211210 Vizier, Violence and Visions

 211210

10^th December 2021

6^th Tevet 5782

 

Shabbat Shalom! Just 14 days, a fortnight, until Christmas Eve! Where has this year gone?

 

I was looking at this week's Torah reading and am convinced that every family should read it and interpret its message for our own family and friends. We all know about Joseph's jealous brothers throwing him into a pit and his sojourn in Egypt, but few think about what followed. When famine hit their homeland (yes we all know where that is) Joseph's brothers came to Egypt begging for help. They didn't recognise their brother who was now a fine aristocratic adult and he admittedly taunted them and demanded the imprisonment of his younger brother Benjamin, but when it came to the crunch, when elder brother Judah begs for Benjamin's release, Joseph reveals his identity and asked just one question "Is my father still alive"? It's all about family, forgiveness and again family. Joseph promised to save his entire tribe from famine and his father Jacob came to Egypt with all his sons and their families, 70 in all, and Joseph gave them the fertile land of Goshen, a gift to the children of Israel (Jacob's other name) to thrive and grow into a fine nation. Joseph forgave his brothers, I believe for the sake of his father. A lesson for so many families to learn. You don't have to like everyone but you can love them.

 

Talking about forgiveness and tolerance, perhaps it is worth thinking about theocracies as opposed to democracies with natural religious leanings. I'm not talking about Synagogue, Church or Temple teachings, we are allowed to learn and use as we choose, I'm talking about forced theologies. Yes of course it is possible to combine democracy and religion – Italy, Spain, France are all democracies with clear religious connection to the Catholic Church and yes, the United States is based on Christian values, the motto of the United States is "In God We Trust"; the motto of the British Monarchy is "Dieu et mon droit" which means "God and my right"; I could continue but I think you get my gist. When does it become a danger? When the ruling of the country is by theocratic principles – a Theocracy. Of course one instantly thinks of Iran, formerly, under the Shah, a relatively free society despite it being a dictatorship; many of the Gulf States, and more recently, Turkey, where Erdogan is doing his best to overturn Ataturk's laws https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustafa_Kemal_Atat%C3%BCrk thus turning a democracy into a theocracy – after Europe's rejection of Turkey's application to join the EU and Erdogan's failed attempts to be accepted into Arab alliances. Never think that religious beliefs, or religious teachings are an imposition as long as you have a choice.

 

It is believed that Iran is now building a nuclear facility in Syria – Ehud Olmert defied the world and destroyed the last Syrian nuclear facility, just imagine what would have happened had he not done so! Syria, a once thriving democracy destroyed by  two cruel dictators encouraged by Iran alongside another once beautiful country destroyed by the Iranian backed Hezb-Allah. I believe the West has underestimated the influence of Iran, fighting their nuclear facilities rather than their octopus like thirst for power. Talks began in Vienna a few days ago and lasted exactly one hour before the Europeans walked out for consultation when the Iranians changed the entire paradigm.

 

Today, most of the Gulf States and indeed many of the Islamic societies have made a conscious attempt to become closer to the West, to change their intolerant manner of teaching children to hate everything that isn't Islam and have come forward asking for assistance in rewriting their school curriculum. The latest member of the Arab world to ask www.impact-se.org for assistance in changing their schoolbooks, introducing tolerance of the other, is Qatar. Yes, book by book, student by student, we can change our world.

 

A few days ago a 15 year old stabbed a Haredi man near the Old City, and two days ago a 14 year old girl from the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jerach stabbed a young woman walking along with her 5 children. Perhaps the hardest thing to accept is that the woman was the girl's neighbour. Luckily the young Mother was lightly injured, although the children were in shock, and when the police arrested the girl they found Hamas style schoolbooks in her bag. We can change the schools but not the Madrassas, the hatred that is taught by religious clerics is considered untouchable. That must change – the teachings in religious institutions must be examined for incitement. Those who teach religion need not fear, but those who teach children to hate must face the music. I am aware that in your country yet another stabbing or shooting is doesn't even make the media, but here it does.

 

I know you want some good news – even good Omicron news! Yesterday, in an interview, President of Shaare Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem, Professor Yonatan Halevi, gave the good news that the hospital now only has 3 serious cases of Covid-19, all of whom were not vaccinated. They have not seen any Omicron at all. The hospital nearly collapsed under the vast numbers of cases about a year or so ago and now, thanks to Israel's vaccination programme's success, the numbers of hospitalized patients is very low. The third vaccination, known as the "booster" has tipped the balance and as parent slowly come to trust the vaccination for children we may just have seen the back of the worst. Since this pandemic took on the appearance of a war on infection I quote Sir Winston Churchill "Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. It is, perhaps the end of the beginning"

 

It rained! Really, really rained! The dreadful dust storms of early winter have been washed away and the air is clear and crisp. My view of Jerusalem is perfect and the sunsets are bright red and pink – simply stunning. My British family find it hard to understand why on earth I am excited by rain…..but then we all know why Britain is such a green and lush land!

 

This has been a very "social" week. I visited my neighbour Naomi, admiring her apartment design then the next day going to our downstairs neighbour Nili to celebrate her husband Itzik's birthday. Itzik has Alzheimer's Disease and although he smiles and is a sweet and kind man, much of his memory has disappeared. A great adventurer, Itzik loved to sing, still does, so Nili invited an accordionist to sing all the old Israeli songs along with the friends and neighbours. He absolutely loved it, even though the words were forgotten his face shone as he hummed and lalala'd along. Toward the end of the evening one of his old friends stood up and told us that whenever there was a function of any sort Itzik always sang "Eli Eli", the poem of Hannah Senesh that Nomi Shemer put to music. We started softly then came to a crescendo – and suddenly Itzik remembered the words and sang out in a beautiful baritone, loud and clear. Not a dry eye in the house.

