and shoot those who break through. The government is debating the possibility of building refugee facilities to gather the illegals together but the sight of black faces gathered behind fences – albeit with all facilities provided- is too emotionally charged. It allows our detractors to misuse the pictures. Comparisons are too easy. http://www.pmo.gov.il/PMOEng/Communication/Spokesman/2010/11/spokemistanen241110.htm
Greece, our newest best friend, has made a decision to return Greek citizenship to Holocaust survivors. The media is overjoyed. Why? Why in G-d's name did they lose it!!!!
Erdogan of Turkey put his foot in his mouth yet again, while visiting Lebanon, claiming that if Israel attacks Lebanon, West Bank or Gaza he will.....well we don't know what he will do and it is irrelevant since we don't attack – we respond and defend! The only good thing to come from Erdogan is Israel's new relationship with Greece!!!!
Professor Gerald Steinberg wrote an excellent article EXPOSING THE HUMAN RIGHTS FACADE The people and institutions that claim to uphold human rights and democracy are in fact nullifying these core moral principles. http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Op-EdContributors/Article.aspx?id=196659
Canada – excellent work by various bodies stopped UBC funding for Gaza Flotilla 2011. http://www.cicweb.ca/scene/2010/11/are-university-students-fees-paying-for-propaganda/
Canada announced it will boycott the proposed Durban 3. Kol ha Kavod!!!
Still in Canada a moderate Moslem condemns virulent anti-Semitism. One can be Pro-Palestinian without hating Jews. My thanks to Wayne Shur for sending it to me. http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Moderate+Muslim+author+condemns+virulent+anti+Semitism+infiltrating+Islam/3870305/story.html
BBC Panorama found that more than 40 Saudi Students' Schools and Clubs are teaching the official Saudi national curriculum to about 5,000 pupils. Curriculum and books found to be offensive and anti-Semitic http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11799713
Jews, Moslems and Christians joined together in a West Bank village to pray for rain in the parched Holy Land. 50 people gathered in the village of Al-Walajah between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, with representatives of each religion offering their own prayers. Israel, the Palestinian territories and the whole area have been plagued by several years of drought.
On Tuesday November 30th New York will see an attempt to frighten (terrorise) New Yorkers to boycott Israeli goods. Stores. Ensure those stores are not forced to remove Ahava and many Israeli products from their shelves due to lack of interest (fear). Buy, order and ensure the products and go to the stores mentioned below. http://www.standwithus.com/app/iNews/view_n.asp?ID=1665
The Rev Malcolm Hedding is the Director of the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem and a true friend and supporter of Israel. This is his response to the libelous letter written by Rev Arisson a South African Minister http://haifadiarist.blogspot.com/2010/11/finally-christian-reaction.html
The Palestinians claim that the Kotel is not part of the Holy Temple. Duh!!! Of course not, it is part of the supporting wall of the Temple Mount which predates everyone and everything else as a Jewish Holy site by at least 1,000 years. It was chosen as the "Wailing Wall" as the closets point beneath the Holy of Holies to mourn the destruction of the Second Temple.
My friend Yitzchok lives in the UK but his heart is in Jerusalem. He brought to my attention that those who lambast Israel have problems.... NZ, Ireland, UK, Turkey, Greece, et economy and disasters – and the Israeli economy thriving. As a result of his comment I found this quote from Zecharia “And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.”
The cries of the uninformed claim a humanitarian abuses yet 180,000 Palestinians were treated in Israeli Hospitals this year. Thanks to efficient cooperation between the Israeli and the Palestinian sides, tens of thousands of Palestinians patients benefit from treatments in Israeli hospitals each year. Now that's the truth! http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/News/today/10/11/2502.html
This week we went to have my cast removed. What an experience. The waiting room was filled with Arabs, Jews, Russians and Ethiopians........ the usual rainbow, all waiting to see Dr Rubenstein, the orthopaedic surgeon. There is a clear rule, everyone according to the time of his appointment except for dire emergencies and soldiers. Dr Rubenstein takes soldiers first, between and as his honoured patients. The strange thing is that even those noisy people who shout at anyone who might go before them in line are quiet about this rule. The doctor was pleased with me so I went off to the Russian lady who sued a circular saw (well that's what I thought) to remove the cast and then to Xray with an Arab technician and back to the doctor. I WAS FREE!!! Physiotherapy and sturdy brogues ar ethe order of the day but I really appreciate being able to move!!!!
