150821 Iran, Khaled abu Toameh, Huchabee, Trump, Tel Aviv

150821

21st August, 2015

Shabbat Shalom from Tel Aviv! Yes here we are in Jerusalem's smaller neighbour, enjoying meeting with friends and seeing how the other half lives!

The Israeli media is no better than your media for taking things out of proportion. For instance, Tel Aviv has a number of bridges, fairly short but take traffic over the Yarkon River. One such bridge, rather insignificant and ugly, has to be blown up, in order to prepare the foundations for Tel Aviv's light rail (tram) system. It's name is "Gesher Maariv" the Maariv Bridge, named for the newspaper. The demise of this particular bridge reached headlines proportion on the national news for a whole week and........ a group of young people who have no idea of its significance or lack thereof, held a vigil demonstration at the mythical bridge!!!!! Hey guys, it's a bridge and the only people who will be seriously affected are the businessmen near it, until the tram is in operation. We went through it in Jerusalem and it was tough but now, the light rail is incredible above all expectations. In truth I am thrilled it reached the headlines because that means nothing worse was going on - or was it?

A political earthquake is taking place in the USA over the so called "Iran Deal". http://www.maurice-ostroff.org/evaluating-the-nuclear-deal-on-its-merits-part-2/

Mike Huckabee went to Shiloh and declared it part of Israel http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Who-needs-Iowa-Huckabee-to-hold-fund-raiser-in-West-Bank-settlement-412418

Donald Trump has been calling a spade a shovel and while the media is horrified the public is amused and interested.

President Obama, while still in office, began fundraising one billion dollars to build a library and complex in his name when he completes his Presidency. In Israel they put Prime Ministers on trial for much less!!!!!!! 

  

A homicide bombing in Bangkok killed 20 and injured many more. It would appear it was not just the opposition party but far more sinister.

A super terrorist whose gory job was to recruit suicide/homicide bombers, Mohammad Allan, went on hunger strike and due to his resultant medical condition he has been released from prison but held in hospital. The ethics of force feeding are explained here by the exceptional Maurice Ostroff. http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-ethics-of-force-feeding-are-not-straightforward-2/

Khaled Abu Toameh writes beautifully, speaks eloquently and tells the world the truth - the simple truth. The other day he wrote about the Ethnic cleansing of Palestinians - an accusation usually directed at Israel, http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/6314/ethnic-cleansing-palestinians and another excellent article which displays the ignorance created by the rhetoric of the PA to such an extent that young Palestinians join the Islamic State- aka ISIS, their oppressors  http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/6375/palestinians-islamic-state

Mariah Carey came to Israel. The media made a big deal of her refusal to be swayed from this visit but then why should she? Why do we think that it is heroic to come to Israel "despite"? She came to Israel because she wanted to and refuses to listen to bully boy racists. Israel loved you Mariah, loved your performance and didn't even complain when you began the show an hour and a half late!!!! http://www.haaretz.com/life/music-theater/.premium-1.671948

September 6th Israel versus Wales in Cardiff in a UEFA European Football Championship qualifier at Cardiff City Stadium. My family will be there and I hope they have a flag in each hand!!!!

The week began beautifully with a wedding. The son of Elihu and Niva Ben Onn got married and it was a truly beautiful, very Israeli affair. Food before and after a gorgeous outdoor chuppa and a lovely welcome from Elihu to their guests. For those who don't know Elihu has a radio programme talking predominantly to Hebrew speakers all over the world about what they do and where they are. Well worth listening into him on Reshet B.

We came to Tel Aviv for a few days, visiting friends and generally enjoying life. I will not have to cook Shabbat dinner because we are going to Eilata and Shmulik for dinner but not before popping in on Gloria, glorious Gloria Goldstein for a Shabbat kiss. Today we visited Orly and Yossi, yesterday we saw Irit and Yitzik, tomorrow Zvi's cousin Dalia and the weather has calmed down a bit so it isn't too bad.

Both yesterday and today I had the honour of getting to know our friend Flory Haritons family. Her Mother Dalia is such a delight, as is her Aunt......... indeed I thoroughly enjoyed being with them. My only problem about being in Tel Aviv is that I don't get that special Shabbat feeling. I don't see the grandchildren, do not drive past the incredible panorama atop Samuels Tomb, can't watch the city going to sleep, no sunset from our veranda...... yet, don't let anyone tell you differently, Tel Aviv also goes into Shabbat mode!!!

Sure you feel the sense of a real Shabbat more in Jerusalem but Tel Avivim also have a siesta before families meet up for a Shabbat meal. Tel Aviv also slows its pace, sure many go clubbing afterwards, but then in Jerusalem too. 

No recipes this week so I will try to find you better music instead! The first video isn't musical but is music to my ears. The Shabbes Project is a wonderful worldwide project for people to try a real Shabbat just for one day to know how it feels. https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=56&v=S2EkDLqszHs

Idan Raichel is an amazing musician and his Project exceptional. Here they sing a song for Shabbat. The words are simple.  On Sabbath day I shall praise the living God of my salvation and I shall make sacrifices of spices on the day of the return of my temple. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRlpiFza7bI

A little more traditional (!) is a beautiful niggun - music without words. Most of the niggunim are written in the minor key and tend to be somewhat maudlin, but this one is called the Happiness Niggun so I thought I would leave you with a smile on your faces! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Px3u5EvMTM4

With much love from Tel Aviv - after Shabbat we go back to Jerusalem and feel the fabulous fresh mountain air on our faces. After all these years the climb up - the Aliya - to Jerusalem still gives me goose bumps of the best kind. The anticipation as we begin to see the white city before us is inexplicable and exceptional. Love it!

