150501 Shabbat Shalom, Wendy Sherman, Nepal, IsraAid, Government, Hezb-Allah, Lindenfelds.

150501

1st May, 2015

Shabbat Shalom dear friends. Gosh it has been quite a while since I wrote and so much has happened, both here and in the big wide world.

I don't know if you realised but Wendy Sherman led the nuclear negotiations with North Korea, negotiations so successful that they now have nuclear bombs and ballistic missiles which threaten South Korea and the world. She also claimed that South Koreas claims for nationhood. Wendy Sherman is now responsible for the nuclear negotiations with Iran. Frankly, it scares me. http://carolineglick.com/life-under-the-us-umbrella/ 

Our hearts and thoughts are with the people of Nepal. When a massive earthquake hits it is not the firmly built rich houses that fall, usually, but rather the flimsy, poor homes that crumble, but this earthquake was so immense that it took the ancient along with the modern, the rich along with the poor.

Many countries sent money, aid, to help the Nepalese Government fight the hunger, thirst and destruction, but this chart shows how little Israel sent people. http://edition.cnn.com/2015/04/28/asia/arwa-damon-rural-nepal-earthquake/index.html 

Due to our unfriendly neighborhood and our desire to help around the world, we have IDF field hospitals at the ready, which have proven themselves in their efficiency and speed numerous times. IDF tent cities are flown out and set up within hours of any disaster and already saved many lives and saw the joy of new births in the midst of disaster. http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/WATCH-IDF-field-hospital-opens-doors-in-earthquake-ravaged-Nepal-400535 

 

I am so proud of you! I am so proud of your response to my appeal for IsraAid. Thanks to your help Shachar Zahavi has been able to send teams of volunteers to even the most remote sites. Two other young people I know also swept into action, Gilad Yakir, from Jerusalem didn't panic, he acted. He went to a wealthy Buddhist monastery where they gave him a car loaded with medical equipment and he drove with some monks into the remotest areas and dealt with the worst of wounds and injuries, hoping against hope to avoid the inevitable infections that occur when no clean water can be found. He didn't rest, as soon as his equipment ended he drove back through the treacherous roads and took more. Another young friend is Ariela Guttin, who lives in Nepal and is working hard to raise money and do what she can to help in Nepal.

I have to mention Rabbi David Greenberg and his amazing Temple Shaarey Tefila, in Bedford, NY. The moment I sent out the appeal he motivated his community to send a generous gift to IsraAid. You never let me down David, you and your amazing team. I am not going to mention anyone because i don't want to miss a friend but you know who you are and who I love!!!!

Hezb-Allah decided to lob some missiles over Northern Israel, indeed right where we visited last week, perhaps they thought we were too busy with saving Nepal to notice!!! Since we met some of the Irish UN soldiers when up north I believe that they will do their best to stop them but just in case - we responded appropriately.

After an extension from President Rivlin, Prime Minister Netanyahu is coming close to forming a government. Kulanu, the centre right and very socially aware party led by Moshe Kahlon who promised that he will bring social reform in cheaper housing and fair wages, is a definite. Also entering the government is the United Torah Party, representing the religious sector, although the price was putting the bill demanding equality in obligation to this country. Other negotiations are ongoing but they are very tough. I am personally very sad that the Labour Party (or Zionist Union by any other name) has not come to an agreement with Netanyahu, nor Yair Lapids Yesh Atid.  It is a shame that his natural partners have both chosen to stay outside, undoubtedly with the sole intention of bringing this government down from oppostition. My greatest complaint about the Israeli electoral system, and I have many, is that the official opposition parties do not prepare themselves by forming shadow governments and coming up with alternative policies, they simply work toward bringing down whoever is in power. I am still praying for compromise but then we all know my middle name is Pollyanna!!!!!

