150626 Muhammad and Sarah Zoabi, London, The 43 Group, Claars, Opera

150626

26th June 2015

Shabbat Shalom from beautiful Jerusalem!! Yes I am back home.

My sojourn in the UK was absolutely wonderful. Family, friends and walking in the green, green parks and playing fields; eating the best food imaginable; going to Sammy's school fete and dancing with his wheelchair; watching Olivia and Zachary run in their school sports; going to eat a delicious fish meal with Catherine in the local pub; visiting the childrens cheder (sunday school) with Gideon and seeing the hundreds and hundreds of children happily learning of their traditions and commitments as young Jews. While the little ones learned Gideon and I went to visit Nicholas Pelmont, Gideons childhood friend, a special treat.  I went to South Wales, sitting on the train watching a strangely familiar landscape passing by, eagerly anticipating my arrival and hugging my beautiful sister - all fulfilled - spending time with siblings, nieces and nephews, and even the next generation. Making morning tea for Stephanie as she raced around, in incredible good humour, preparing everyone for school, was an especially delightful task, particularly when Gideon joined us before heading off on his bicycle. Actually bicycle is hardly the right description for this shining example of modernisation!!!

I managed to see everyone who called me - including Yaffa, Eleanor, the Rydes and enjoyed every second.

Gideon, like his cousin Steven, is very aware of the rise of anti-Semitism in the world. They can't do anything about other countries but Britain is another matter. I heard stories of Oswald Mosley's neo-Nazi thugs from my father, because they appeared in Cardiff too, but didn't know the full story of the Jewish rebellion to his fascist activities. Gideon told me about The 43 Group, and its founder Morris Beckman, describing his admiration for this group of men and women who had fought in the Second World War, knew the result of fascism, and were not willing to sit back and allow it to happen again. After his recounting of the story I found Morris Beckman's book about the 43 Group, no longer on the shelves, on Amazon and bought it for Gideon's birthday, only to find that the book I bought has a dedication in the hand of Beckman himself. The subject came up because on July 4th, a Shabbat, a fascist group intends demonstrating outside Golders Green station (Golders Green is a very Jewish area of London) and a large number of Jews and other morally bound Brits, intend to face these thugs off. Take note of the 43 Group, they brought down Oswald Mosely and they can bring down his modern-day emulaters. This video records the original events  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSNkTnIsWho and this one the memories of those involved https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyV78R213cY 

Last night we met up with wonderful friends Joyce and Fred Claar, visiting Jerusalem for their annual intellectual stimulation at the Hartman Institute. Both are very involved in Jewish Education. Over dinner I recounted the above story and Fred said that in modern day New York you suffer the same problems but too many people are so PC that they consider incitement to hatred (a crime) as freedom of speech. We should all read the Beckman book http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-43-Group-Against-Fascism/dp/0903738759 I bought mine from Pennine Books, and when my order was received they wrote to tell me how thrilled they are that people still buy the book - since they spent their lives fighting fascism.

Muhammad Zoabi is an Israeli Arab, and Israeli Moslem and most of all an Israeli. Last year Muhammad put a video on Facebook, on Israeli Independence Day, giving absolute support to the State of Israel. He received death threats and found safe haven in the home of Kay Wilson, who herself was the victim of a macabre machete attack while walking in the Jerusalem Hills. While recognising Muhammads bravery I wondered where it came from, after all he was barely 16 at the time. Well here it is. His Mother, Sarah, entered Israel's Master Chef and chose to speak out about the situation of Moslems in Israel - and surprised the world. http://www.israellycool.com/2015/06/24/watch-sarah-zoabi-mother-of-muhammad-on-master-chef-i-am-a-proud-zionist/

