Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem- Obama Visit, Marathon, Kaz Hafeez, Miss Israel.

130301

1^st March 2013

Happy Saint David's Day to all my Welsh friends. Cymru am Byth, and to those who don't know what I am talking about - Croeso y Gymru and of course Saboth Dda.

Shabbat Shalom. In case you thought I had gone crazy today is the Welsh National Day and the patron Saint is St David or Dewi Sant, who rose to the rank of Archbishop while on a visit to Jerusalem.

Today is the day of the Jerusalem Marathon. Over 20,000 runners will weave their weary way through the Old City, city centre and around the hills to the Hebrew University campus. An increasing number of international competitors keep our locals on their toes – literally!! The unusual aspect of this marathon is the Health Exhibit which continues for three full days, encouraging us all to get fit!!http://www.jerusalem-marathon.co.il/jer_sys/marathon11/eng/marathonInner.asp?BHtml_id=&Button_id=9453&src=kataveMessage.asp?msg_id=14841&cat=129&sec_id=170

Stranger than fiction. Finnish UN observers along the Syrian border were robbed, yes held up and robbed of their UN vehicle. The Finns were of course unarmed, but in a very UN/PC manner made it clear that ”they didn’t feel their lives threatened by the gun brandishing Arabs”. Had they refused to hand over the UN vehicle, I doubt that they would have been around to tell the story.http://altwire.utne.com/zine/israel-palestine_new/finnish-un-observers-robbed-by-arab-duo-/344e78694f754c6563784757797947584e2b4e6a6b513d3d

Kasim “Kaz” Hafeez is a British Moslem who was raised to hate Israel but since he thinks for himself, rather than following, Kaz realised that Israel is not the enemy. He is here on a speaking tour right now! Please read his excellent op ed “By singling out Israel, human rights activists abandon those who really suffer from apartheid “ http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4347381,00.html

In a town near you – A court in New Jersey alleges that Moslem man beheaded and buried two Coptic Christians, burying them near Philadelphia because of the deep hatred and persecution of Copts in Egypt. http://www.wnd.com/2013/02/muslim-accused-of-beheading-2-christians-in-u-s/

The Egyptian Courts denied a case annulling the peace treaty with Israel. This is the second case brought in the last year. Yet again this proves that the judiciary and the military is stronger than Morsi – for now. The Egyptian news reportage was careful though – carefully covering their *****.

The Cairo Administrative Court ruled Tuesday that it has no jurisdiction over a lawsuit demanding the cancellation of the 1979 peace treaty between Egypt and Israel. The court said the issue involves state sovereignty, which is under the president’s purview.

The plaintiffs said Egypt should void its peace deal over ongoing destruction of Islamic holy sites and the country’s refusal to stop settlement building in Palestinian territories, which they said is a violation of United Nations conventions and treaty itself. http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/court-throws-out-case-calling-end-israel-egypt-treaty#sthash.OJUdFglu.dpuf

We still don't have a government!!! The PM has asked for an extension from the President but he has met his match in Naftali Bennet! Bennet and Lapid made a pact to stick together nad much to the chagrin of the more weathered politicians they are sticking to it!!! Together they make a strong fighting force and their determination to put the “Shivion b'netel” or equality of burden, and other social issues, on the forefront of Israeli politics has stumped the process. They and their priciples are not for sale

Whatever you happen to think about President Obama or for that matter of Prime Minister Netanyahu, the upcoming visit of the American President is of utmost importance. Please, those of you who have Facebook go to Daniel Seamans page and “like” it! https://www.facebook.com/theunbreakablebond

Last night Zvi and I went to see the acclaimed Israeli documentary “The Gatekeepers” about former heads of the Shin Bet, the Israeli Secret Service. I found it highly disturbing but one thing came out of the film – we have to keep talking with EVERYONE no matter how vile. A must see but very difficult to absorb. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2309788/

We have a new Miss Israel and I couldn't be more thrilled!! Yityish Aynaw didn't even want to enter the competition but her friend entered her name for her! Yityish is so beautiful and has an innocence that is exceptional in the cut-throat world of beauty. Good luck in the Miss Wrold. http://www.timesofisrael.com/miss-israel-is-ethiopian-immigrant/

This week, at the Annual Purim Ball, in aid of Israeli Cancer Research, the highlight, even more than the Hippies who abounded in fancy dress, was the incredible Bass-Baritone Yacov Strizak, who Zvi first heard at the Jewish Agency meetings. Yacov and his beautiful bride came on Aliya just 3 weeks ago and they celebrated their Aliya by donating his performance. The audience was blown away as he sang both in Yiddisch and Russian. Zvi helped him attain auditions with the Israeli Opera and the Jerusalem Opera. Yacov was a highly successful Opera singer in Russia but the pull of Israel was too strong and now we await his world success as an Israeli. The last world famous opera singer to gain his first successes in Israel was Placido Domingo so it is high time for another. For me, watching the pride in his young wifes eyes was enough. He really is stupendous.

