220218 Strawberries, Storms and Supper

 18^th February, 2022

17^th Adar, 5782

 

Shabbat Shalom!

 http://www.theviewfrommyveranda.info/strawberries-storms-and-supper/

To all of you in the UK, especially in Wales where there is a red storm warning, stay home, take care, Eunice is coming.

 

I'm not trying to make light of the storm, far from it, I have too many family members and friends in Eunice's path to be flippant, but when we heard the name of the storm my three siblings immediately thought about Nanny Nuisance as she was known. Nanny Eunice was about as popular as this storm, in her stiff uniform, and I thank heaven that I was still a baby when she left!

 

Of all the exceptional achievements of Israeli scientists, hi-tech and agriculture, this is undoubtedly the most important. We just grew the largest strawberry in the world! Really! I have no idea what it tastes like but take a look https://www.ynetnews.com/environment/article/skrdbjnj9

 

I promise to get back to happy news and I have no intention of writing about the entire Russia- Ukraine fiasco since I cannot make head nor tail as to who is for, who is against and who will benefit from a quick solution.

 

Israel is an exceptionally argumentative enclave of free speech, but, as I have always maintained, free speech within a democracy has to be curtailed when it comes to incitement or downright racism. On occasion it comes from the irreligious toward the religiously observant, from the political left to the political right and from right to left, Israeli Arabs against Israeli Jews, mostly for populist reasons, but on those occasions it exceeds all bounds of social mores, of civil rights, it must be stopped and the perpetrators indicted for incitement. Let me explain my train of thought.

 

Do you normally say "The West Bank" or "The Occupied Territories" or do you say Yehuda, Shomron, (Judea and Samaria) as in the Bible, "East Jerusalem" which is actually not in the east at all and is not specific. Jerusalem is not contiguous, as few cities in the world are, and we are a mishmash of peoples too. What you call them is essential to the very existence of these areas. I believe that Jews, like Moslems and Christians, have every right to live wherever they choose. I believe that if they own a home they should be allowed to live in it and am prepared to fight for that right, I cannot accept any area as Juden Rein. However, and this is a big however, when a member of Knesset not only incites against Arabs, against the police, and sets up his Knesset office in an already highly volatile neighbourhood of Jerusalem, is seen with side-arms in that neighbourhood, he should be removed from the Knesset. When you see him on CNN and BBC etc. remember that Itamar Ben Gvir and his followers are nothing short of thugs who do not under any circumstances represent Israel. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-696483

By the way when Ben Gvir went to hospital, guess who his doctors were? Yes two wonderful Israeli Arab doctors in Shaare Zedek ER!!!

 

Joan Ryan is an amazing lady who I met at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem. She was the Chair of Britain's Labour Friends of Israel and a shining star in the Labour Party. Joan resigned as a result of Jeremy Corbyn's anti-Israel, anti-Semitic stance and has now written an op-ed in Newsweek about the scourge of anti-Semitism. My thanks to  Caryn Adelman for drawing my attention to the article. "Antisemitism doesn't just come in the form of racist street thugs, Islamist terrorists and the keyboard warriors who spend hours posting bizarre but toxic conspiracy theories about QAnon, the Rothschilds and "lizard people." Nor is it confined to hate-filled rallies like the annual Al Quds Day marches, which draw large crowds from Tehran and Damascus to London and Berlin. Instead, in many ways, the more pernicious manifestations of antisemitic anti-Zionism come from supposedly more respectable sources."  https://www.newsweek.com/combat-antisemitism-we-must-oppose-anti-zionism-home-abroad-opinion-1677665

Malcolm Hoenlein is a mentor and friend who took me to witness life in Jenin, to hear Chiefs of Staff, Prime Ministers and even into the most secret of intelligence centres; He has been a major part of decision making with American Presidents attitude toward Israel and Malcolm Hoenlein and after 50 years of service deserves to take a rest! Of course rest is not part of Malcolm's lexicon but then everything is relative. Malcolm, hope to see you next week!

This week was filled with friends and walks. It began with a ramble over the hills of Nes Ziona (after a delicious  Shabbat lunch with Leor, Shiri and about 30 family members) in search of the elusive Black Iris. The Black Iris has a very short season but my goodness is it spectacular! You have to understand, Israelis flock to see the black iris, the "calaniot" (bright red anemones) the rekafot (wild cyclamen), the incredible waterfalls after the rains and the spectacular flooding down at the Dead Sea, we love nature and the Society for the Protection of Nature makes sure that it all stays as it should be, untouched! The sand hills of Nes Ziona were filled with people bending down to get a good photo of the special flowers – we never pick wild flowers, it is illegal! Black Iris are in fact a very deep purple rather than black it grows in clumps and…. Wait I will show you https://www.wildflowers.co.il//english/html.asp?id=99

On Monday I had the phone call every mother prays for "Mum I just fancy a morning with you" and Rachel and I set out for a mother-daughter morning without any plans but lots to do! OK I admit, we went to IKEA for serviettes, salad dressing and their incredible apple drink!