Yesterday, in response to a disgraceful incident and a prolonged grudge, Jerusalem saw a very angry demonstration take place in the centre of the city. Young Israelis of Ethiopian descent were demonstrating against their ill treatment by Israeli police, not shooting like in Baltimore, but police bullying. It came to a head when a video reached the television stations of two policemen physically harassing and shoving a young soldier of Ethiopian descent on his way home from duty. It really broke the camels back and a normally quiet and dignified sector became very angry and rightfully so. Mayor Nir Barkat chose to enter the fray, literally, he stood in the middle of the crowd then sat on the kerb and invited the leaders of the demonstration to come and talk. He patiently listened to anyone who chose to engage in dialogue ensuring that he would use his influence to change the current situation. His actions calmed the youngsters more than any other.   policeman, controlling the demonstration, who came under most verbal abuse was a young Ethiopian policeman. Interesting. http://www.timesofisrael.com/jlem-street-blocked-in-protest-over-police-brutality-against-ethiopian-born-israelis/

After Passover we spent a glorious 10 days with wonderful people. Our dearest friends Helene and Martin Lindenfeld decided that they wanted to show their friends Lee and Lusillo what a gorgeous country this is - and succeeded!!!

They began in Jerusalem, arriving on the eve of  Yom ha Shoah, they walked the Old City, visiting Jewish and Christian sites, went to Professor Gabby Barkay's sifting project where we heard the siren of Yom ha Shoah and sifted through buckets of soil and stones taken from the Temple Mount and recovered by Prof Barkay. They went down to Massada and the Dead Sea while I prepared Shabbat Dinner!

Friday night they came to our home for Shabbat Dinner together with their lovely guide Eva Yaron and her husband Eli, Zvi's beautiful Kiddush (sung in harmony with Martin and Eli) setting the scene.

  

Over the next week we saw Crusaders Fortresses, climbed up to the top of the Golan Heights where we overlooked Syria and Lebanon and had coffee in a restaurant called Coffee Annan (in Hebrew meaning Coffee in the Clouds). We slept in Mitspeh ha Yamim, a health spa cum farm in Rosh Pinah, we travelled the north of Israel and saw Nazareth, Metullah, Akko (Acre) which is truly magnificent, cavernous Crusader castles and citadels have been uncovered and opened to the public in a truly wonderful manner) Tsfat, home of Kabbalah where this wonderful song, the prayer Ana-Bekoach was written about 2000 years ago by the Holy Master Kabbalist Rabbi Nechunia ben Hakanah z”l. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Irm-0IKPGic, Caesaria with its aquaduct and enormous amphitheatre where Zvi stood and sang an operatic aria to the thunderous applause of a visiting group of Dutch Christians!!!!! So many other places finally ending up in Tel Aviv where Martin, Zvi and I paid tribute to Felafel Gabbay, the wonderful felafel place on 300 Dizengoff Street with the big sign "Soldiers in Uniform Eat Free". Of course we were treated to special service because we are friend of Itchko (Yitzik Lev). Tel Aviv was more relaxed although one special treat was visiting the Independence Hall on Yom HaAtzma'ut - Independence Day, sitting in the very hall where David Ben Gurion declared the founding of the Jewish state by the name of Israel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy_LlKE9OMQ  From there we went to Old Jaffa and after walking through the streets we stood in the port and proudly watched the fly-past of generations of Israeli aircraft. Our hearts filled with pride.

Eva was amazing, the Lindenfelds truly magnificent friends and our new friends Lee and Lusillo were sheer joy. We were so proud to show them our country, to impart our understanding and to learn new things from Eva. It was a rediscovery of how truly miraculous Israel is.

We ate gourmet and street, we drank fine wines (all local) and freshly squeezed fruit juices on the street; we laughed, cried, learned and watched and it was good - very good.

On our last day, when Martin, Helene, Lee and Lusillo had already left, we sadly packed our bags and went down for breakfast in the hotel gardens. We sat beside a couple, who looked very friendly and began to chat with them. They are lovely, they are friendly and I am happy to say that they are coming for Friday night dinner tonight!!!!! Dale and Steve Hoffman are staying in the King David, enjoying touring and rediscovering Israel after a 20 some year break. Tonight they will see the View from Our Veranda - along with other delightful Israeli friends and Zvi's cousin Debby Gutverg who is on a course for a select group of Mexican Jewish teachers here in Israel. The course was initiated by Danny Liwerant who recognised the importance of the connection between the community and Israel. 

After a week of history, reminders, memories and fun. A quote from the New Testament on a Coptic Church sums up the current atmosphere  - They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God.

