Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem - Egypt, July 4th, Yvel, Saul Same

130705

5^th July 2013

Dear lovely friends, I hope that those among you that hail from the United States had a wonderful July 4^{th .} Happy birthday Uncle Sam! I have often wondered how many people understand that relevance of that holiday to today and todays problems. People who fled religious persecution and found a home in a far distant land after a dangerous journey settled and created a land of bounty from nothing, split into two by economics and culture, a leader encouraged by William Wilberforcehttp://www.probe.org/site/c.fdKEIMNsEoG/b.4218071/ to embrace the ideals of freedom and liberty to all citizens which brought the country to a bloody civil war ending in the creation of one people under G-d. If it were not true one could even imagine it to be a fairy story. Birth of a nation which was to be an example to the world in its defence of freedom in all forms wherever her strength and leadership was needed. Americas leadership learned the hard way that becoming insular and dealing only with her own problems almost led to the destruction of Europe and incurred a horrific attack on the US Fleet – please G-d those same warnings will be met head on this time. A nations economy is not the only item on the agenda -if you take on the job of the worlds policeman one must address every crime............ PC or not.

Egypt is less of a conundrum than most- or is it?. Logically and emotionally we are taught that a military coup cannot be a good move towards democracy yet here it is a real democracy whereby they have publicly stated that this is temporary and they intend re-establishing full democracy. They have not not disallowed the Mosbros as a part of any future government but in this case the Egyptian army is the most democratic way forward - incredible as it may seem to western mentality. For me the most worrying aspect is the unpredictable Mohammed El Baradei who fooled the world while we trusted him to oversee the Iranian nuclear programme (that worked didn't it?) now claims to be against the Moslem Brotherhood government of Morsi yet was exposed as being Moslem Brotherhood himself!!!!

David Horovitz give us 6 reasons for the downfall of Morsi. “After Morsi: 6 thoughts on the ouster of an undemocratic, elected president” http://www.timesofisrael.com/after-morsi-6-thoughts-on-the-ouster-of-an-undemocratic-elected-president/ Quoting American hesitancy, the Brotherhood’s extreme anti-Semitism, and how the short lived leader was the architect of his own downfall

Daniel Pipes explains why he is both delighted and concerned by the events in Egypt http://www.danielpipes.org/13051/egypt-after-morsi

While most Islamic countries are killing and oppressing Christians in Israel Arab Members of Knesset demand that the Greek Orthodox Patriarch fire one of his priests for encouraging his parishioners to go into the IDF thus to be eligible for better jobs and become an essential part of Israeli society.

Last week, Balad MK's Basel Ghattas and Haneen Zoabi wrote to Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem Theophilus III, demanding that Father Gabriel Nadaf either halt his activities supporting Christian Arab enlistment or be fired by the patriarch from his position as a serving priest in his congregation in Yafia, near Nazareth. http://www.jpost.com/National-News/Campaign-against-Christian-Arab-conscripts-condemned-by-Knesset-318601

The wet blankets abounded. They complained about the cost, existence, everything about the wonderful 5^th Presidential Conference on Tomorrow, if not for the Conference' invitationErtharin Cousin, The Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme, would not have been here to learn of how Israel can feed the world.

http://www.wfp.org/news/news-release/wfp-and-fao-explore-new-cooperation-israel-smart-solutions-increasing-global-food- 

Phillip Pasmanick is one of Israels finest proponents. If you haven't joined his wonderful Facebook Page “Israel and Stuff” then you should! Phillip wrote this

Some people say that Arabs are "native Palestinians", while Jews are "invaders" and "settlers".
I read the biographies of Israeli and Palestinian Arabs political leaders, and was confused.
Who of Israeli and Palestinian Arabs´leaders was born in Palestine?
Igal Allon. Interim Prime Minister of Israel in 1969 born 10 October 1918 in Kfar Tavor, Ottoman Empire, Palestine
Yitzchak Rabin. Prime Minister. Born 1 March 1922, Jerusalem, British Mandate of Palestine.
Benjamín Netanyahu, Born 21 October 1949 in Tel Aviv.
Ehud Barak. Born 12 February 1942 in Mishmar HaSharon, British Mandate of Palestine
Ariel Sharon. Born 26 February 1928 in, Kfar Malal, British Mandate of Palestine
Ehud Olmert. Born 30 September 1945 in Binyamina-Giv'at Ada, British Mandate of Palestine.
Izhak Navon, Israeli President in 1977-1982. Born 9 April 1921 in Jerusalem, British Mandate of Palestine.
Ezer Weizman. Israeli President in 1993-2000. Born on 15 June 1924 in Tel Aviv, British Mandate of Palestine.
Palestinian leaders.
Yasser Arafat. Born 24 August 1929 in Cairo, Egypt( Cairo, in case someone does not know this, is the capital of Egypt and Egypt is not in Palestine. It´s not even in the Middle East; Egypt is situated in Africa.)
Mahmud az-Zahar. Born in 1945, in Cairo, Egypt.
Saeb Erekat . Born April 28, 1955, in Jordan. He has the Jordanian citizenship.
Faisal Abdel Qader Al-Husseini . Born 1948 in Baghdad, Iraq.
Sari Nusseibeh. Born in 1949 in Damascus, Syria

So, Israeli leaders born in Palestine are “invaders” and “settlers”- while Palestinian Arab leaders born in Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Tunisia are “native Palestinians” ?