I met my friend Merav and we walked along the old railway tracks, on the walking path which stretches from the First Station all the way to the Ein Yael stream near the Biblical Zoo. It stretches for 7 or 8 kilometres but I admit that we only did 3 because we were hungry for the amazing Israeli breakfast that awaited us in one of the excellent restaurants in the First Station.

Most of the week Zvi was busy singing, in Hebrew with one choir, Yiddish with Motti and Ehud, and classical music with Cantus, the choir of the Jerusalem Academy of Music. I was busy with the Dedication of the Dr. Daniel Cammerman Collection of Research reports of Impact-se (www.impact-se.org ) as we ensured the Covid safety of all who will attend. I'm extra excited that several of Daniel's Carmel College school friends, who were contacted by the wonderful Rachel Feuerstein, are coming as well as Daniel's father Philip and his wife Barbara who flew in yesterday to attend. Hopefully, Zvi and I will take them to see the Dr. Dan's Room studio in Shalva on Monday after a delicious breakfast in the Shalva Coffee Shop.

Yesterday I was cooking most of the day but at precisely 11:00 I set aside my utensils and joined a Zoom. Prof. Michael Baum – aka Mike – is an expert in many areas and good at them all! He is a Professor of Medicine and yesterday he took us on a journey through the travels/dispersion of both the Ashkenazi and Sefardi/Eastern Jews on to his experiences as the medic on the archaeological digs of Lachish and Massada and then brining us back through Jewish genetics of the BRAC gene (he is a world expert on the subject) and the genetics of the Cohanim (Priests from Temple times until today) The Priestly line is unbroken and male Cohens carry specific genetic proof of their lineage from the time of Aaron. I was most upset to discover that as the daughter of a Cohen I don't carry this genetic proof – only the men do so. I was captivated by his knowledge and by the fact that he always spoke of his lovely wife Judy when talking about travels. I am so excited since I hope to see them both next month! I think I am allowed to send you a link if you wish and of course you can read his incredible books available on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Third-Tablet-Holy-Covenant/dp/1783061588 and https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36350095-aaron-s-rod

Tonight we have 8 guests for Shabbat Dinner. Usually we have one or other of the children coming for Shabbat Dinner but this week they were all busy so we took the opportunity to invite friends. I love spontaneity, and having a house full – something we had to give up on over the last two years. The table is already set and the makings of most of the dishes all ready to go. For starters we will have cauliflower and leek soup followed by mushroom and spinach blintzes, fish ball chraimeh, a dozen salads and of course the staple of all Israeli households, baked salmon! For dessert we have chocolate cake and for my friend Laura a good old-fashioned bread pudding! Of course we will start with Zvi's beautiful Kiddush and motze (blessing on the wine and over breaking the bread) and then will settle down and talk about Israel "shel pa'am" the Israel in which most of the guests grew up. Once upon a time this was a country of equality, a country where we believed in our politicians and respect for those different from us was prime; a country when few had money, even fewer had a lot of money and the Golden Calf was the last thing on anyone's mind. Today, in the Torah reading we look at the result of building a Golden Calf rather than having the patience to hear the words that Moses brought down from Mount Sinai and the message from the Almighty.

Enough rambling! It's time for songs even though there is so much more to write about.

Ever since I was a child I loved Paul Robeson. Long before I understood that he fled McCarthyism of the USA and came to the UK is loved his voice, his face and his intelligence. Here he sings Let My People Go https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3OjHIhLCDs

Ladino is the language of Yotze Sfarad of the Jews of the Spanish Inquisition; our friend Eli Yaron wrote this beautiful Ladino song "Israel Mio" My Israel, a love story for Israel, sung by Hakol Yachassi. If you listen carefully you will hear Zvi's Bass-Baritone https://youtu.be/0m0kTmKRd-o

As you know, thanks to Covid, we didn't fly to Miami for the wedding of the lovely Ariella Lindenfeld to the love of her life, so I want to dedicate this performance to the lovely Helen and Martin – friends forever. Lt Col Shai Abramson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfZr_y6tb6Y

Shabbat Shalom from sunny Jerusalem, glowing in the distance. May your weekend be peaceful and politicians understand that war does not bring power or peace.