 

On Wednesday Poodle came to visit. Poodle (aka Sarah), a beloved friend of Daniel and his best friend Justin (aka Paddy) since their Carmel College days, is a very special person. Always kind, wise and gentle she is the truest friend anyone could dream about. Of course we sat and talked about Daniel, but in the way he would have wanted, about his life. Just as Poodle left we got a phone call from our lovely friends the Dagans, telling us that they missed us, so I invited them to supper for left overs!! It was wonderful. Today lovely Flory Benalal is coming for tea and then I meet Zvi and we are going to Amiad and Noga's for supper together with all Zvi's family and to round off the week, tomorrow evening we are going to celebrate Ruth Dodzuik-Justitz birthday in the lovely coffee shop of Shalva. If you have never been to the coffee shop, you are really missing out!

 

I have been asked to describe our project our "Mitcham". About 240 families, predominantly in apartments but also in houses, totally mixed ages from young families to people like us – the AK Club! AK means Alte Kackers or politely put, Oldies! Each evening as I take my prescribed 2 kilometre walk (usually a bit more) I love to see the children in the playgrounds in the park. The central building, once the sanitorium of the major Union, the Histadrut, where people came to recover from various illnesses, in the "best air in Israel". The design of the big house is based on the White House, yes really! It is absolutely stunning and at night is lit with many colours, like Joseph's coat! Most of the area is parkland, the trees newly planted but promising to provide shade and the walking paths zig-zag throughout. The landscaping is exceptional and slowly slowly flowers are taking hold. We live on the old road into Jerusalem, the Seven Sisters, named for the hairpin bends which the old buses used to manouevre with varying success! All around us are walking trails through the Jerusalem Forest and each day I say thank you for living here.

 

Zvi? I hear you ask, what is Zvi up to? Well he is now singing in 3 choirs. Hakol Yahassi, The Jerusalem Academy of Music Choir and the Ensemble a quartet that sings for the elderly and Holocaust survivors. He is always busy with other voluntary work, helping everyone and working with "Ha Tsad Hasheni" which reaches out to the Spanish speaking world with news of Israel. This morning at 07:00 we set off to Jerusalem so he could get the bus to Tel Aviv for a course – I think at the Tel Aviv Museum. Why the bus? Because apparently the train doesn't run on a Friday!!

 

This video is stunning! Jerusalem and all her faces. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrOb0Pw0stk

 

Advances have been made in the final designs for Dr. Dan's Room https://give.shalva.org/daniel and I promise that those of you who gave so generously wil be excited by the results. It will be worthy of Daniel, a Studio for Music, Dance and Drama for the incredible children of Shalva. The studio has been in use over the last 2 years but because of Covid and the susceptibility of the children in Shalva it has not been decorated. Next week I am meeting with some of the Impact-se team to see the proposed Dr. Daniel Cammerman Library, in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, containing all the reports of the last 25 years in one accessible place. Daniel lives on in all our memories and his name will be there for all to see in places that he would have loved.

 

In honour of Itzik, the first song is actually called "A Walk to Caesarea but is commonly known as "Eli Eli". The poem was written by Hannah Senesh https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannah_Szenes and set to music by David Zehavi. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1hH5c4k51Q

 

Israel is now choosing our representative for the Eurovision Song Contest in Italy. We are amazed at the level of talent of the hopefuls. Absolutely stunning! Here is last year's representative the beautiful Eden  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjzyZZ-oidc

 

For anyone who thinks that Shalva is a scary place filled with problem children – think again! Firstly it is beautiful, the biggest centre of its kind in the world, full of laughter and fun for the children and a haven for the parents. It's HAPPY! https://youtu.be/ch7MmFlzPmY

 

A special message to all who are not feeling up to par, who are fighting illness – you are in all our prayers, our hearts and minds.

 

To my big sister Eddie and her husband Raymond – I am so thrilled for you, starting a new life. It is going to be amazing!!

 

With all our love from Jerusalem, always in our hearts and minds.

May God bless you

Sheila

 

211203 Alpha, Upsilon, Comicron

 210312

3^rd December 2021

 

Gosh I can't believe it's already December tonight is the 6^th Candle of Chanuka and it's only 21 days to Christmas! Where has the time gone?

 

This morning, thanks to a crossword clue that I couldn't answer, I discovered that the word Omicron is a strange choice for the newest variant of the SARS2–Covid-19 virus, it's meaning makes the choice of name an even stranger choice. Omicron is the rarely used letter in Ancient and Modern Greek meaning a "little o" – the short antithesis of Omega. It's sort of a micron "o". Strangely named because everyone has made a very big noise and named it a very small sound! I also find it odd that one is not allowed to called viruses by the names of the country from which they appear to stem. I clearly remember the Hong, Kong Flu, the Asian Flu, Russian flu and of course the horrendous Spanish Flu which killed many millions, but now we have to find other names. Why? Because it is apparently racist to call the current pandemic the Chinese flu. I understand that in some countries people of Chinese origin were attacked which is horrific, but that indicates a problem in the society not the pandemic. Anyway I digress. I'd love to know who named the most recent variant Omicron – and why!!