My greatest excitement is that within a short time I can go back to exploring the lanes, walls, malls and arcades of Jerusalem doing my favourite thing in the world.........people watching!!!! Winter is still elusive, although the nights are now quite chilly and misty which brings the phenomenal moon-rises that take my breath away, watching the enormous golden globe rise on the horizon, rising fast as if it couldn't wait to be aloft shining down on Jerusalem, ensuring her golden beauty. Maybe next week I will be able to tell you that I am back in Mahane Yehuda, smelling the spicy aromas, listening to the multi-accented calls of the costermongers and most of all, walking among the variegated people of Jerusalem in their multi-faceted glory.
I wish you Shabbat Shalom and hope that yesterday, Americans or not, you remembered to say thank you for all the amazing benefits of our lives and remembered who to thank.
With much love
Sheila
Showing posts with label Canada. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Canada. Show all posts
Friday, 26 November 2010
Friday, 5 June 2009
Shabbat Shalom from Sheila
090605
5th June 2009
42 years. 42 years since a tiny Jewish country, surrounded by fierce enemies was invaded, bombarded and expected to disappear under the sheer might of the Arab world. Somehow, a miracle happened and the brave soldiers, ace pilots and great leaders took us forward to a victory that has entered the annals of warfare. We won, we didn't just win we won the war in just 6 days and after 19 years of frustration and longing our soldiers walked back into the Old City, through the Lions Gate and toward the Western Wall. Ephraim Kishon and Dosh (Kariel Gardosh) understood that flaw in that victory with their marvelous book "So Sorry We Won". Suddenly the world realised that as small as our country was we were no longer dependent, subservient Jews but Jews who were ready to defend ourselves and survive and thrive. The 6 Day War changed our perception of ourselves and gave us pride.
I quote Kishons opening words: "HISTORY TEACHES US THAT THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD LIVE NEXT TO EACH OTHER EITHER IN PEACE OR IN WAR. ISRAEL LIVES SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN………….BELLIGERENT COEXISTENCE."
We had a marvelous trip to Western Canada, Toronto and New York. The purpose of our journey was to celebrate the wedding of Rena and David with the Slawsky Family in Jasper, in the glorious Rockies. Since Barry's house was full our gracious hosts were Mu and Pat Lavin, Barry's next door neighbours and our friends in Ross Haven, on a beautiful lake just an hour from Edmonton. With Mu and Pat we travelled to Jasper via Miette Springs, lakes and forests, deer, elk, moose, mountain goats, mountain sheep and finally, at last a BLACK BEAR! The wedding was marvelous, warm and loving. We ate and danced the weekend away and the following morning hoped to go to the Ice Fields glacier but – upon waking found ourselves surrounded by white – 6 inches of snow!!!
We went back to Ross Haven, reorganized our luggage and next morning set off for the Edmonton Airport, flew to Toronto where Eddie and Ray (my sister and brother-in-law) took us to Toronto City Airport and we flew by Porter Airlines (amazingly good) to New York – to our sons Daniel and Amiad, grandson Joshy and Joshy's gorgeous Mum Karen. Nattie and Yolli hosted us as beautifully as always. The weather allowed me to play in Central Park with Joshua which was actually the purpose of that leg of the trip!!!
One of our New York days was spent with the Rubenstein family at Halina's induction as a Rabbi. We were so proud of her, her dedication, her work and her joy. Kol ha Kavod Halina!!!!
Back to Toronto, and to my sister's home. During the week we managed to see Ruth and Paul, my niece and nephew and their families, to Kiva's Bagels with Andrea where we had our photo taken for the local press
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/toronto/archive/2009/05/27/shelter-from-the-storm-and-a-very-large-lunch.aspx Our tummies grew as we dined in with Cardiff family Gary and Andy, Mike and Carolyn and dined out with Maccabiah friends Allen, Maida and Gerry, and of course Yaara who went from being Zvi's assistant in Jerusalem to becoming, amongst other things, an advisor to the Canadian Government on Middle East Affairs. It was wonderful to spend time with my big sister – we had so much catching up to do and I wanted my family to know my amazing, kind, generous, noisy, clever, giving husband.
Our flight home was uneventful – other than Zvi's usual problem of stewardesses with trolleys banging into his long legs!!!!
Our first ports of call, upon landing, were to the grand-children to catch up on kisses and hugs – and dole out the gifts!!!!