With love

Sheila

--

If the media does not inform us we must inform the media

My Website http://www.theviewfrommyveranda.info/

Facebook      Sheila Silver Raviv
Involvement   http://www.impact-se.org/ 

220204 I'm Reviewing the Situation

 ^th February 2022

 

Shabbat Shalom! I know I should have written on the 2-2-22 then it would have been fascinating, in fact even better at 22:22 on 2-2-22 but then I couldn't have wished you Shabbat Shalom!!

 http://www.theviewfrommyveranda.info/im-reviewing-the-situation/ 

An acquaintance of Charles Dickens wrote “Charles Dickens, the large-hearted, whose works plead so eloquently and so nobly for the oppressed of his country… has encouraged a vile prejudice against the despised Hebrew,” she wrote. “Fagin, I fear, admits only of one interpretation but while Charles Dickens lives, the author can justify himself or atone for a great wrong.” But did he, was Fagin so abominable? Was not Dickens a recorder, a diarist, a journalist of his times? When played by a Jew, as the wonderful Ron Moody (who described himself as 100% Jew – totally Kosher) did so beautifully, bringing out the sympathetic Fagin, almost lovable. One, as always, must look at issues through the eyeglass of the times not by the standards of today.

 

Amnesty International was created to end hate, imprisonment of dissenters and promote tolerance. Yeah right! Like so many "charities" that grew from altruistic beginnings, Amnesty International has become one of the premier inciters to hatred, liars and cheats, playing on the good nature of their donors to promote anti-Semitism in the guise of Anti-Israel. Their statement this week should be taken to the international court, a clear case of misappropriation of funds to the purpose of calumnious accusations.

 

Yosef Haddad is an Arab Israeli and had this to say in response.

How dare you claim that I, an Arab-Israeli who served along with Jewish soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces and managed hundreds of Jewish employees, live under an apartheid regime?

How can anyone say our society is living under an apartheid regime when among us you will find doctors, judges and even lawmakers? How can you say Samer Haj-Yehia lives in an apartheid regime when he is the head of the biggest bank in Israel? Amnesty International has already broken the record for hypocrisy, but to compare Israel to an apartheid regime is not only a distorted lie but an insult to all those South Africans who actually lived through apartheid. It is contempt for and cynical exploitation of the concept.

 

The above preamble brings us to the question of Whoopi Goldberg. Of course she forgot to think before opening her mouth but was what she said so very terrible? Were her words deserving of the public outcry? My knee jerk reaction was "sack her" but then I began to think. Today one tends to think and speak within the bounds of experience, of self, and to her Jews are white, not black, brown or any colour whatsoever, kind of pink, Eastern Europeans with dark hair who Hitler hated, not a nation, not a race – Jews. She, like so many, spoke from ignorance that Jews come in every colour, including Jews expelled from thousands of years of living in Arab lands, many taking on the appearance and traditions of that country, the host country because despite the wide world wide dispersion, we always thought of the Holy Land, the Land of Israel, as home. Perhaps she should have listened to historian Lyn Julius explaining the history of Jews from Arab lands. My lovely friend Ruti Tamir reminded me. "The Untold Exodus of Jews from Arab Lands" https://youtu.be/1COVgAM1bRY 

 

Defence Minister Benny Gantz went to Bahrain this week and met with the top Military echelon and the ruling Royalty. Just think about it! The son of a Holocaust Survivor, born in Israel, a former Chief of Staff of the IDF flew to Bahrain for discussions and friendly talks and the signing of a new military deal. If that isn't a miracle then I don't know what is.

 

The Abraham Accords has created opportunities that we never believed possible. As Israel gains new friends in the MENA region every day, and those countries approach Impact-se (www.impact-se.org) one after the other to improve their schoolbooks so that their children will learn to accept the "other". For some reason, thanks to our former allies in Europe and to an extent in the USA, Jews are once again demonized. Sorry, I should just celebrate what we have instead of mourning what we had but clearly the people and governments in the West are too naïve and accept the repeated lies and disinformation of the media. The new vision in MENA is a far greater message to Iran than any drawings of bombs in the UN.

 

More good news! President Isaac Herzog visited the Emirates this week. As a result of their exceptionally friendly talks Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed decided to unfreeze the $10 billion investment fund, investing in Israeli companies over the next 10 years -  some $200 million in 2022.