 

Every year the United Nations resolution known as the "Palestine Package" is put forward and passed by a huge majority. It's main aim? To declare the Temple Mount as a solely Moslem Holy site called Haram Al-Sharif, devoid of any reference to Jewish or Christian ties to the Holy site for all three monotheistic religions. In other words the intention is to deny Jews and Christians the right to pray on the Temple Mount. 19 countries decided to change their votes but 129 countries still voted for, 11 against and 31 abstentions. Sad to note that none of the countries who signed the Abraham Accords voted against the resolution. Apparently diplomacy is diplomacy and the United Nations is the United Nations. Sadly, the good intentions after the dissolution of the League of Nations after failing to prevent WW2 and forming of the United Nations in its stead, has not prevented the tacit approval of the denigration of Israel.

 

Taking of the UN, UNWRA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (in Palestine) has declared itself on the verge of bankruptcy after its major donor countries decided that their handling of hate education in the PA and Gaza took them beyond the pale and decided to withhold funding until serous changes are made. I am happy to say that this corrupt organisation was "outed" by Impact-se.

 

The Western world should be ashamed! The poorest countries on the globe do not have the means to buy any of the vaccines, not even the ones which we throw away because they only have one month until their "sell by" date. We offered them to the Palestinians but they refused to take them insisting we were trying to poison them (so what's new?) and it would appear that most of the wealthy countries do not think it important that the pandemic has overtaken Africa – except to ban travel to and from that continent. Israel has decided to provide many African countries with vaccines. Dr. Dan Turner, of Shaare Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem, has been advocating sending vaccines to African where less than 6% of the population has been vaccinated against Covid-19. Our Minister of Health, Nitzan Horowitz, announced that large numbers of vaccines will be sent for distribution over the next weeks.

 

It was a source of great hilarity in Israel when Mark Zuckerberg announced the new name for his company…META means "dead" in Hebrew. However last month META proved to be alive and surprised us all by actually moving quickly. META removed over 160 Facebook and Instagram accounts with connection to Hamas. A small start, but an important one since both were used not only to incite but to create organised chaos.

 

I was not really surprised when the Economist declared Tel Aviv the most expensive city in the world. It isn't only housing ($10,000 to $21,000 per square metre) – it isn't that much more expensive than Jerusalem, but home rental is outrageously expensive and parking, simple parking is insane1 Since Tel Aviv roads are mostly narrow finding a "blue and white" parking spot is almost impossible and the average parking lot charges about 40 shekels ($13) an hour – wait a minute that would be considered cheap in NYC!!! Maybe hotels? Israeli hotels in general are very expensive, in fact the top level of hotels in Israel are all extortionate; maybe restaurants? Even in Tel Aviv there are restaurants from over-priced to cheap…… so what is the report based on? Strangely enough, it is because the Israeli shekel is one of the strongest currencies in the world thus pushing up the costs in comparison to the dollar.

 

Today is 48 years since David Ben Gurion passed away. Tiny of stature but a giant among men Ben Gurion did not care for the demands of others, he knew that the Jewish people needed their own country – he knew we had to come home. He understood that after the Shoah we could not listen to others, we had to be independent and despite even the members of his own cabinet and certainly the USA he declared the founding of the State of Israel on that fateful day in 1948. Even the name of the Jewish homeland was his secret – many thought it would be Judea, but he was, by modern standards a bit of a dictator, and we need to thank Heaven for that. His stubborn leadership was matched only by his personal humility, no fancy limousines, new furniture for the PM's home, or double beds in planes for him, as one can easily see both in his "tsriff" in Sde Boker and his home in Tel Aviv. One interesting fact about Israeli Prime Ministers as opposed to USA Presidents; The US has always voted for the taller Presidential candidate, the exception being James Earl Carter, whereas Israeli Prime Ministers have often been quite short – even very short! Ben Gurion, Shamir, Golda Meir, Begin, Barak even Naftali Bennet; why? Because in Israel one votes for the leader of a party not an individual. Just thought it funny!!

 

This has been a wonderful Chanuka! Actually our wonderful week began on Shabbat when suddenly we had the most wonderful visitors who just popped in – Peter and Yaella Cooper! I've known Peter for more years than either of us care to remember and although Yaella looks as beautiful as when Peter first introduced her to us, they are newly empty nesters and had time to walk in the gazelle park and then come to us! On Sunday, for first candle of Chanuka, the entire choir came to our place for a party/rehearsal/sing-song. We were so lucky with the weather and set the food table outside on our veranda, everyone brought something. First of course we lit the Chanuka candle with Zvi leading the blessings, then to the excellent electric piano accompaniment of choirmaster Meron, we all sang our hearts out, not just Chanuka songs but their regular repertoire. All the neighbours said how amazing they were and how much they enjoyed the "concert". I'm also happy to say that everyone cleared away the mess and we were left to sit around and muse on the lovely evening.

 

Monday was very special for both Rachel and I because we were meeting the truly wonderful "Poodle" for lunch. I should explain, Brits in general and private school students in particular, tend to give each other nicknames. Poodle was at school with my son Daniel (DanCam), Justin (Paddy because he is Irish) and so on. Their names stuck and even in University the tradition continues as in RobRab (|Robert Rabinowitz). Anyway I digress – we met Poodle in a lovely local restaurant called Naya and none of us particularly remember the food because we chatted and remembered and learned and – that's what you do when you are with Poodle, whose real name is Sarah but since she had a very unusual hair style while a student with Daniel in Carmel College she earned the name "Poodle". I can only wish everyone friends as true and gentle as Poodle and Paddy….. but that's another story entirely.  On Wednesday we met up with Yaffa and Martin Glass and Yaffa's "baby brother" Zvika for a delightful lunch in Modi'in which was really fun and then we went on to Tel Aviv for candle-lighting with a group of Zvi's schoolmates and friends from University. Are you exhausted yet?