Last night, as we sat in the Sultan's Pool, beside the magnificent walls of the Old City of Jerusalem watching and wondering at the Israeli Opera production of L'elisir d'amore in that magical place http://www.israel-opera.co.il/Eng/?CategoryID=759, I noticed Zvi surreptitiously checking his cell-phone, not his usual behaviour at operas, even open-air ones. Why? Because HaPoel Jerusalem basketball team was in the national final!! It took place in the spanking new arena. HaPoel Jerusalem won!!! The National Champions kissed each and every one of the opposing team, Eilat, upon winning. When Mayor Nir Barkat held the cup high above his head, one of the journalists asked how Jerusalem was going to celebrate las tnight. "Not just tonight but all year" laughed the mayor. http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Sports/Hapoel-Jerusalem-fans-gather-in-capital-to-watch-historic-championship-game-407197

So much has happened this week but I haven't time to tell you!! I will write on Sunday if I can. We are on our way to a friends 70th birthday party and I don't want to be late. So I will leave you with a few videos to bring in the Shabbat mood. This video of Jerusalem from a drone is gorgeous https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeyaN-gyBPY

Somehow the Mizrachi (Eastern Jews) religious songs have so much joy and I love this Lecha Dodi! Mizrachi Lecha Dodi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPC47rJbgI0

Hatikva - Hope. The world is looking grim - too near to the world of 1939. Hatikva at Auschwitz https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=37&v=Qi3BW2G3u4c

I have to love you and leave you. I wish you a fine Shabbat filled with wonder and joy. Shabbat, day of Torah and Traditions, of family and prayer.

I ask you to pray for Ezra Dov ben Iska who is undergoing a heart transplant today. pray for him and his Reizele

Moshe ben Rachel, just because I love him and he is going through tough times. For him and his Devorah Leah.

We'll talk on Sunday about the dreadful situation with Iran, Syria, Iraq, Yemen and so on after Shabbat, after all it is a day of rest!

With love from my beloved Jerusalem and the magnificent view from our veranda.

Sheila

-- 

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

150618 Baruch Ivcher, Denis MacEoin, Syrian Druze, London, Wales

150618

18^th June 2015

Shabbat Shalom from sunny London! Yes it is sunny! Not only is it sunny but I have had the best food in every restaurant and pub and of course my daughter in law cooks the yummiest meals. Pub food is always the best, fresh, sometimes simple but always delicious and sitting outside in the gardens with the gentle British sunshine is a special treat. I am not comparing anything with Jerusalem, just telling you that British food is terrific!

I travelled down to Wales to see my siblings and families. Wales, “How Green is my Valley” is the most evocative of Welsh stories because the green if the fields is so bright, the frequent rain creates its own miracles.

And so to news, we’ll get back to my trip later.

Denis MacEoin is a lecturer in Arabic and Islamic Studies at Newcastle University in northern England, and an expert on Islam and Shari’a Law. Fluent in Persian and Arabic, he has a PhD in Persian/Islamic Studies from Cambridge University. Denis is also a strong proponent for Israel. He wrote this fascinating article concerning the dreadful situation in the worlds university campus’  The Upside-Down World of University Human Rights - Open Letter to the UK National Union of Students http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/5939/university-human-rights

I am deeply distressed, offended and angry at the desecration of the Church of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes at Tabgha, President Reuven Rivlin with Father Gregory Collins, head of the Order of Saint Benedict in Israel. “I was shocked and saddened to learn this morning of the fire at the Church at Tabgha. Such terrible desecration of an ancient and holy place of prayer and an attack on the very fabric of life in our country, where people of different faiths seek to live together in harmony and mutual tolerance and respect.”  I sincerely hope that those responsible will serve many years in jail.