We had a delightful day with Flory and Paul Hariton of Florida and Venezuela, obviously talking of the situation of Jews in Venezuela, a situation which gets worse by the day. After lunch on the veranda of the Botanical Gardens Flory and I headed off to the Valley of the Cross in search of wild Calaniot (anemones), Rakafot (cyclamen) and Shkediot (almond blossoms). Flory's camera was clicking constantly as we found fields of red calaniot and the incredible rakafot blooming courageously out of sheer rock. The shkediot, in their final burst of clouds of pink and white, still held a few of last years crop of almonds. Incredibly as we got to the parkland we passed a scout hut and outside a large number of weird structures the scouts had created from wooden branches, sheer initiative!!!

Last week I talked about our forthcoming friday night supper to celebrate Harold Fingers 60^thbirthday and this week I want to tell you about it and the subsequent party on Sunday. I don't want to talk about the delicious food and company but rather about the main characters in the story. Through Zvi's work and my enthusiasm we have had the honour of meeting many exceptional people who have given their lives to serving their people and their country in a positive and joyous manner. Of all these people I believe that Harold, his wonderful wife Rebecca and his “best buddy” Stanley Roth and his equally exceptional wife Charmaine, stand out a head and shoulders above the others. There may be those who work harder, although I doubt it, and there may be those who reach higher office, but these two do everything with all their heart and with a joy and kindness that is rare and delightful.

I can see them both blushing but that is how I feel. Their love of Israel and of their traditions and heritage is clear in every word, their adoring and adored families surrounded them and we felt deeply privileged to be counted among their friends. I really love you both and your wonderful wives and I cannot wait to see you all sitting on our veranda, overlooking Jerusalem. However, I have one complaint – why did you take the age-old Welsh Rugby call of Oggi Oggi Oggi and turn it into Ozzi Ozzi Ozzi????

Friday, I love Friday. Why is this Friday different from all other Fridays? Because on this Friday only half of the shelves in the supermarket are open because the race to clean for Passover has begun. That includes homes as the heady smell bleach out-stinks the beautiful aromas of the food cooking for Shabbat.

It is my favourite time of each month when the moon plays its seasonal game, growing enormous and glowing red and yellow, peeping coyly over the horizon, after a seemingly endless wait, only to shoot into the sky at an unbelievable rate getting smaller and brighter as it rises over the city. It never fails to amaze and delight me.

I have a request, please can you pray for the speedy recovery of my adored Moshe ben Rachel, someone very close to my heart?

So dear friends, I wish you Shabbat Shalom. As March begins and spring calls make sure you enjoy every moment and Stanley – the kumquat tree awaits your visit!

With much love

Shabbat Shalom Letter from Jerusalem

120504

4^th of May 2012

Shabbat shalom dear friends.

Hagai Amir, brother of Yitzchak Rabin's assassin Igal Amir, was released from prison this morning after serving a 16 year sentence for aiding and abetting his brother in his plot to kill a Prime Minister and change a country. Most of his prison term was spent in solitary confinement. Swamped by journalists his first words as he left the prison gates were that he did not regret his actions. I am furious not only that he feels no remorse but that he and his family are invited to several “parties” to give him a hero's welcome home. I shudder to think that anyone who calls himself a Zionist can applaud such a heinous crime.http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4224634,00.html

2^nd of May 1860 was a truly auspicious day. Tivador (Theodore Benjamin Zeev) was born to Jeanette and Jakob Herzl, German-speaking, assimilated Jews. Tivadore, Theodore, while aware of being a Jew never felt it impaired his journalistic career until that fateful day in France when he saw a Jewish Officer in France on trial and found guilty of a crime he did not commit – because he was a Jew. The Dreyfus trial was to change Herzl's understanding of the position of Jews, even assimilated Jews, in our world. On that day the seed of his dream was fertilised to grow and flower into the most beautiful, strong, Jewish and still blossoming country. He of course never lived to see the miracle but we did. Today Zvi and 100 singers from all over the country will sing in Mamilla. They will sing Israeli songs right next to the house in which Herzl stayed as he prepared for his meeting with the Kaiser. We live history every moment and it is up to us to ensure that the dream does not sour and become a nightmare. By us I mean you too – Herzl gave us the dream and the strength to stand up and defend ourselves so ensure that Israel is not the Dreyfus of today.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lost his father and mentor this week and I extend my condolences and sorrow to the son, rather than the Prime Minister. Ben Zion (Mileikowsky) Netanyahu z”l was a great teacher and philosopher who remained prolific right up until his last months. The Prime Ministers father passed away this week at the wonderful age of 102, his brilliant brain active until the end. May his soul rest in peace and his family know no more sorrow. This article written in March celebrates his exceptional life.http://int.icej.org/news/special-reports/benzion-netanyahu