 

Tonight we have our delightful neighbours Yael and Naftali (gosh I love that name) coming for candle-lighting and Shabbat dinner because it is so rare that neither they nor we have our children and grandchildren over! Tomorrow we are going to Zvi's lovely cousins Sergio and Sara……..

 

This week's parasha, Torah reading, is a very modern story or perhaps an eternal one. It describes paternal favouritism, fraternal jealousy, a gift which made the favourite son stand out and created a strong reaction ending in the son being exiled to a foreign country. However the son was very clever and interpreted the Pharaoh's dream and prevented famine…..sound familiar? Of course it is the story of Joseph, his coat and his rise to power in Egypt. So much to learn, it is well worth reading in whatever language you wish, but worth reading.

 

Perhaps that brings us nicely to the first song. Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat" in 1965 it shot them to fame and fortune and suddenly brought a Bible story to those who would otherwise never have thought to read it. The words of "Close Every Door" are sadly relevant today, as is the story of Joseph, the Bible reading for Shabbat

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxthRD-f35g

 

Arik (Leib) Einstein, was born on the 3^rd of January 1939 in Mandate Palestine and passed away 8 years ago. His best friend was Uri Zohar and two of Einstein's daughters married Uri Zohar's daughters – giving them 17 grandchildren! Arik Einstein wrote the following song about his friendship with Uri Zohar. You and me will change the world – Ani ve'Ata https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUgCUgDUBmA

 

Imagine two sisters in London with voices like angels taking a song from a movie about a shipwreck and turning into a glorious Chanuka song! The Fabian Sisters.  My thanks to the wonderful Gaby Hirsch of Shalva for telling me about it and for helping me through a really tough time, for her part in the creation of Dr. Dan's Room in the name of my beautiful Daniel and for being a great, loving friend. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNjc8kvgc3Q

 

So that's it! The rain has stopped for now and the sun came out but it is really chilly! In Hebrew it is called a "lying sun" shemesh m'shacker. Zvi has gone off to his parliament in Jerusalem and I am preparing food for Shabbat. Since my veggie soup has become a staple during these cooler days it will be served after the gefilte fish with shockingly fuchsia coloured horseradish sauce (chrein), veggie latkes, steamed salmon, courgettes with mushroom, chopped salad and ……an as yet undecided desert! Whatever I decide to make will be enhanced with home grown herbs and fresh lemons and kumquats picked from our trees.

 

I wish you a Shabbat Shalom, a peaceful weekend and a smile as you open another window on your Advent Calendar. As you light the sixth Chanuka candle tonight then the Shabbat Candles remember that you are helping to light the world, candle by candle, praying for enlightenment to match the glow of the flames.

 

With much love from our home to yours and of course from the view from our veranda

Sheila

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zippori, Druze and Bevis Marks

211112

12^th November 2021

 

Shabbat Shalom! Did you notice today's date? Should I say that if you are not American, did you notice today's date…. 12/11/21. Don't ask me why I like it, I love numbers, dates and times which "rhyme", which is really strange for someone who is as far from a mathematician as possible!

Today I want to talk about life in Israel, or "only in Israel' situations - but first a few updates.

 

So many conferences on Global Warming and the environment – too many broken promises from politicians, and nothing is effective. I asked myself why. Not why is our earth warming up, I still believe that we go through cycles, like the ice age etc, but rather why we are so pernickety about cleanliness in our homes yet foul our seas and lands. We overbuy just about everything, our electrical goods and cars have built in obsolescence and we throw our excess rather than finding someone who needs it, we are wasteful.

 

Have you noticed, however, who are the main agitators against governmental inactivity on Global Warming and waste? The most wasteful generation to date!! They demand air conditioning in classrooms, the latest in clothes, gadgets and technology, drive cars to school rather than taking buses, in fact they are probably the greatest consumers of energy. Why do schools not ban cars on campus? The old phrase of physician heal thyself comes to mind. We must be responsible, actually this, for once is something that governments can legislate with ease – stop all plastic packaging for produce and product. Have you ever thought about the fact that tiny implements come in huge, impossible to open, plastic prisons? Apparently, one London dairy has begun to deliver milk in reusable bottles. Ah the sound of childhood, the clinking of the bottles as the electric, ecologically sound milk float wends its way down the street.

 

"I, without qualification, apologise for the pain and the hurt and the indignity and the damage that apartheid has done to Black, Brown and Indians in South Africa," Brave words of Frederick William De Klerk, the man who ended Apartheid and handed over to the African National Council headed by Nelson Mandela; De Klerk passed away this week at the age of 85. It took an infinitely brave leader who grew up in an Afrikaans society – a white South African, to recognise the sins of the past and declare that Apartheid was a cruel and oppressive regime. May God Bless his soul.

 

The Bevis Marks Synagogue is the oldest consistently used synagogue in the United Kingdom. Its home in London was threatened with plans to build a 48 story high rise building right next door and the City of London Corporation has vetoed the building saving the synagogue. Bevis Marks has a truly rich history, do read about it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bevis_Marks_Synagogue

 

We not only have a budget for 2021, we now have a budget for 2022! Miracle of miracles, after nearly 3 years of prevarication. If such things interest you here is a short explanation https://www.timesofisrael.com/how-much-of-a-revolution-13-key-plans-in-israels-new-state-budget/

 

In a raid that was the culmination of a year-long undercover operation, the Israeli police and Secret Services confiscated 66 weapons including 25 M-16 rifles, 14 guns, an anti-tank missile, a machine gun and explosives.  Highly commendable, but the prime target was not the arms cache but rather the gun runners behind them. 65 criminals were arrested, a small start but hopefully the beginning of a halt to the diabolical internal violence in the Arab communities.