The current situation in Syria and the fact that the rebels are closing in on the Syrian Druze villages has aroused old fears in the hearts of Israel’s Druze community and the Israeli government has responded by preparing to absorb those fleeing their imminent death by Islamic rebels. Of course the Telegraph had to write that Israeli Druze and those on the occupied Golan Heights – afraid of a compliment to Israel are they? Even this apparently level headed report form India mentions it. As if every other country immediate gave back land won in war!!!!  http://www.newindianexpress.com/world/Israel-Ready-To-Intervene-in-Syria-Conflict-to-Save-Druze/2015/06/18/article2873170.ece

I was involved in a rather hot discussion on Disqus concerning the Israeli cartoon mocking the foreign press coverage of Gaza. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2MdayBMhb4 The incredibly racist comments about a short and funny, incredibly truthful little video were of course what I expected. It is quite acceptable to be racist if it is anti-Semitic! In fact, when fighting these comments, or journalists, don’t way anti-Semitic, call it what it is RACIST, RACIST not politically correct.

There is lots of good news too!

We have a friend, Israeli, who went to Peru and in addition to a bedding business, set up a radio station. Nothing special in that, however, Baruch Ivcher is no ordinary man and his story is not either. Baruch believes in free speech and despite the radio/ TV station being blown up and his life threatened when he revealed that both the President and the security services were involved in drugs and corruption he refused to hold his silence. Ivcher is so much more than a businessman, more than the owner of a TV station he is a fierce and determined fighter for free speech and the freedom of the little man. Baruch never lost his love for his homeland and this week Baruch and his wife Neomy dedicated the Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology at the Herzliya Interdisciplinary Centre. The plethora of dignitaries at the ceremony were well deserved, recognising his generosity and love for Israel.  Zvi was thrilled to be there and to cheer his old friend on. http://www.noodls.com/view/6E5D657B7D4A71C9CD8B65726B744C9308C90912?7558xxx1434540754

A Swedish chain of supermarkets has backed out of an attempt to boycott Israeli goods, fighting back against a major newspaper campaign. The Israeli Ambassador to Sweden chose to fight back by stating it was wrong to pick on one country. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4669991,00.html

Matan Ben-Canaan is a young Israeli artist and won a major award this week – from the BBC no less. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-33158509

Israel hosted a plethora of major stars recently, wonderful performances, fantastic shows.  The most recent to announce a visit is Bon Jovi. Jon Bon Jovi  dismissed as utter lies reports in the western media that the group considered boycotting Israel, saying Israel is “the one place they want to play” and they “couldn’t care less about boycott calls”; The star is looking forward to their Tel Aviv concert.

American comedian Jay Leno returned to Israel and quipped “President Obama has declared the month of May Jewish American Heritage Month. He is calling it an opportunity to renew our ‘unbreakable bond with the nation of Israel.’ And he knows it’s unbreakable because he’s been trying to break it for the last several years.Well I thought it was quite funny!

Back to my trip. I came to be with family and have seen very few friends, and thoroughly enjoyed my time with family. Since I don’t have a car here those I see came to visit, except for my foray into Wales. This trip down memory lane was enhanced by our newest family member – Sebastian, son of Carly and James and grandson of my nephew Steven and Claire. Little Sebi is the fourth generation Welsh Silver and he really does us proud! Wales,Jews who were not seduced by the “Goldener Medina” (the Golden Country as America was dubbed) or the metropolis of London, came to Wales because of its similarity to their native Polish villages. They began selling household goods “on tick” (payments) and many built themselves up to big business so that their children could enter the professions. These small communities then died out with the fall of coal mining and moved to Cardiff, the Welsh Capital city which became the springboard to greatness for a surprising number and its innate Zionism meant that out of the 3,000 Welsh Jews 500 made Aliya to Israel. http://www.jewishgen.org/jcr-uk/community/wales/How_Greeners_came_to_the_valley.htm

Wales is known as the Land of Song and I couldn’t decide which song best portrayed that love but Rugby had to win. Just absorb the beauty of the Welsh Voices https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AM4mIlYKG9s  of course it was just before a game where Wales beat England 30-3!!!!