I am not that pessimistic though. Who could have imagined that we would come back after 2,000 years of dispersion to form a country that within 70 years has come from the Middle Ages to a 21st century powerhouse? This country is beautiful, productive, innovative, giving and hey........ it's my home!!!!

This week I was reminded of my roots and my future - having met very special friends from my Welsh past, Andrew, Jennifer, Madeleine, Sue, Averil and Jill and enjoyed the company of new friends. That is how we spend our lives here - meeting, greeting and learning from others. 

Wishing you a beautiful Shabbat, one in which you have time for yourself yet are surrounded by loved ones. I pray for those who are sick and remind them that I need them, they are important to me and to us.

Shabbat Shalom dear friends, be well, be strong, know who you are and love what you are.

With all our love from Jerusalem, beautiful, spiritual, enjoyable city - with 9/10ths of the worlds beauty. Next week we celebrate Jerusalem Day, in celebration of the reunification of the city in 1967 after 19 years of Jordanian rule on the Holy sites. This song reminds us of Jerusalem's importance as Yossi Azulay sings King Davids words, written in this very city in this language 3,000 years ago https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Irm-0IKPGic

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 from Jerusalem - politics, fun and personal thoughts

130208

8^th February 2013

Shabbat Shalom dear friends. If I were to choose a quote that expressed my feelings, albeit not PC today, I would choose Benjamin Disraeli's response to the goading of a fellow Member “Yes, I am a Jew, and when the ancestors of the Right Honorable gentleman were brutal savages in an unknown island, mine were priests in the temple of Solomon”

I looked up the meaning of PARADOX because I hate misinforming you and the explanation was Ehibiting inexplicable or contradictory aspects . I then thought of the epitome of Paradox which is exhibited in opinion of the Middle East. The only country that reaches out the hand of friendship and aid to its neighbours; that gives succour to its enemies; that provides the world with incredible technological, medical and scientific advances; gave the world its social laws and honours, nay admires the West is the only country in the area that is constantly derided, upbraided and hated in favour of countries that hate the west, oppress their citizens, burn the American flag and declare war on the very countries that love them. Yup PARADOX if ever I saw one!!!!

Ban Ki Moon may be blind and deaf but sadly he is not mute. This week he held a press conference in which insisted, yet again, that a few houses on disputed land are the cause of all problems in the area. He forgot to mention the extreme and constant Palestinian building in those same disputed areas!!!

Hezb-Allah was behind Bulgarian bus bomb at the Burgas Airport – surprise surprise. Will Europe finally name Hezb-Allah as a terrorist entity? To follow, an article by rare, forthright and candid politicians whose staunch support of Israel separates them from most European leaders, David Trimble andJosé María Aznar.

“Jihadi terrorism is still alive and, as events in Mali and Algeria show us, poses a direct threat to us. The turmoil in North Africa reminds us that jihadism has no boundaries and that when confronting terrorism it is always better to prevent it rather than deal with its consequences. The EU, however, sometimes refuses to face the reality of terrorism. One strong case in point is Hezbollah.

In July last year a bus full of Israeli tourists was blown to pieces by a young suicide bomber in Burgas, Bulgaria — five Israelis and the Bulgarian bus driver were killed. All the evidence points to it being a plot conceived and executed by Hezbollah.”

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/columnists/article3671013.ece

After the furore over the Gerald Scarfe's foul Times Cartoon, Rupert Murdoch apologised immediately and genuinely; the Editor apologised profusely for his lack of taste and forethought; as to Gerald Scarfe – he simply said he was sorry it was published on International Holocaust Day! Your letters helped. http://www.tomgrossmedia.com/mideastdispatches/archives/001335.html

After the Superbowl ad, Sodastream has become the target of the rabid BDS rabble. Here isthe truth http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl85AL1l0H0 The owners not only brought in people according to their abilities and the opportunity to work together in harmony but gave ALL faiths

prayer facilities on the site.