 

Next, some beautiful news to make up for my opening rant. As I wrote a few weeks ago, Prince Charles commissioned a series of paintings of Holocaust Survivors for an exhibition in the Queen's Gallery of Buckingham Palace. The Exhibition opened for International Holocaust Day and Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall greeted the Survivors and their painters and a select group of invitees. The exhibition will be open to the public. https://www.rct.uk/collection/themes/exhibitions/seven-portraits-surviving-the-holocaust/the-queens-gallery-buckingham

 

I love watching travelogues of places far and wide, and admit that I am obsessed with Joanna Lumley's "Nile" and "Northern Lights" but this week just happened to see a travelogue about Siciliy, especially Palermo, the Capital city. Yes I know we all think about the Mafia but Palermo's history is so similar to Jerusalem's in the number and origin of occupying powers  and the turn around of Churches becoming Mosques and Synagogues becoming Churches then Synagogues becoming Mosques then Churches again, all dependent upon who occupied Palermo! Curious, I checked out the size of Sicily. It is bigger than the whole of Israel in square metres!

 

We seem to be busy even when we are not officially so! Several events were cancelled due to Omicron, in one case even a Zoom meeting because one of the attendees was too ill to participate! Omicron has saddened both Zvi and I because we were meant to be in Miami this week for a truly special wedding of a very special girl who we have watched grow up from a quiet, gentle young child to become a confident, gentle, outgoing wonderful young woman. Noting would have thrilled us more than to see Ariella walk up the aisle and stand under the chuppah with her Daniel, joined by our special friends Martin and Helene but it wasn't to happen. Big sigh, but hopefully we will get to be with them soon. We were also meant to meet Nancy and Harry Bloomfield in our favourite restaurant Naya, in Kiriat Anavim, but they had Covid…….hopefully next week since they are not allowed back home to Canada as planned until well after having Covid. I managed to get to the beach in Herzliya however…..just to walk along the beach, get some ozone into my lungs and have a breakfast with some friends in Yankeleh….which was delicious by the way.

 

Tonight we will dine alone, unless I decide to invite a neighbour or two!! That's what we did last week, when Yael and Naftali came for lunch. Almost everyone in our building of just 6  apartments has already had Covid so we feel fairly confident about their coming into our home.

 

Each day, without fail, I walk my two and a half kilometres, which may not sound much to most of you but for me that's quite an achievement! My favourite walk is right here in our park, walking the zig-zag paths through the playgrounds and trees and when Zvi is with me we go outside and down the Seven Sisters to the village of Motza Illit, where the original residents of the village still live in their wonderful bungalows then back around into our park again. Zvi enjoys the gym and pool but I love the fresh air. Last Shabbat we went for a long walk, or should I say we intended going for a long walk, toward the dam of Beit Zayit (means house of olives) and the beautiful reservoir but I admit that after nearly losing my shoes in the sticky mud after the rain and snow and the number of people who had gone before us and had the proof of their efforts on their very muddy bottoms, we decided to turn back and walk elsewhere. At that moment a very familiar couple came into view! Sharon and Ernst Voss, who lived in Jerusalem and who, sadly, we hadn't seen for ages, were walking toward us! They too moved to the area and after inviting us to Kiddush and a cup of coffee ("You don't have to stay for lunch, really" we arrived at their home to find Ernst and their daughter setting our places at the lunch table! It was delicious and we got to meet their future son-in-law and of course we stayed for lunch. One never argues with an Israeli woman set on serving you lunch!

 

I had planned to go to Shalva (www.shalva.org) and meet with the wonderful Rachel Feuerstein, a close friend of Daniel's from his days in Carmel College, to show her Dr. Dan's Room (www.give.shalva.org/daniel ) and the amazing progress the team have made but then poor thing, she got Omicron! In fact next week would be much better because huge progress has been made on the Music, Drama and Dance Studio with fabulous décor on the walls of each section. Next week Rachel OK?

 

I'm about to make my first ever sourdough Challot! My childhood friend Averil Wien makes sourdough bread all the time and it looks amazing – I swear the aroma reaches the 100 kilometres from her house to mine!! Averil gave me a starter which is currently in the fridge and then I will think about what to make for supper, for Shabbat Dinner. How about veggie soup, roast chicken and roast potatoes with baked cauliflower and a bread and butter brioche pudding for dessert? Sounds lovely and warming, real comfort food, on what promises to be a very stormy, rainy Shabbat.

 

When it comes to the music chosen there was only one song that fitted this week's missive. The exceptional, late, Ron Moody. "I'm Reviewing the Situation" https://youtu.be/96rC4X_KWl4

 

Zvi loves to sing. As I have written many times his Kiddush on a Friday night is spectacular, his bass-baritone voice filling the room. Zvi sings in three choirs. One is Hakol Yachassi, together with friends he has formed a small ensemble which sings Yiddish and traditional songs for the elderly and the third is Cantus, the choir of the Jerusalem Academy of Music. Here is their latest offering https://youtu.be/TRS0VR4iIwA "Dona Nobis Pacem"

 

Finally, Boaz Sharabi, one of the finest voices in Israel, sings the song that says it all. "Haleva'i" which means If Only https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwEatU285N8

 

I wish you a good Shabbes, a weekend of joy, laughter and good health. To whomsoever you turn in prayer may your prayers be of tolerance and peace, of acceptance of the rainbow of mankind and understanding that racists do not choose which group to hate, they just hate and Ms Goldberg's statement as simply made out of ignorance not hate so instead of writing insults perhaps we are guilty, we are not pro-active in explaining who we are.