We had no time for jet-lag since Sam and Debby Bettsak came to dedicate a beautiful clover map, a ceramic rendition of the Heinrich Bünting's map of Jerusalem at the centre of the world, at the entrance to the Jerusalem Municipality. Followed by a delicious supper in Gabrielle's restaurant.
The next day saw us with Allen and Maida Gerskup watching a terrific performance of Oklahoma!!
Sam and Debby then dedicated a programme for students at the Interdisciplinary Centre in Herzliya to create "cool" sites about Israel for youngsters. www.coolisrael.com is one. Finally – and then you are up to date……… the Tiberger wedding. World Maccabi friends arrived from all over the world to join Eyal and Ettie as their beautiful daughter married just one month before the Maccabiah Games!!
Arriving home was emotional, walking into the apartment and opening the blinds to see Jerusalem before me, my flowers and fruit trees a little worse for wear butnot much. Unfortunately the pomegranate tree now has no fruits – but maybe it is just resting for next year!. Our return was all the more poignant for the concern in everybody's voices at the impending Obama speech in Cairo. We have come to expect unjustified censure from world leaders. The speech came and went and the interpretations depend utterly upon the political and national view of the listener. http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-the-President-at-Cairo-University-6-04-09/ In principle he appears to be asking for a new approach to coming together and trying to oust the extremists, but I am not sure – I just don't know. I was concerned at certain aspects and pleased wit others. I think that my greatest concern is the naïveté of believing that kind words of hope and new beginnings can change the direction of deep seated hatred. I hope and pray he is right and I am wrong but I don't want Israel to pay the price yet again. We won the 6 Day War, not by Israeli aggression but by Israel defence against aggression. We didn't ask anyone to leave – we didn't ask anyone to be annexed and most importantly we did not keep anyone in "refugee" camps in their own land.
I am happy to report that Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert underwent successful surgery for Prostate Cancer this week. Thank you all for your prayers and I managed to pass on the many messages of goodwill.
Finally, I want to tell you about a lovely man. Col Goldstein always brought light into any room. His smiling determination made him an exceptional leader. Not only did he support Israel through the regular channels but Col was amongst the very first investors in Israel. Col and Gloria have been amongst our favourite people, gentle, kind, giving and fun. I know Gloria will miss him horribly but I also know she has an amazing store of memories, beautiful memories of Col. Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence gave the hesped for a great man http://rabbi.greatsynagogue.org.au/Goldstein.mp3 May his soul rest in peace.
I am thrilled to be home, loved being with my family, sorry I missed my wonderful Arlene and overjoyed to know that Jill is here. Next week you will hear of Mahane Yehuda and Shouk Ramle as Jill gets her way and I rediscover my beloved Jerusalem.
Shabbat Shalom
Sheila
5th June 2009
42 years. 42 years since a tiny Jewish country, surrounded by fierce enemies was invaded, bombarded and expected to disappear under the sheer might of the Arab world. Somehow, a miracle happened and the brave soldiers, ace pilots and great leaders took us forward to a victory that has entered the annals of warfare. We won, we didn't just win we won the war in just 6 days and after 19 years of frustration and longing our soldiers walked back into the Old City, through the Lions Gate and toward the Western Wall. Ephraim Kishon and Dosh (Kariel Gardosh) understood that flaw in that victory with their marvelous book "So Sorry We Won". Suddenly the world realised that as small as our country was we were no longer dependent, subservient Jews but Jews who were ready to defend ourselves and survive and thrive. The 6 Day War changed our perception of ourselves and gave us pride.
I quote Kishons opening words: "HISTORY TEACHES US THAT THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD LIVE NEXT TO EACH OTHER EITHER IN PEACE OR IN WAR. ISRAEL LIVES SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN………….BELLIGERENT COEXISTENCE."
We had a marvelous trip to Western Canada, Toronto and New York. The purpose of our journey was to celebrate the wedding of Rena and David with the Slawsky Family in Jasper, in the glorious Rockies. Since Barry's house was full our gracious hosts were Mu and Pat Lavin, Barry's next door neighbours and our friends in Ross Haven, on a beautiful lake just an hour from Edmonton. With Mu and Pat we travelled to Jasper via Miette Springs, lakes and forests, deer, elk, moose, mountain goats, mountain sheep and finally, at last a BLACK BEAR! The wedding was marvelous, warm and loving. We ate and danced the weekend away and the following morning hoped to go to the Ice Fields glacier but – upon waking found ourselves surrounded by white – 6 inches of snow!!!