 

What a weekend!!

Toured the phenomenal Roman mosaics of Zippori; from Zippori we travelled to a Druze village called Pki'i'n where we held our Shabbat dinner, with Zvi singing the Kiddush. Pk'i'in where the Zohar was written, where on Yom Hazikaron – Remembrance Day, four religions (Greek Orthodox, Druze, Catholic and Jews) stand together to mourn those lost fighting for Israel. It is unthinkable that anyone, any man, not serve in the IDF. We were guided by a former Druze officer in the IDF (of course both his father and his son fought in the IDF); prayed in an ancient synagogue, where IDF Cantor Shai Abramson filled the ancient walls with is glorious voice, touched a piece of the 2nd Temple and the choir sang under a 300 year old strawberry tree. Citizens of all 4 faiths live, and pray there in harmony. Druze who make up 70%. Our guide surprised the predominantly left wing group by asking who they thought was their champion in the Knesset….Avigdor Lieberman. After Shabbat and a climb up Mount Meron (which I avoided) we came back to reality as our bus driver coped with the traffic jams of Saturday evenings! Thank heaven for WAZE which took us a tortuous but effective route avoiding the accident on Road 6!

 

As you know, I am the Chair of the Board of Impact-se (I refuse to say Chairman of the Board it sounds so pompous) www.impact-se.org and the CEO, Marcus Sheff, together with the Board, decided to name the library of 25 years of research into tolerance in education, to be created in the Hebrew University, after my eldest son Daniel, Dr. Daniel Cammerman z"l. I'm thrilled to tell you that it will not be a white elephant; not only will the research be open to students but in the tradition of Impact-se symposiums will be held on the newly resurrected subject of tolerance in education and the effect of hate teaching on the susceptible minds of children. As we near the second anniversary of the dreadful day of the accident it warms my heart that Daniel's name continues through projects that ensure the safety of children.

 

Nothing pleases me more than to hear from you, whether you agree with what I write or find it annoying or worse still that I offend you with my words. I happen to believe that loving those with whom one disagrees, those who differ on almost every level, is healthy and one can learn so much from other cultures and views. Rabbi Jeremy Rosen writes this week about the late Rabbi Nachum Rabinowitz, a man of high principles and a mind open to the thoughts of others. A fine scholar and a real mensch. http://jeremyrosen.com/2021/11/a-man-of-substance.html  

 

OK, so I told you I wanted to talk about life in Israel so let's begin with last night. A few of us (about 15) met at Keren's home for a get to know you evening. Keren is my next door neighbour and the evening was only for invited women – each get-together will include different women. Of course the table was laden with goodies that everyone brought and the warmth of the gathering kept out the chilly Jerusalem evening became much colder! We talked about where we came from and how we chose this project to live. I admit a sense of envy as each spoke about childhood friends and family who live in the area, something I can never achieve no matter how long I live here. Israelis keep friends. Friends from kindergarten, school-friends, friends who served with them in the IDF, a long history of friendships that with the best will in the world immigrants cannot reach.

 

Israelis, when they first meet someone new ask several questions. Where do you work and what do you earn; where do you live and what did you pay for your house (you should always have paid less); where did you go to school, where did you serve in the IDF and when you answer the inevitable "Do you know so-and-so, they live at number 23?" As one who fell in just about every worthy street in Jerusalem I can tell you that if you have to tumble do it in Israel. Your only danger is being suffocated by all the people who rush to your aid! It may sound a strange thing to like about a nation, a people, but here funerals are a natural thing. Hundreds come but not in fancy, elegant black dresses or suit and tie, people come in whatever they were wearing when they heard – jeans and T-shirt is totally acceptable – but they come to show their respect to family and the departed. Finally, we are a curious people, not only in medicine, technology and science but about other cultures and most of all about our own beautiful country. I was thrilled to hear that they had to close the roads to the Hula Valley last weekend due to overcrowding at the bird sanctuary! Yes I know it's the emigrating season for the cranes, herons and white pelicans but I love that parents take their children to understand nature.

 

What else? I love the fact that just walking down the street, any street, people, perfect strangers, wish each other peace. Shalom. Shalom Aleichem (peace be with you). Always wishing peace. This argumentative, noisy, annoying people is the best. I wouldn't live anywhere else.

 

Song number one is the wonderful voice of Lt. Col. Shai Abramson, who we had the pleasure of meeting last Shabbat, singing Halleluya together with soldiers and young people https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUEpW-9LSEs

 

One of my favourite songs sung by some of my favourite people! The Shalva Band and the children of Shalva with All You Need is Love…. It's true isn't it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvhhae73wnk

 

So few songs which express how we all feel during this pandemic. The people we miss, the hugs we can't give, the need to kiss family far away. Koolulam did it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_7jvxBObaw

 

I wish you a Shabbat Shalom, a blessed Sabbath, a wonderful weekend and love, after all, that's all we need.

 

With love from Jerusalem

Sheila  

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Up, Up and Away

 211008

8^th October 2021

 

Shabbat Shalom!