 

I'm going to sign off but at the bottom of this missive I wanted to put something my lovely friend Sheila Zucker (my friend Sheila) sent me from her son Nathan's Facebook page to remind the ignorant of the true history of this region. It doesn't discount peace with our neighbours, just gives facts.

 

With much love from our view, from Jerusalem.

Sheila

 

Basic History for the uninformed: 

* Before Israel, there was a British mandate, not a Palestinian state .

* Before the British Mandate, there was the Ottoman Empire, not a Palestinian state. 

* Before the Ottoman Empire, there was the Islamic state of the Mamluks of Egypt, not a Palestinian state.

* Before the Islamic state of the Mamluks of Egypt, there was the Ayubid-Kurdish Empire, not a Palestinian state. 

* Before the Ayubid Empire, there was the Crusader Frankish and Christian Kingdom of Jerusalem, not a Palestinian state.

* Before the Kingdom of Jerusalem, there was the Umayyad and Fatimid empires, not a Palestinian state.

* Before the Umayyad and Fatimid empires, there was the Byzantine empire, not a Palestinian state.

* Before the Byzantine Empire, there were the Sassanid-Persian Empire, not a Palestinian state.

* Before the Sassanid-Persian Empire, there was the Byzantine Empire again, not a Palestinian state. 

* Before the Byzantine Empire, there was the Roman Empire, not a Palestinian state. 

* Before the Roman Empire, there was the Jewish Hasmonean state, not a Palestinian state. 

* Before the Jewish Hasmonean state, there was the Hellenistic Seleucid empire, not a Palestinian state.

* Before the Hellenistic Seleucid empire, there was the empire of Alexander the Great, not a Palestinian state.

* Before the empire of Alexander the Great, there was the Persian empire, not a Palestinian state.

* Before the Persian Empire, there was the Babylonian Empire, not a Palestinian state. 

* Before the Babylonian Empire, there were the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah, not a Palestinian state.

* Before the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah, there was the Kingdom of Israel, not a Palestinian state.

* Before the kingdom of Israel, there was the theocracy of the twelve tribes of Israel, not a Palestinian state.

* Before the theocracy of the twelve tribes of Israel, there was an agglomeration of independent Canaanite city-kingdoms, not a Palestinian state.

 

Actually, on the small piece of earth known as the Holy Land, there has been everything, EXCEPT A PALESTINIAN STATE.

 

International Holocaust Remembrance Day

 220127

27^th January, 2022

 

Shabbat Shalom to one and all.

 

I have been going over and over in my mind as to what I should write to you today, 27^th January, 2022, International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Never Again is so banal, in fact it really means nothing since it is happening again, over and over again louts around the world see fit to beat up Jews, or should I say "Obvious Jews". What an odious expression that allows complacent Jews to join in the derision toward fellow Jews who dress differently. The Jews who are at the forefront and it has nothing to do with their mode of dress or their beards and earlocks or payis or payot….It's irrelevant what you call their hats, skullcaps or long coats, they are you and me. It has once again become socially acceptable to deride and harm Jews, so what does never again mean?

 

"We are strong because now we have Israel" Meaningless words if you know nothing about this amazing country, a country that is now the target of those who choose to turn a blind eye to the real perpetrators of oppression and hatred. I could go on and on but you will stop reading because it hurts too much. Please, unless you teach your children about the Holocaust they will never understand about Israel or, indeed about being Jews. We are not the only persecuted people but Jews have been consistently persecuted since the time of Abraham!

 

When was the last time you stood up and said enough?

 

Rather than write on and on about the meaning of the Holocaust, since I believe that those of you who read my missives do not need reminding, you are educated and caring, but ….

 

Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Yair Lapid spoke at the site of the Mathausen Concentration Camp with these words

 

Speaking in a ceremony at the Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid tells the story of his paternal grandfather Bela Lampel, who was murdered at the camp in April 1945. Bela was taken from his home by an SS soldier in March, 1944, in front of his wife, and Lapid’s father Tommy, then 12 years old. “Grandpa Bela, a quiet man whose family nickname was Bela the Wise, sent me here today to say on his behalf that the Jews have not surrendered,” says Lapid. “They’ve established a strong, free, and proud Jewish state, and they sent his grandson to represent them here today. The Nazis thought they were the future, and that Jews would be something you only find in a museum. Instead, the Jewish state is the future, and Mauthausen is a museum.” “Rest in peace, grandfather, you won.” 