Apart from Wales, my lovely cousin Lynne and Mike came up from Oxford, Valerie and Martin from Reading and the Ryde Family who used to be from Reading by now live nearby. It is always fun recounting the past and learning of the present and of course we did that, but I have to admit that my conversations with Stephen Ryde give me so much pleasure – I love Victor, Jacqueline and Gaynor too but Stephen is such an enthusiastic and passionate proponent for Israel, he makes me proud.

Tomorrow I will see my Jill, to hug her and remind her of the wonderful love she and Victor z”l shared.

Other than that, I am enjoying every single second with my children and grandchildren Sammy, Olivia and Zachary and relish their antics and excited stories of school, tennis and running club. Of course I am thrilled to realise time and time again what an excellent Barrister (no not Barista) my son Gideon is.

It is good to remember how good, delicious and healthy, food is in the UK although I am horrified at the cost of fruit and vegetables, although I found greater appreciation of the abundance of seasonal fruit at home. The trouble with this modern family, spread over the world, is that while  loving the ones I am with I always miss the ones who are not beside e. This week I won’t be collecting Yosef, Talia and Ayala from school nor will I get my freshly baked challah from Rachel, nor see the panorama from Nebe Samuel, however, tomorrow I will watch the children as we light candles, Gideon will sing the Kiddush and we will all break bread together as we say the blessing over the challah.Tradition eh?

Here the Kinderlech – Children, sing Shalom Aleichem https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGraezJ3PYk to welcome the Shabbat.

Shema Yisrael from Micha’el Ben David https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hdG1aXlExI

I want to wish my Moslem readers a blessed Ramadan, my Christian readers a blessed Sabbath and Jewish readers Shabbat Shalom.

I leave you with Bless This House by Welshman Harry Secombe – a fine man indeed. May your house be blessed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4yhGf1shQ8

Shabbat Shalom

Sheila

-- 

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

130117

17^th January 2013.

Shabbat Shalom to you all and a great big Mazal Tov to my wonderful brother in law Melvyn who is 80 years old today.

My time in the UK was warm even if the weather was cold and of course I loved being with my incredible grandchildren. Kinneret Chayas father Moishe calls his grandchildren his "nechasim"  - the Hebrew for grandchildren is nechaDIM and nechaSIM means assets- assets they certainly are!!!!

Talking of Kinneret Chaya - I met Sari Singer through Kinneret Chaya as we both worked to let the world understand what an incredible young woman, a true survivor, Kinneret Chaya is. Through our mutual admiration for KC I agreed to speak at Sari's synagogue "Temple Shaarei Tefilla" (The Gates of Prayer) and met Rabbi David Greenberg and Ron Myerson and out of those friendships incredible projects have blossomed.

 
When Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast of the USA only one country came to the aid of the ever generous United States and that is tiny Israel through IsraAidhttp://www.israaid.co.il/ . Rabbi Greenberg is always looking for appropriate projects for his community and sure enough, after I made a "cyber shidduch" members of the community set off with their tools and helped IsraAid to rebuild in Sandy Point, repeating the exercise just one week later. Jake, a young man who volunteered with the original group, wrote to me saying how much he got out of the experience and he has gathered a group of young people to help IsraAid again in Sandy Point. 

So you see folks, the power of one is strong and living in Bedford, New York. It passes on from one, to one, to one and multiplies in power each time. I talk about it all the time and believe it can change our world. It only takes one person willing to listen, willing to act and lo and behold - one has a movement for good.

Pres Obama thinks that Netanyahu is the problem???? With the entire area falling into chaos and terrorism rife – how can he? Mali, Syria, now Algeria, citizens slaughtered for disagreeing with their government; Christians killed willy nilly for not being Moslems; Bahai banned from Egyptian schools; has anyone noticed that ALL the trouble-spots in our world are Islamic? Israel the problem? Netanyahu the problem? I think someone somewhere has got his priorities wrong.