 

I will not be writing my Shabbat Shalom next week because I am going to New York with Rachel for Joshua's Bar Mitzva! I am so excited. We are only going for one week and will be very caught up with family, so please don't be upset that we won't have time to see anyone. This will be a purely family orientated week spent reconnecting with Daniel's children, my grandchildren, Rachel's niece and nephew, who we haven't seen since the funeral. It will be a week of mixed emotions, of the joy of being with the children and Karen of course, but a deep sadness that my boy will not be there. I can't wait to show them the designs for Dr. Dan's Room and pray that they can come to the opening. I have a sneaky feeling that it will be a Zoom opening thanks to Covid-19.

 

Did you know that we have receptors for temperature and touch and that they determine how and where we feel pain? David Julius together with his co-researcher Arden Papatoutian from the University of California in San Francisco, won the Nobel Prize for their research, which it is believed will be of great importance in dealing with chronic pain and its link to sensing heat, cold and mechanical force. The Prize for most of the sciences is usually overshadowed by the Nobel Prize for Literature or Peace, less dramatic, famous or of public interest yet it is those Nobels which change our lives.  David Julius is a Jew whose family fled the anti-Semitism of Russia and is very proud of his heritage. https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/nobel-prize-in-medicine-awarded-to-julius-and-patapoutian-680990

 

In October 1986 a young Israeli Air Force Navigator and Weapons Systems Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Ron Arad went missing in action over Lebanon. His disappearance has been a source of human interest ever since. Israeli Secret Service have been looking for him ever since, believing that he could still be alive, but knowing that he was moved from country to country, possibly including and almost certainly orchestrated by Iran. Recent DNA studies suggest that his remains have been found. His wife Tami and daughter Yuval have heard nothing since that fateful day, indeed Yuval was only a baby when he was captured. Tami, unlike others, has said that if his remains are found then Israel should not pay the heavy price of his return.

 

Did you know that United States troops are in Syria? It was announced this week that they will stay there to fight the Islamic State and rebuild a civilian infrastructure. It appears that their presence was in doubt during the last Administration but the current Biden Administration feels that Syria, unlike Afghanistan, can still be saved. It is of ultimate interest to the Kurds of Syria who have been oppressed for many years particularly under the shadow of the current civil war. Kurdistan, a large tract of land and home to the Kurdish people has been occupied by no less than 5 countries; Syria, Armenia, Iraq, Iran and Turkey, none of which is willing to return the land to the Kurdish people. This occupation is constantly under the radar while Israel's "occupation" is constantly under the headlight of international condemnation.

 

The Pandora Papers are clearly well named because they have opened a Pandora's Box of corruption and hidden fortunes. The alleged perpetrators are not known criminals but leaders and esteemed politicians and Royalty. Listen and be disturbed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHAtIFyDB8k&t=19s

 

Yet another Arab Airline has started regular flights from Ben Gurion Airport. Egyptair began direct flights to Cairo, following Bahraini Airlines,  and of course daily flights to Dubai and Abu Dhabi. As the rest of the world becomes more and more anti-Israel the Arab world is growing closer and closer recognising the fact that the real "Neighborhood Bully" is Iran.

 

Trying to organise a journey these days is not quite as simple as one would think. Booking a flight is the easy part even though most flights (including ours) are changed, moved and cancelled at some point. Then there is the paperwork! It starts with the normal green pass which states that one has been vaccinated 3 times or recovered from Covid in the last 6 months. Then there is the international declaration of vaccination – for travel. Next the declaration form which states that one is able to fly and has taken all the necessary tests before flying; now for the PCR test taken at the airport within 48 hours prior to flying, yes at the airport so one has to go to the airport before going to the airport. One then waits patiently for the result of the PCR and prints it off to add to the very bulky sheaf of papers, because although it can be on one's phone all we need is a WhatsApp situation whereby one of the applications or even worse emails, is hacked and falls.

 

I always try to fly El Al. It isn't that they are necessarily the most luxurious, although they are very comfortable and don't have those awful, sticky, leather seats that so many airlines prefer; it's the sense that one is home. The crew is fun, the food is more than palatable, the movies good, and if Heaven forbid, anyone feels poorly there is always a doctor on board! There is something heartwarming about hearing Hebrew, listening to the familiar music as one boards the aeroplane, the knowledge that despite the announcement to stay in ones seat on landing that at least 50% of the passengers will jump up and hope to find their carry-on luggage before the "ping" which tells us we are at the gate! The pilots are IAF trained and the crew all speak great English, most speak other languages and all are Israeli, of all faiths.

 

This week has been filled with unexpected guests. I am not surprised and I love it, which is why I have an extra freezer filled with home-made cakes and quiches! New neighbours have learned that our door is always open for a cup of coffee or tea and something fresh from the oven. So far all entertaining has been outside on our veranda – I love the gasps of surprise when guests walk out of the full width doors and see the fabulous flowers. Our lovely upstairs neighbour Benny arrived with some bulbs, excess to their needs because he knows all about my love of gardening since he looks down upon the array of brightly coloured flowers and the burgeoning fruit trees. Benny and his wife Osnat had carefully preserved the bulbs in dry earth and although they appear somewhat shriveled they should produce spring colour. Next year I will explain to them that if one lifts bulbs the best thing to do with them is lay them dry in a dark cupboard – but that I used to leave them to multiply on their own in the earth as nature intended!!!

 

For some time now I wanted to visit the wonderful Lola Cohen since she lost her husband Norman. They really have been a power couple in the world of Hasbara (dissemination of positive information about Israel). Lola is still active but finds it hard to get about- but is still a beautiful, bright woman at nearly 90 years old. While admiring her outreach to the Christian world especially their close friendship with Canon Andrew White, I have an admission to make – I not only love Lola for who she is but for her phenomenal, unbeatable, unmatched Shortbread biscuits!!!Nobody, but nobody can bake shortbread biscuit like Lola. I hope that now that we have a lift right up to the apartment and she won't have the trial of two flights of stairs in front of her Lola's daughter Stephanie will bring her to visit. Obviously with shortbread biscuits!