 

I wanted to write about the Wannsee Conference https://www.yadvashem.org/docs/wannsee-conference-protocol.html  when the fate of Europe's Jews was decided in the diabolical Final Solution, a gradual loss of rights that culminated in ghettos and camps; about Winston Churchill who led Britain and her Commonwealth into a punishing war because it was the right thing to do, despite major arguments with the then US President FDR, and three long years before they were joined by the United States Forces; the long list of what I wanted you to hear culminated in the most grueling report on the Shoah that I have ever heard, from Richard Dimbelby, on the liberation of Bergen-Belsen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP9BLKZENbc

 

Today stories will be told – albeit in countries that accept Israel as the Jewish home – but what about tomorrow. Please I beg of you to tell your children and grandchildren the stories, not to scare them but to inform them of our past and how we rose like a phoenix out of the ashes and as Yair Lapid stood proudly at the site of his grandfather's demise and announced – Bela the Wise, you won.

I came here today to remind the world that Bela Lampel was not a number. 
He was my grandfather. He loved his beautiful wife. He went to football matches with his child. He loved to have an omelet at the coffee shop next to his home. He never wronged anyone. He wasn’t an important man.
He didn’t hate anyone. He was simply… Jewish. 

So they took him in the middle of the night, and sent him from camp to camp until he arrived here. When he arrived here, the Nazis already knew that they had lost the war. The mighty machine that was the German Army had collapsed. They needed every soldier, every slice of bread, every rifle - and yet, they continued to kill Jews up until the very last moment.  https://www.gov.il/en/Departments/news/fm-lapid-s-speech-at-international-holocaust-remembrance-day-ceremony-at-mauthausen-concentration-camp-27-jan-2022

 

Today, all over the world, survivors have built families who carry their stories forward so that they will not be forgotten. There are some who have built families of 100's descendants and unlike their own parents and grandparents they can laugh and play with them. The ultimate vengeance is to survive and thrive. Israel was not brought about by the Shoah but it is the living proof that just as the Jewish Partisans of the Ghettos we know how to stand proud, to turn the arrows of our enemies and turn them back on themselves – this wondrous country has proven that we cannot be held down.

 

I know you are not used to me being angry or sad but the very idea that we, our generation, has done a pretty lousy job at ensuring that our children understand their past to be able to defend themselves from what appears to be around the corner makes me furious.

 

 

Koolulam gathered a group of survivors and their families to sing "Chai Chai Chai" Live Live Live which they all did against all odds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vuh1-jDi7Qw&t=1s

 

Children in London were to hold a ceremony commemorating the 75^th anniversary of the Shoah but Covid prevented it. Unperturbed they children recorded at home. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKuz9RfLcgM

 

Hatikva – The Hope, is Israel's National Anthem. Hope, that belief that the future will always be better; Hope, Tikva, which helped those who survived the horrors of the Shoah to lead wonderful lives here in the land of hope. The young men and women of the IDF are the future of Israel and of the Jewish people as they go forward into the world with a confidence that past generations never attained. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQCu9kl68Tg

 

I wish you a Shabbat Shalom and when we say "Never Again" remember that we have to mean it, we've had 77 years to learn how.

 

With love from Jerusalem, the city that is the answer to our prayers for the last 3,000 years.

 

Sheila

 

 

 

 

 

 

220122 To be or not to be

 220122

22^nd January, 2022

 

Good Shabbes, Shabbat Shalom,

This week saw Epiphany on the 18th and Martin Luther King Day on the 17^th and today is a day that we all want to celebrate but are scared to do so – International Hug Day. I have a feeling that with Omicron rampant, changing from a pandemic to an epidemic (no I don't know the difference) hugging will just have to wait.

 

"To be or not to be that is the question" should be the quote of the week. Following the weather man's predictions, snow ploughs were at the ready, the salters had their engines running, a few over cautious people put chains on their car tyres and………..nothing, zero, el zilcho, no snow in Jerusalem! Well, actually there was one 30 second flurry at about nine in the evening but most of us missed it because we were watching the nine o'clock newscast predicting snow! Oh well, Mount Hermon has enough for all of us and thousands of cars are in line to enjoy skiing, sledding and just playing in the white wonder. The forecast is another cold front coming in next week so who knows, the expenditure on the snow ploughs may not be in vain. Whatever happens I will do a shop on Monday to ensure that we have all our necessary foods Our wonderful new home has only one drawback and that's just for a couple of days a year, we live on the old road to Jerusalem, the Seven Sisters named for the seven hair-pin bends on a narrow road that was the main road from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem until 1967.