Driving to one of my meetings I was listening to the Israeli news channel and heard someone speak in the most perfect, beautiful Hebrew, with a slight Arabic accent. My ears pricked up and I learned that the man speaking was the director of Israel Radio in Arabic for Kol Yisrael. Yasser Nadila and a commentator whose name I didn't catch were proudly describing the fact that they had total autonomy over content of their programming and managed to put the REAL news from Israel out into the Arabic speaking world. It made me so happy. One Kol Yisrael programme that I love is Elihu Ben On's “The Israel Connection” whereby he speaks to Hebrew speakers all over the world hearing their views and opinions in Hebrew. http://www.israelradio.org/connection.htm

As usual we had a crazy week! It all began on Shabbat when Zvi and I met with the “Doppelt Volunteers”. Each year Carol and Steven Doppelt bring a group of friends and fellow congregants to volunteer in their projects in Haifa and they spend at least one weekend (Shabbat) in Jerusalem. This year Carol was sadly missed since a medical problem forced her to stay at home but as always their son Michael was central to their Shabbat, having just returned from a visit to Ethiopia where he and others accompanied some of the last Jews on their journey home. Their questions were varied and I left Zvi to talk about the politics – I talk about our way of life and all matters positive!!!!

As with all good events in Jerusalem there was an unexpected invitee, who the group met in the hotel elevator!!!! Sarah is a post-grad student at NYU and is writing a Thesis on womens rights/issues in various places in the world. She arrived in Jerusalem from Kurdistan and asked for my help in understanding womens issues in the various sectors of our complex society. Of course we invited her home and as luck would have it she arrived just as our dear friend Tim King bought his wonderful daughter Anna to discuss her immediate future and possibilities. Anna, a beautiful former model with the most glorious flame red hair, gave up her blossoming career to enter the IDF as a Hummer instructor. Anna, whose father Tim was one of the founders of the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem, is a proud Christian Israeli and spoke to Sarah about women in the IDF. It was such a joy listening to the intelligence with which both women discussed the subject. Anna, who is getting married in just a few months, would make the perfect advocate for Israel overseas – I hope her talents will be utilised by those who decide. In the meantime we wish Tim, Martha and of course the bride and groom a hearty Mazal Tov.

Actually the week began with brunch at Caffit in the Botanical Gardens with the Oppenheimers, which has become a delightful tradition for the four of us! It was a glorious day, the winter sun was shining as we sat and enjoyed the phenomenal salads. I love the fact that all the waiters there are students, post IDF and so funny and cute! Conversations often include them, the aura is gentle, the view amazing and the food they serve is exquisite! http://en.botanic.co.il/

Brunch was followed by a very exciting event. My wonderful grand-daughter Talia has proven her reading ability by completing her reading of the prayer book and an amazing “Sium Siddur” party ensued! The girls put on a two and a half hour show, singing, dancing and generally making all of the women in the audience, Mothers and Grandmothers, cry with joy and laugh in surprise. I was so proud of her and of her Mummy, especially when the last song they sang was for th Mothers, thanking G-d for giving these wonderful little girls a Mother who loves them so much.

Yesterday Zvi dragged me unwillingly to a lecture, one of a series on geneaology, conceived by our dear friend Motti Friedman. All I wanted was to rest no go to a lecture but as the speaker began I became enthralled. I learned a new word, Onomastics, or the study of names and all about the origin of Jewish names, when surnames began and how they were created. I had no idea of the variations of each individual name and began to realise why I had so much difficulty finding Zvi's ancestors – but also learned many new ways of looking. Who knew that by adding an asterisk to the search you opened a new world or opportunities? For instance, if you want to find all version of the name Abrahams you would write Abra* and all the alternatives would appear!!!! The lecture was interspersed with accounts of enormous historical significance as well as information on tracing family. Next week I will accompany Zvi willingly!!!!

It is Friday, the wind is blowing, the air crisp and everyone is returning home to prepare for Shabbat and snuggle under the warm covers for their “schlaffshtunder” or siesta. Shabbat comes in early and the preparations over before the lighting of the candles to welcome the bride of Shabbat into our homes. The expectation of Shabbat is all around, the air redolent with the aromas of many continents, of epicurean traditions that arrived with communities as they fled homeward from persecution in foreign lands. Israels melting pot is special because we have an important common denominator – Judaism.

I leave you with a special recording of Hatikvah by Al Jolson. Shabbat Shalom to you – whoever and wherever you may be. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqB8kZjxOCI

With much love from Jerusalem, our common denominator of love, yearning, beauty and joy.

Sheila