Perhaps the information above is irrelevant to todays negotiations and situation but this is not. An excellent article by Michael Ordman about the medias “Cloak of Invisibility” when it come to Israeli Tikkun Olam – making this world a better place http://blogs.jpost.com/content/magic-touch

I think I told you that a slew of wonderful visitors have arrived! Since writing to you last week we have been having a ball with the amazing people who come ot see us and give us love -us and Israel.

Friday lunch – Our friend Danby did an amazing job of entertaining all the participants of her and Zvi's Italy trip with his tourism course. We sat happily on their veranda, overlooking the Judean Hills. Jews, Christians and Moslems from all over Israel, eating, talking, laughing and even singing together, each enjoying the company of others. About half way through Professor Gabby Barkay arrived so we invited him to the next step of our week – Shabbat Dinner!

In between the two events I managed ot squeeze in collecting the children from their schools. I was not going to miss an opportunity for my pre-Shabbat kisses or the breathtaking view of Jerusalem on my way home!

Friday night - Joyce and Fred Claar here on course at the Hartman Institute, Mickey and Shlomit Keren, Prof Gabby Barkai and Danby and Marvin Meital came for supper. Fascinating conversation. The weather was perfect, the stars came out to order and I wanted to show them the incredible moon-rise on the horizon of Jerusalem but as they say about the best laid plans.............. it rose about four minutes after they left!!!

We managed to see everyone....... The Liwerants, Danny and Judith, for lunch at Mishkenot Sha'ananim; Then we got to spend lots of precious time with the Lindenfelds which was beautiful, some of it just driving around Jerusalem showing them the places a guide would never take you and a meal at "haTahana" in the old Ottoman period railway station. Made into a boardwalk of restaurants and craft stands and all sorts of cute things. http://www.timesofisrael.com/the-trains-in-the-station/ After our sad goodbyes to the Lindenfelds Arlene Wittels and her daughter Rona arrived which lifted my mood again. Arlene cannot live without her visits to Jerusalem, Israel and me!!!! Rona chose her 50^thbirthday gift as a visit to Israel – yeah Rona! Yesterday we went to Yvel, the prize winning jewellery factory and shop of Isaac and Rona Levy. What an amazing achievement and I don't just mean their exquisite pearls and jewels I refer to their programme to teach Ethiopians to become goldsmiths – fine jewellers – with their own collection. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBJEMJbkNFM

Incidentally I thought you should know that our Mirpesset now has not just oranges, pomegranates and herbs but also green bell peppers, tomatoes and the kumquat and lemon trees are in blossom!!!

Tonight we have a very special guest. Tonight Saul Same, who comes all the way from Melbourne Australia each and every year, will celebrate his 96^th birthday on our veranda, our mirpesset. Saul was born 96 years ago in Be'er Tuvia, right here in Israel and although his parents took him to Australia as a child his heart is, was and always will be in Israel. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAUL

Strangely enough, another man that I love dearly has his birthday on Sunday, my adored son Gideon Saul – incredible father, wonderful husband and great friend – and by the way an a pretty darned amazing son too!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIDEON SAUL!!!!

So that's this week and next week holds even more fun!!!!

Shabbat Shalom to you all. I wish you love, laughter and a Shabbat filled with family, contemplation and tradition. Having said that here's a non-traditional thought for Shabbat 1http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaIviASmllI

With love from Jerusalem

Shevua Tov and Happy Birthday America

090704

Happy Birthday America!!!!!



Gosh 233 years old – just imagine - if you had enjoyed a good cuppa tea while paying your excessive taxes you would still be part of Britain!!!! George III is undoubtedly spinning in his grave at your phenomenal success! You stand as a fine example to the world; you stand head and shoulders above most countries, not by size but by achievement. Your heroes are as multi-faceted as your history, and their battles as diverse. You have extremes, extremes which can only blossom in democracy since they range from right to left across the full spectrum of thought. I fear that your openness, your strength, is also your Achilles' heel. Remember that your greatness does not protect you from attack; your power does not make you immune; your vast intelligence does not make you the wiliest and it is wile and guile which win the current war. In the war of words and lies which purport to be about the Middle East, The United States is the target, together with her allies Canada, the UK and of curse Israel…. no that was not a typo, for "them" Israel is the curse.



Yoram Ettinger, former Israeli Ambassador to the United States reminds us that thanks to the United States Congress our distress and concern for US/Israel relations may well be exaggerated. http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-3741070,00.html



Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey www.menendez.senate.gov amazed me with his eloquence and fervour, subsequent to President Obama's Cairo speech. In this oration his grasp of history is apparent, his understanding of Israel and her enemies exceptional. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuOH2YycFP8



One American stands above all others as the champion of equality and freedom in the US, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. Dr King was also a great proponent of the Jewish State, recognizing the similarities in our battles and aims.