Yair Lapid is clever, handsome, charismatic and I fear he is another one who says Yes I Can without knowing what. Yair Lapid decided to leave the world of television and journalism to follow in his father Tommy's footsteps and form a political party to run in the next elections on the question of rights demand obligations (serving in IDF, working and paying taxes). In principle I agree with him but it cannot be the only subject on his party's manifesto and he needs to bring some weathered politicians in as his advisors. The name of the party “Yesh Atid” - there is a future – is too reminiscent of Yes I Can. The youngsters of this country are jumping on his attractive bandwagon for the simple reason that they are the ones serving in the IDF, doing reserve duty and working long hours to earn a crust and they are looking to Lapid to solve the problem.

Incredibly is it a year since we lost Zvi's wonderful Mother Ala. We held a very small ceremony to honour both of Zvi's parents in the beautiful section set aside for Yakirei Yerushalyim (literally the Beloved of Jerusalem or Worthy Citizen) to honour their exceptional work as teachers, educators, Zionists and volunteers for Jerusalem. Zvi sang the prayers overlooking the Jerusalem Hills.

Tel Aviv friends often don't know, or want to know Jerusalem, preferring lies in the press rather than discovering the fun of our winding streets and fabulous markets and restaurants. Yehudit and Shula asked me where in Jerusalem is it most typically Jerusalem and I said Mahane Yehuda. I met them there on a relatively quiet Sunday yet it still held the excitement of delicious, fresh incredible fruit and veg, costermongers setting up their wares and mountains of strawberries tempting jam makers as we reach the end of the season; huge, luscious shesek (loquat); the first nectarines, crisp and juicy; a hundred flavours of Halva piled temptingly, as if calling you to taste their sticky sweetness; aromatic herbs and of course the heady scent of a hundred varieties of spice in fascinating jars and baskets. We stopped for coffee in the famous coffee shop, sitting watching the world go by and marvelling at the rainbow that is Jerusalem.

Every time I walked down Rachel Imenu Street in the German Colony I feel my pulse quickening knowing that I am close to the most beautiful building in Jerusalem. The beauty is not just physical, which it is indeed, but because of those who inhabit this building. It is the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem. The ICEJ unfailingly supports Israel and was founded when all our supposed diplomatic allies failed us by moving their Embassies to Tel Aviv. I went with Yossi Tal-Gan, Director of the Israel Festivalhttp://www.israel-festival.org.il/2010/index.asp?lng=Eng to discuss two very important events in this years calendar – the Defiant Requiem and the performance of Christus with the Embassies charismatic director Jurgen Buehler who I am proud to call friend.

Paul and Flory Hariton with Flory's wonderful Mother Dalia Herman to Chavat Hanoar haZioni (Hanoar haZioni Farm) youth village, right in the middle of Jerusalem to see the Clara Herman sports centre and swimming pool in action. It is amazing to see as Olympic potentials are joined by groups of autistic youth, a truly amazing project. While at the pool we were joined by our adoptive “grandson” Tomer who is one of the exceptional students at the village in a programme that allows him to fly academically and join a programme at the Hebrew University for the brightest stars – not bad for a 14 year old eh? Tomer is also a very normal young man who enjoys boxing much to the dismay of us all - we encourage him but worry about the various injuries! I say adopted grandson because Zvi and I adopted his parents Valeri and Ira (or was it the other way around?) when they arrived in Israel from Moscow just a year after I made Aliyah. We have been through virtually all experiences together and when Tomer decided to arrive early Ira and Valeri stayed in our home while he was in the prem baby unit. Tomer had his Brit Milah (circumcision ceremony) in our lounge! Since that time we spend all festivals together and we are as proud of Tomer and his sister, the lovely Sheli, as we are of our birth grandchildren.

We just got back from Zvi's performance as MC to the choirs who sang in Mamilla. The passing crowds on their Friday morning stroll relished the songs, songs of yesteryear and all I could think was that it was a fitting birthday party for Herzl. Incredible to think that we stood there due to the passionate dream and determination of Binyamin Zeev Herzl and that we then casually strolled the streets he walked to meet kaiser Bill and went for coffee outside the house he slept in to ensure our right to exist. IF YOU WILL IT IT IS NOT A DREAM. He made it reality.

I now have to set the table for Shabbat, since seeing my husband perform takes precedence over my natural wish to be ready well in advance. Tonight the Haritons come for supper and we will be joined by my favourite archaeologist Prof. Gabby Barkay – my hero who saved and sifted even the finest tilth removed from beneath the Temple Mount.

Shabbat Shalom to you all. I wish you peace and joy and tradition – tradition, the essence of our being.

With love from Jerusalem