The situation in Mali became so extreme that the French decided to intervene militarily. Meanwhile, in neighboring Algeria, terrorists decided to avenge the French actions by kidnapping dozens of foreign diplomats as hostages to force the French to retreat. They are holed up in the compound of a colossal gas installation and in an utterly unwise attempt to end the situation the Algerian army strafed the convoy of hostages and terrorists, causing the deaths of most of the hostages and many terrorists. Some of the hostages are being forced to wear explosives, according to French television reports. The situation remains unresolved.

Australia has suffered the worst bush fires for a very long time as vast areas are taken by the force of flames in Tasmania and New South Wales. Apparently the fires began in many different places raising suspicions that it may have been, at least partially, arson. The sheer ferocity of the flames is fanned by searing temperatures and wind. Israel sent her condolences to the victims and prayers for those who lost their homes.

Israel's elections are just a few days away and everyone is in a tizz. I have never seen so many Israelis uncertain where to place their X. I am certain that Benjamin Netanyahu and the Likud Party will win but the question is who will be strong enough to be an influential part of the resultant coalition. Voting for the small parties is a waste of time and energy under these circumstances and voting for extremes is too. What will happen after the elections? David Horovitz, probably the most pragmatic of journalists discusses the Obama/Netanyahu relationship.http://www.timesofisrael.com/storm-warning-2/

Dear Ron Myerson - thank you - you caused me to look up the meaning of Loacoon - and I discovered that he was the one who warned the Trojans about the wooden horse. What a shame he isn't about now to warn the world about the Arab Spring Islamic revolution. It made me think dear Ron, maybe Steve Emerson is our Loacoon with his "Jihad in America" book which caused such uproar and name calling until 9/11 when he was finally believed.

Since my return life has been suitably insane!! Of course the first thing Zvi and I did on our way back from the airport was to stop and hugs my grandchildren who were suitably thrilled to see me as was my daughter Rachel. The next day was my birthday, and no, I won't say how old I am, but I am thrilled to be that age!!!

Rachel and the children came over to sing Happy Birthday and light fireworks on my cake. It was so exciting!!! Then we went out to dinner with our lovely friends Rosa and Bernardo Romanowsky and Irit Lev – to a terrific restaurant in the German Colony called……….. Roza!!! The food was marvelous and the company delightful and I even got a sparkler in my dessert!!!

The next day Dana and Betty took me out for our traditional birthday lunch to the Botanical Gardens. It was such a beautiful day. The sun shone, the air crisp, the company excellent, the pond shining and the food marvelous. We had so much fun despite our uncertainty for whom to vote which was a major part of our conversations. Here in Israel we are not afraid to discuss such things, especially since it is not a matter of family pride, virtually everyone I know is a floating voter, we do not have the same level of party loyalty……. Probably because few parties stick around long enough to make it a generational choice!

Tomorrow, ah tomorrow is Erev Shabbat. Back to the major decisions in life like……. What should we eat!!! The children are not coming to us this week but we have Tamara, Zvi's Mexican cousin, with us. Tamara is 18 years old and she is in Israel for a year. The last two weeks were spent in the IDF doing Marva, full basic training with all the hardships and sense of purpose that a new recruit would endure and she loves it!!! It never fails to amaze me how many young people who are used to a very gentle lifestyle come into their own when put under the stringent training of Marva. Rising at 05:00 and doing a full days training including marching with full equipment on their backs, doing drill, cleaning weapons, responding to orders, eating army food (its good here) and creating terrific relationships with other young people.

Anyway, tomorrow I will see Jerusalem slow down, the shopping malls slowly empty and the streets quieten as Jerusalemites go home to cook, clean and prepare themselves for Shabbat. Ah Shabbat. What a sad world it would be without that wonderful day of family, contemplation, battery recharging and enjoyment.

I wish you Shabbat Shalom and lots of love from Jerusalem with this traditional song from Fiddler on the Roof http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnaZqHy2ZHE&list=PL7893191C50CA8123

And a very un-traditional Shabbat Song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaIviASmllI

,

Sheila