 

I'm almost packed, done between visitors and stocking the freezer for Zvi who has already been invited by numerous friends and neighbours, and all I have left to do is the PCR test with Rachel tomorrow night. Tonight we are alone, but tomorrow we will celebrate Leor's birthday. Friends tell me I'm crazy having 15 people for Shabbat lunch the day before flying to the USA, but it'll be fine. The menu begins with "Orange soup" a blended smooth soup with all sorts of veggies, leeks, courgettes, carrots, pumpkin, sweet potato, potato and red lentils, with s&p, garlic, ground coriander, turmeric, all blended together into "Orange Soup". The children have no idea that they are eating healthy lentils! We will then have loads of salads, stuffed peppers, spring chicken nuggets in teriyaki, ground beef patties and probably roast potatoes. Dessert? Apple compote and a delicious pareve chocolate birthday cake which came from our friend Moshe's bakery in Ramot.

 

Before lunch, Zvi will take Ella and Yonatan to our neighbour's home where he has built a real ninja course – they love it!

 

And so to music.

 

I thought about playing "Leaving on a Jet Plane but that it just to corny so why don't we listen to the ultimate American Jewish Barry Sisters? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DG6kp4ed5Q

 

Erev Shabbat, Sabbath Eve, has many aspects that are missed. The most important is the sharing of the wonders with a lonely stranger, what is a blessing if it is just for us and ours? Although this presentation is, for some unknown reason, in a large mansion, the warmth of the Shabbat is apparent, the songs familiar and the family element clear. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bjd539KCwFw

 

Ana Bekoach, Please One of Great Power – a Kabbalistic prayer that it is thought can change our view of the world and the world's direction. Perhaps we should all pray together? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1gkqO91YYc

 

I wish you all a weekend of peace and contemplation and Shabbat of family. This week's Torah reading is the story of Noah, filled with pain, mystery and family feuds!

 

Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem, centre of our world, heart of our faith.

 

Sheila 

Acharei ha chagim - After the Festivals

211001

1^st of October 2021

 

Shabbat Shalom, Blessed Tabernacles

 

There is an expression in Israel used by anyone who wants to put things off, in other words to procrastinate, "Acharei ha Chagim" which means after the Festivals meaning the festivals of the month of Tishrei. Basically that means they will never really get to the task in hand! Well, we are now after the festivals, Acharei ha Hagim, so it's high time to get things done.

 

Confusion as to which day of the week it really is because this year the festivals fell on Mondays, Tuesdays and a Wednesday, and then one has Shabbat in the middle and one's body clock goes just a might haywire. Luckily I remembered that it is time to talk to you about Simchat Torah or the Joy of Torah.

 

It is not only fascinating and joyous as the Torah is carried around the synagogue as a dancing partner, to be kissed and revered, there is a definite purpose to our joy; after all, we end the readings with the last verse of Deuteronomy and begin again with Genesis. I tis a time for children to receive sweets and chocolates, even those who are not normally allowed such things before food!

 

This year we went to the synagogue in our beautiful old building in our park. The service was wonderful, children laughing and giggling in delight and since it was a "Jerusalem" service they men brought the Sefer Torah, beautifully encased in silver and enamel, are brought for the women to kiss as well. The community gave Zvi the huge honour of being given the first "Hakafah" or circling of the synagogue in honour of his help in setting things up. Immediately after the service the officers of the synagogue set out a "seudah" or meal of wonderful Middle Eastern foods and salads on the grass of the park and the fun continued! We left feeling an even greater part of the community.

 

Even a short while ago, I couldn't have made the following statements. The Saudis have made huge changes in their school curriculum, still a way to go but nonetheless, they are talking to Impact-se, along with other Arab States, learning how to change. Foreign Minister Lapid has flown to Bahrain to open the Israeli Embassy and to meet His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa; incredibly, the Bahrainis have started direct flights from Ben Gurion Airport. The $7 billion  Dubai Expo 2020 opens today, in a spectacular including performances by Lang Lang and Andre Bocelli and for the first time in an Arab country Israel has a pavilion showing our way of life, our industry and our inventions.. The Abraham Accords combined with a huge amount of diplomatic work have really borne fruit.

 

The gradual and sometimes painful opening of Arab countries has another first, Najla Bouden Ramadhane, a university engineer with no political background, has been appointed by President Kais Saied to fill the post of Prime Minister of Tunisia, the first woman leader in the Arab world.

 

In the meantime Prime Minister Bennett spoke to the plenum of the United Nations in New York City. Unlike his predecessor there were no tricks, although not a performer, he spoke in measured, clear tones, in excellent English and despite the near empty plenum his words hit the correct audience through television and the Zoomers who listened carefully to every word. The Iranians were not thrilled by the Prime Minister's words about Israel being able to defend herself but that's fine and we can if we have to. One aspect of his speech that did not please the Israeli Medical establishment is when he said that the Covid policies could not be decided by the Medical experts but rather in cooperation with the leaders of the country.