We went back to Ross Haven, reorganized our luggage and next morning set off for the Edmonton Airport, flew to Toronto where Eddie and Ray (my sister and brother-in-law) took us to Toronto City Airport and we flew by Porter Airlines (amazingly good) to New York – to our sons Daniel and Amiad, grandson Joshy and Joshy's gorgeous Mum Karen. Nattie and Yolli hosted us as beautifully as always. The weather allowed me to play in Central Park with Joshua which was actually the purpose of that leg of the trip!!!
One of our New York days was spent with the Rubenstein family at Halina's induction as a Rabbi. We were so proud of her, her dedication, her work and her joy. Kol ha Kavod Halina!!!!
Back to Toronto, and to my sister's home. During the week we managed to see Ruth and Paul, my niece and nephew and their families, to Kiva's Bagels with Andrea where we had our photo taken for the local press
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/toronto/archive/2009/05/27/shelter-from-the-storm-and-a-very-large-lunch.aspx Our tummies grew as we dined in with Cardiff family Gary and Andy, Mike and Carolyn and dined out with Maccabiah friends Allen, Maida and Gerry, and of course Yaara who went from being Zvi's assistant in Jerusalem to becoming, amongst other things, an advisor to the Canadian Government on Middle East Affairs. It was wonderful to spend time with my big sister – we had so much catching up to do and I wanted my family to know my amazing, kind, generous, noisy, clever, giving husband.
Our flight home was uneventful – other than Zvi's usual problem of stewardesses with trolleys banging into his long legs!!!!
Our first ports of call, upon landing, were to the grand-children to catch up on kisses and hugs – and dole out the gifts!!!!
We had no time for jet-lag since Sam and Debby Bettsak came to dedicate a beautiful clover map, a ceramic rendition of the Heinrich Bünting's map of Jerusalem at the centre of the world, at the entrance to the Jerusalem Municipality. Followed by a delicious supper in Gabrielle's restaurant.
The next day saw us with Allen and Maida Gerskup watching a terrific performance of Oklahoma!!
Sam and Debby then dedicated a programme for students at the Interdisciplinary Centre in Herzliya to create "cool" sites about Israel for youngsters. www.coolisrael.com is one. Finally – and then you are up to date……… the Tiberger wedding. World Maccabi friends arrived from all over the world to join Eyal and Ettie as their beautiful daughter married just one month before the Maccabiah Games!!
Arriving home was emotional, walking into the apartment and opening the blinds to see Jerusalem before me, my flowers and fruit trees a little worse for wear butnot much. Unfortunately the pomegranate tree now has no fruits – but maybe it is just resting for next year!. Our return was all the more poignant for the concern in everybody's voices at the impending Obama speech in Cairo. We have come to expect unjustified censure from world leaders. The speech came and went and the interpretations depend utterly upon the political and national view of the listener. http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-the-President-at-Cairo-University-6-04-09/ In principle he appears to be asking for a new approach to coming together and trying to oust the extremists, but I am not sure – I just don't know. I was concerned at certain aspects and pleased wit others. I think that my greatest concern is the naïveté of believing that kind words of hope and new beginnings can change the direction of deep seated hatred. I hope and pray he is right and I am wrong but I don't want Israel to pay the price yet again. We won the 6 Day War, not by Israeli aggression but by Israel defence against aggression. We didn't ask anyone to leave – we didn't ask anyone to be annexed and most importantly we did not keep anyone in "refugee" camps in their own land.
I am happy to report that Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert underwent successful surgery for Prostate Cancer this week. Thank you all for your prayers and I managed to pass on the many messages of goodwill.
Finally, I want to tell you about a lovely man. Col Goldstein always brought light into any room. His smiling determination made him an exceptional leader. Not only did he support Israel through the regular channels but Col was amongst the very first investors in Israel. Col and Gloria have been amongst our favourite people, gentle, kind, giving and fun. I know Gloria will miss him horribly but I also know she has an amazing store of memories, beautiful memories of Col. Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence gave the hesped for a great man http://rabbi.greatsynagogue.org.au/Goldstein.mp3 May his soul rest in peace.
I am thrilled to be home, loved being with my family, sorry I missed my wonderful Arlene and overjoyed to know that Jill is here. Next week you will hear of Mahane Yehuda and Shouk Ramle as Jill gets her way and I rediscover my beloved Jerusalem.
Shabbat Shalom
Sheila
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