Shabbat Shalom to one and all, whatever you are, whoever you are, from whence you come is irrelevant - what matters is the path you choose.

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

121115

15^th of November 2012

Dear Friends, Shabbat Shalom is a dream this coming weekend. Shalom, sadly, is a prayer not a fact.

After eleven years of missile attacks on the towns and kibbutzim along the border with Gaza, culminating in nearly 200 missiles just this month, Israel decided to act. Despite the headlines this is not an “Israeli offensive in Gaza” this is Israeli defence of Israel.

This morning after constant bombardment of Fajr (pronounced like badger) missiles on civilians the evil intent of Hamas was realised as a family in the small town of Kiriat Malachi, well inside Israeli borders was devastated by a direct hit on their home. Three people died, all members of Chabad and a four year old was severely injured. Of course the world said the bombings were in response to the killing of Ahmed Jabri, leader of the military wing of Hamas and the man who held Gilad Schalit. Jabri was for many years the man that the Israelis could talk to but then he became a leader and gained enormous power, and as we know power corrupts and he became a terrorist, pure and simple.

In case anyone is in doubt of Israels good intentions, we left Gaza voluntarily (which almost split the country), we abided by the demands of the international leaders, we give them food and basic needs, we give them fiscal aid, we are fair and it hasn't helped. An entire generation of Israeli children in the South live an uncertain reality of bomb shelters and suffer PTSD. To say nothing of their parents. It is no way to live!

Just heard that sirens went off in Beersheba, Yavneh, Rishon le Zion, Nes Ziona, Ashdod, Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, Bnei Brak and Givatayim. Fajr missiles actually fell in Beersheba, hitting a house and another fell on the beach in South Tel Aviv.

Any logical person is horrified that the Palestinian leaders are willing to risk the lives of their citizens because of religious fanaticism, hatred and their determination to wipe us off the map. Please if you want to understand click on the links below.

Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs explains the history and the presenthttp://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/About+the+Ministry/Behind+the+Headlines/BTH_Operation_Pillar_of_Defense_14-Nov-2012.htm

Also Jonathan Sacerdoti for Sky News https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=H-Vms2eAeUU 
President Peres tells CNN - All mothers want their babies to sleep at night in safety http://edition.cnn.com/video/?/video/world/2012/11/12/intv-sidner-israel-pres-peres-gaza.cnn

Even more importantly - imagine living for eleven years under these circumstances............. you and your children. 15 seconds to run for cover 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceb28sWxUx8

11^th day of the 11^th month, Remembrance Day in the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, the day we remember and give thanks to those who served to save us. We thought that war was over, how wrong we were. It was a sad day to hear some news.

Young Israelis who grew up in the Intifada and lost friends or family members to terror or suffered the effects of bombings are now reaching majority, they are coming of age. These 18 year olds, the children of parents who strongly believe in the rights of all and had high hopes for a peaceful solution to the aggression of our neighbours, now hate Arabs. They have not yet learned to distinguish between good and bad they hate those who harmed them, their family, their friends and their country with such zealous hatred that they blew up buses carrying innocents and bombed restaurants. It is so sad, but natural I guess, the promises of their parents that we can reach an understanding and peace is achievable proved false.

When the East Coast of the USA was hit by a devastating hurricane help came from one of the smallest yet firmest allies of the USA. Not from the PA, nor Jordan, Not Turkey nor Egypt, not Iran nor Syria, not even European allies.......... it came from Israel. Israel in the form of IsraAid.http://www.israaid.co.il/ and http://israel21c.org/social-action-2/israelis-pitch-in-to-help-after-hurricane-sandy/

Shachar Zahavi the director of IsraAid shared this link when interviewed on news in NY

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/11/14/operation-blessing-intl-israaid-helping-beleaguered-breezy-point-storm-victims/

Even the delivery of petrol was aided by an Israeli invention WAZE, which helped FEMA drivers reach the stricken gas stations. WAZE so much more than, and infinitely better than a GPS and you can download the app on your phone!!!

As the insanity rages in the South Israel continues with normal life. President Peres opened The Annual Assembly of the Council of Religious Leaders in Israel with the Leaders of All of Israel's Religions with a Special Speech on the Current Situation. Life goes on.

It seems strange to say that we went shopping, cooked, baked, prepared for Shabbat and yes, the shopping mall is full right now. Indeed as the correspondents reported that the sirens went off in Tel Aviv the traffic behind them didn't stop, the lights didn't go out on the skyscrapers and no-one seemed disturbed. I find that odd – even arrogant when the Home Guard division of the IDF told people to go down to the safe areas.

In truth I didn't intend writing about politics, diplomacy or war – not even about Jerusalem slowing down for Shabbat – I wanted to describe the everyday life in Jerusalem; the fun, food, theatre, entertainment, zoos, museums, crazy driving, wonderful colourful and worthwhile life we live here but yet again the insanity of our neighbours took over. I was desperate for someone to ask me a question about life in Israel when I spoke in Bedford, NY but time ran out and I didn't manage to tell them that we are a fun and family society who don't let anything get us down.

Zvi is home after a brilliant time with Billy and Ruth in Mexico City and a truly marvellous reunion with all his buddies from the Yiddische Schule who graduated 50 years ago.

It is so good to have him home, home in time for Shabbat. Our house will be open to all our friends in Tel Aviv who feel insecure................. they can come to Jerusalem and experience our Shabbat!!!

Welcome home to Zvi (and me) with this song Shalom Eretz Nehederet – Hello Wonderful Country  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNdN5Ss69Jc

With love from Jerusalem, Capital City of this beautiful innovative, kind, exciting but beleaguered country

Shabbat Shalom

The latest news is that Egypt is trying to broker a cease fire.