 

In the USA attempts by "The Squad" in the Congress to censure Israel and the Iron Dome failed miserably with the vote of 420 -9 for Israel, but anti-Semitism is on the rise and not only in the USA. One example caught my eye in the press; Kaleb Cole, self-proclaimed Nazi leader of the "Atomwawaffen" Neo-Nazi , has been sentenced to prison after sending offensive mails to ADL personnel and many other racist, anti-Semitic crimes. Students all over the USA in particular and the West in general do not know what "Never Again" means because it is happening again and our young people re so badly educated in their heritage that they have become anti-Israel because it is fashionable and they believe the lies fed to them daily on campus – lies of Goebbels proportions. 83 years after the Munich Agreement was signed by Italy, France, Britain and Nazi Germany allowing the annexation of the Sudetenland, a large part of Czechoslovakia inhabited mostly by Germans. This naïve move led to the Third Reich. Why do I say naïve? Because nobody understood the sheer horror of the German War machine and their insane leader. Kaleb Cole is not alone in the USA and students are not the only ones being taught that Israeli an evil occupier of land that belongs to the Palestinian people, or that Jews are responsible for the Covid outbreak. If the Saudis, Bahrainis, Egyptians, Moroccans, Emeratis and many more have removed hate from their curriculum understanding that for so many years they have fed their children racist lies, hate education, why can't our universities and colleges control hate speech? When does free speech spill over into the inculcation of hatred to our students? When did the sport of beating an "obvious" Jew become acceptable?

 

Israeli school children are back at school! It finally happened and only time will tell if it is the right decision or not. The teachers are pretty angry that they have to check each child's note, at the school gate, showing proof of frequent PCR testing. It is so important that the children return to being social animals rather than Zoom hermits. I love to see the children setting off, ridiculously large backpacks perched on their shoulders, laughing together as they walk to school. Although there are more and more parents who take their children in the car, the very Israeli phenomenon of small children walking to school unaccompanied still thrills.

 

As you know I usually go for my evening walk around the paths in our park with friends we have made here in our new home and Zvi goes into Jerusalem and meets his good friend Motti Friedman and they walk and talk together then go for coffee opposite our old apartment. This week Zvi persuaded me to try out a new route nearby, a route discovered by Leor as a beautiful bike ride for his girls. We drove 5 minutes down the road, under the construction of a new traffic bridge (Israel is a web of new roads, tunnels and bridges) and parked our car. I knew that we were going to walk alongside the Beit Zayit (meaning house of olives) Reservoir, but also knew it had been drained during construction, but off we set and then despite the dry bed of the reservoir, discovered a delightful path, well set up for both walkers and bicycles, and beautiful greenery climbing either side of the path. It was so beautiful, the air so clear, that I didn't notice the distance and doubled my target! I can't say that there was a great deal of conversation since keeping up with the pace of my man who is two metres tall and wearing his seven league boots took most of my lung capacity!

 

Autumn is bringing much kinder weather and the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Since we now face north (a good thing in hot countries) I get to see both the rising and the setting of the sun. I admit that I am a cloud freak, I love clouds, was it Joni Mitchel that sang "Both Sides Now"? In the morning the sun rises over Jerusalem to the East, a huge red ball of fire tinting the city a wonderful red-gold and then, oh then as the sun sinks in the west the clouds become tipped with pink the a fiery red and in the west the moon comes up so quickly that one almost misses it peeking over the horizon. It takes my breath away and friends jump up from the table and rush to their phones to take photos in every direction!

 

This is a country of great unrest at times, surrounded by enemies, but things are changing. Israel is being recognised for her initiative, inventions, outreach to provide aid and succour to countries which cannot help themselves especially in times of natural and human disaster. There are governmental institutions like MASHAV, so much more than a department in the Minstry of Foreign Affairs https://mfa.gov.il/MFA/mashav/What_We_Do/Pages/default.aspx , IsraAid, Save a Child's Heart and so many more who teach modern agriculture to countries that cannot feed their population. I am proud to be an Israeli, wouldn't change that for the world.

 

Today I am going out with some girlfriends instead of cooking! Yes I know it is a miracle. Zvi will head to his parliament of journalists and men who think they can change the world and run the country better than anyone else – something that happens every Friday morning, all over the country. Let me explain, parliaments are just that, a place to "parle" or parley, to talk, where old friends meet up, the group starts when they are young, virile and capable and continues through their dotage. Most parliaments are single sex, for reasons I have yet to discover, and everybody feels able to speak their mind openly and most do, noisily. Of course, this is Israel so the talking is always done around the table of either coffee shop or restaurant. Nobody opens their mouth until satisfied by a good cup of "Café Hafuch" (literally meaning upside down coffee) and some borekas, salads and good pastries. We are a food orientated society and apparently the world accepts that the "Middle Eastern Diet" is the healthiest! A fascinating aspect of these groups is that they also form support groups. If someone is ill, suffers a loss, everyone rallies around them. Many parliaments are from the days of IDF service and continue throughout their life.

 

Gosh it's time to go! So what music would you like this week? I hope you realise that I take requests!

 

Pete Seeger and Ruth Rubin love this song and I used to sing it to my son Gideon, it was his favourite. Tumbalaika, the song of a stringed musical instrument…… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTBOMT5bMRs

 

Each morning, as we wake up we thank the Almighty for returning us our soul, our life. Omer Adam, Israeli singer sings a modern version of the prayer. So beautiful https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npRw36_Ftmc

 

Teach Your Children Well, sung by Crosby, Stills and Nash https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj8FlXGPcOQ

 

I wish you a good weekend, a Shabbat Shalom, a peaceful, thoughtful time surrounded by family and friends. Try holding a parliament – just gather friends for coffee on a morning, and make it a habit.

 

With much love from Jerusalem, still beautiful on my horizon

Sheila

 

 

 

 

 

 Acharei ha Chagim - After the Festivals