 

“To be, or not to be? That is the question. Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And, by opposing, end them?” This time by citing the famous Shakespearean Hamlet quote I refer to Israel's former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Whether or not he will take a plea bargain whereby he owns lesser charges, discounting corruption etc, and retires from public office, accepts community service for a period of time and does not go to prison. I believe that everyone should stand trial before the law and accept the consequences but the country has been torn apart by his self-centred campaigns, literally torn apart, and it is those he looks down upon from his ivory tower who have crowd-funded his legal costs. I just want it over so that we can get back to being a united, argumentative country.

 

The rumours surrounding the Temple hostage taking in Colleyville, Texas have been both cruel and misinformed. The Rabbi, Charlie Cytron-Walker, dealt with the situation with incredible sang-froid, controlling a potentially deadly hostage taking with aplomb. Rumours are irrelevant, his bravery unquestionable and from what I hear from his many friends he is a good and kind man. Enough. However, the story behind the motive of the hostage taker Malik Faisal Akram is disturbing to say the least. Akram is described as British but he grew up in Pakistan and if you look at this description of how PM Imran Khan handles the "Jewish Question" you will understand.

 

The Pakistani Senate passed a resolution demanding that Siddiqui (the Al Qaeda terrorist imprisoned near the Temple) be repatriated to Pakistan, naming her “the daughter of the Nation.” Prime Minister Imran Khan pledged in a 2018 election manifesto that his political party would “make best efforts to bring prisoners like Dr. Afia Siddiqui and others back to Pakistan.”

In an article published in 2020 by the Atlantic Council think tank, Dawood Ghazanavi, a lawyer in Pakistan and author of the book “Aafia Unheard: Uncovering the Personal and Legal Mysteries Surrounding FBI’s Most Wanted Woman,” wrote that “many Pakistanis equate the injustices done to her as an injustice against Pakistan.”

 

On Jan. 20, 1942, 15 top members of the Nazi bureaucracy met in a villa on Lake Wannsee to the west of Berlin. Light refreshments were served and washed down with cognac. There was only one item on the agenda: “The organizational, logistical and material steps for a final solution of the Jewish question in Europe.” Planning the Holocaust and the eradication of Jewish life in Europe took just of 90 minutes.

Eighty years after the infamous Wannsee Conference that meticulously mapped it the annihilation of the Jews, the bureaucratic efficiency remains as terrifying as ever. 80 years on and we see the ugly head of organised anti-Semitism rising, without the German efficiency but spreading like a wildfire. Yes, the world has forgotten and perhaps we are partly to blame for our complacency in the face of hatred.

 

If one looks at the cant of the Pakistani Prime Minister against the USA and his attitude toward Israel and Jews then recognise the enormous changes in today's UAE one can see how, if only leaders led their people into the 21st century and a full and international life, enormous advances can be made. Compared to other Islamic countries the UAE has a tolerant and excellent school curriculum. I won't waste time writing, just read the report – "When Peace Goes To School" https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/When-Peace-Goes-to-School_The-Emirati-Curriculum-2016%E2%80%9321.pdf  

 

The Israeli Judicial system is questioning the police use of "listening" to private cell phones. In principle so do I and most Israelis but we live in a dangerous neighbourhood and if listening means terror attacks are prevented I don't care who listens in to my conversations or WhatsApps – because I have nothing to hide.

 

Not my busiest week by any means. My birthday was celebrated with video calls from the family all over the world singing Happy Birthday and a romantic breakfast at "Derech ha Gefen" restaurant in the village of Bet Zayit, just five minutes from us. It was wonderful, delicious and it made a change to be just the two of us! Impact-se sent me a bouquet, Amiad and Leor and families sent me a magnificent Ice-cream basket, two of our favourite neighbours sent another ice-cream package and Yossi and Ronit Dagan left a fantastic cake at our doorstep, afraid to come in since several members of their family have Covid. Rachel had organised a party with her family, Leor's family and Amiad's family all of whom were to surprise me bringing food cakes and balloons, but then guess what? All 6 of Leor's family had Covid and 2 of Rachel's! All in all I had a wonderful time, quieter than usual but wonderful.