". . . You declare, my friend, that you do not hate the Jews, you are merely 'anti-Zionist.' And I say, let the truth ring forth from the high mountain tops, let it echo through the valleys of God's green earth: When people criticize Zionism, they mean Jews--this is God's own truth." "Antisemitism, the hatred of the Jewish people, has been and remains a blot on the soul of mankind. In this we are in full agreement. So know also this: anti-Zionist is inherently antisemitic, and ever will be so. " "Letter to an Anti-Zionist Friend," Saturday Review_XLVII



So it is with settlements, when it concerns Israel. Settlers of the United States, of Canada, of Australia, of South America are all lauded as heroes; the US even has a day devoted to a turkey for them! The word "settlers" has been misappropriated and misused and has absolutely no bearing on peace, indeed it negates the truth. "Settlers" conjures up a picture of violent reactionaries on a hilltop brandishing cudgels at innocent Palestinians which is far, in the case of legal settlements, far from the truth. Last Thursday I was driving along road 443 from Modi'in to Jerusalem and wondered at the barren beauty which surrounded me. Nothingness. I was travelling through the "shtachim" the disputed territories, on a highway which ends up very close to our home. Shortly after driving past the thriving new city of Modi'in, one crosses a checkpoint (un-manned) into the disputed area; one feels no danger, indeed the road is the same but the landscape is utterly different. The barren, stoney, uncared for hills with occasional houses, are strikingly different to the beautiful flower laden streets of the few Jewish settlements along the way. The Jewish towns are not built by destroying existing homes they do not disturb or harm anyone; they bring trees and trade, schools and scholars to the area. The area is disputed not occupied and those Palestinians who choose to build not fight are doing really well as the new luxury shopping malls in Ramallah and Jenin shows http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3322614,00.html



Some people come into ones life and enrich and strengthen your soul. Shalom Dror was such a man. http://www.kkl.org.il/KKL/basic_templateNoMenu_Eng.aspx?id=19922 Hero, gentleman, mentor, friend, proud Jew, and Israeli to his very core, Shalom passed away yesterday, still a hero but he lost the battle. Shalom was so much more than a hero of the book "O Jerusalem"; tall, handsome, charming, clever and loving, he was husband to Nehama and adoring father to their four children. Tragedy brought them even closer with the devastating news of their eldest son Danny's death in the Six Day War battle for Jerusalem and that of their grand-daughter who died at the hands of a crazed robber in San Francisco. Despite their tragedies the Dror's never complained, always supported; Shalom was a child of the Holocaust yet responded to the Nazi call for death with the Zionist call for life. Shalom and Nehama fought in the Hagana and then in the fledgling Israeli Defence Force in the War of Independence. The story of his part in the battle for the Katamon area of Jerusalem, is told in the book "O Jerusalem"http://www.vibrationdata.com/jerusalem.htm . Shalom realised how exhausted the Jordanian troops were and with 2 fellow soldiers beside him he captured the area and secured it for Israel. In the view from my veranda I see Katamon and know that Shalom Dror displayed the determination and hope which re-built this country, the country of his ancestors. Farewell dear hero, dear friend - may your soul rest in peace.



On Tuesday July 7th at 7 in the morning Israel time, 232 North American new Olim to Israel arrive on one of 15 Nefesh benefesh flights to Ben Gurion Airport. If you want to watch their emotional arrival live go to www.nbn.org.il/live This particular Aliyah has special meaning for Zvi and I since Zvi's cousins Jacobo and Rachel Hans and their three children are among those arriving on the 21st of July. Behatzlaha and Bruchim ha Ba'im habayita (Welcome home) to all the Olim.



Today it will rain in Israel!!! We all treat it as a freak meteorological phenomenon but equally know that it occurs every two years!!!! Just a few years ago a full 20 cms (7.9 inches) fell in one day in Acre!!! The rain is deeply welcome as long as it doesn't come along with half the Sahara desert! I am certain that the plants on my veranda will welcome the unexpected miracle – should it materialise. Actually Stanley, my pomegranate tree has recovered from its neglect during our visit to the States and has decided to flower again! Who knows maybe we will have pomegranates for Rosh Hashana (New Year) after all!



Instead of me trying to convince you of the incomparable beauty of Jerusalem, watch these videos- they cannot bring you here but they can assuage your longing for a short while. http://www.israelinphotos.com/gallery1.htm http://www.jerusalemshots.com/Jerusalem_he3-8970.html and finally http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXZPLl-4o4U&feature=related



I love this city, I love its familiarity and its diversity; its exquisite beauty and its deep meaning. Even though I am one of the lucky ones who live in Jerusalem I still say the ancient prayer of yearning "Next Year in Jerusalem" because if we don't protect her we are lost. "If I forget thee Oh Jerusalem, let my right hand wither, let my tongue stick to my palate if I do not remember you, if I do not set Jerusalem above my greatest joy" (Psalm 137). Written by King David as he walked the streets of this city 3,000 years ago.

With love

Sheila