 

Omicron means that most of our meetings have been deleted from the diary! I was meant to go to Shalva to see Gaby and meet Rachel Feuerstein one of Daniel's closest friends from Carmel College, in the excellent restaurant in Shalva, to show her the progress made on "Dr. Dan's Room" https://give.shalva.org/daniel , the incredible Music, Drama and Dance Studio in Shalva, for the young people with Special Needs for whom all three expressions of art mean so much. Sadly one of Rachel's children came home from school after testing positive for Covid so we had to cancel but I hope to go next week. There is good news though, the Jerusalem Music Academy is about to receive a wonderful donation (no names until it happens) of $10,000 which is destined to train young musicians to teach the young people of Shalva in the Studio. The Academy President has also found a fantastic new instrument specific to the needs of the youngsters and that too will be donated! Daniel would be so pleased that his tragic death has turned into an amazing legacy of joy.

 

On Monday I had a fascinating Zoom meeting for the Board of Impact-se when Marcus Sheff, our CEO gave a report of the truly phenomenal results of the work of the tiny team (including putting UNWRA on the defence quoting our report). Tolerance in education is being taken really seriously by governments all over the world. Zvi, or course, had about six Zooms this week, he is never satisfied with just a few committees, he is truly the "mitnadev he Kavu'a", a serial volunteer for Israel. There is not a committee or cause that he doesn't get involved in, either officially or unofficially. I am so proud of everything he does.

 

One of Zvi's hats is that of the Maccabi World Union, with whom he has been involved for many a year and who he represents on the Board of Governors of the WZO. This year several of our dear friends and readers of this weekly missive, have been awarded the title of Yakir Maccabi for their work. We congratulate everyone involved but must admit that the lovely Leo-Dan Bensky, Stuart Greenberg, Jacobo Gitlin and Oudi Recanati are very special to our hearts. Zvi will not be pleased that I picked my favourites but – sorry.

 

Rachel's two daughters are both "recovered" from Covid so hugs and kisses and visits are the order of the day! Yesterday the girls came home with me and I made them Vegetarian Cous-cous and they watched two movies while the three of us cuddle up on the sofa. I was so thrilled to have them back with us that when I served their supper on the bar of the kitchen island they asked if they could take it to eat in front of the television – and I said YES! Their faces were a picture!

 

Back to the weather, well I am an Ex-Brit! No matter whether the weather be rain, sleet, shine or freezing cold, I love to walk on the paths and by-ways of our park. The neighbours probably think I am nutty as I go past their windows, a vision of large puffer coat, furry hood and black Covid mask, probably quite sinister except for my size - at least no-one can identify me! When I walk in the early evening I see the regulars arriving for a minyan (quorum) at the synagogue, currently in the wonderful big building. I think they recognise me because they know that I'm the only person not at home, looking out at the inclement weather from the warmth of the apartment! Each morning I walk out onto the veranda to see the sun rising over Jerusalem, changing the white stone buildings into that incredible city of gold.

 

A few days ago after a visit to Rachel and family in Givat Ze'ev, I drove back over, yes you guessed it, the highest point in the area, Samuel's Tomb and for a change it was night-time on a crystal clear evening. Oh my goodness it was stunning! Lights outlining the many hills of Jerusalem, shining brightly, creating a map of such clarity it took my breath away. No longer were the towers and skyscrapers outlined, it was the undulating hills that emphasised the miracle of that city of almost a million people, excepting the suburbs and dormitory neighbourhoods surrounding Jerusalem. I smiled all the way home!

 

Today we are at home, just the two of us, which is fine and tomorrow we will be with zvi's boy and their families to celebrate the 9^th birthday of Ella, so named because she was born on Tu b'Shvat, https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3264/jewish/15-Shevat.htm  the Jewish festival celebrating ecology. I will be providing, by popular request, my usual winter "kitchen sink" soup which I will begin as soon as I finish writing to you. I call it kitchen sink soup because I put just about every root vegetable, legume and …….just about everything but the kitchen sink, into it because it warms the very cockles of one's heart!

 

I think that's it! I'm, sure you could think of even more things and if you have any questions you know how to get me!

 

Some years ago the Israeli film Afula Express came out and was a huge success. The haunting theme song "Geshem" which means Rain, has stayed in my mind – especially on these rainy days. Eli Louzon sings beautifully https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8HlStOESOU

 

We are nearing the end of the auditions/competition for the singer of the next Eurovision song in Italy this spring. I'm sure you all remember the crazy, winning song of Netta, "Toy" well here a new voice, takes on the song – amazing. Please excuse the language it's the song not me! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B066GAsUPvM

 

In a world of ever increasing division and hatred, of extremes instead of tolerance, there are moments of hope, moments of understanding each other, our similarities and needs, our hopes and aspirations. One man in particular spoke of all those ideals, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Junior. I love this song. "Shed a Little Light" a song of hope to honour MLK Day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crKDDS5D_os

 

Shabbat Shalom dear friends. Just think if everyone in the world took note of the words and actions of the Rev. Dr. martin Luther King Junior. Ah, what a wonderful world it would be.

Sheila