Sorrow and Celebration

220503

3^rd May 2022

ב באייר תשפ"ב

 

Today we mourn those who died fighting to create and hold this little oasis of Jewish life, from before the forming of the nascent State until today. Thousands of lives snuffed out by hatred. In less than half an hour the first siren will sound across the country to herald a day of mourning. We all know however that it is not just a day of mourning because, for the families, every day is a day of mourning for the 24,068 soldiers who died in Israel's constant battle for independence. Since this day last year, another 56 soldiers have joined the ranks of those lost.

 

It never fails to amaze me that nobody questions the existence, or right to exist of India, ratified just months before us, but the world has turned against this tiny, innovative, giving country.

 

Yom Hazikaron, the Day of Remembrance for those lost in War and through Terror attacks. Yom Hazikaron, a Day of Mourning where the face and story of each soldier lost is shown for 24 hours on the Knesset website and television. If you want to light a candle in memory of a fallen soldier go to www.izkor.gov.il

 

The central ceremony is held at the Western Wall, the Kotel but each military cemetery has its own, and the closing ceremony is held at Mount Herzl. Sad songs are played all day, shops and restaurants, places of entertainment are closed and of course the sirens, one at 20:00 tonight and one tomorrow at 11:00. We stand to attention to honour those who made our lives possible.

 

IDF Chief Cantor Shai Abramson will sing Yizkor, the lament for the dead, at the ceremonies and here he sings Unetanneh Tokef a prayer sung on Yom Kippur and on this day of mourning  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyBToUaon2w

 

I left you to stand out on our veranda, to hear the keening sound of the siren, expressing our grief at the young lives snuffed out. I called my friend Jill, all the way in Leeds, UK, because she feels the pain that we feel and needs to hear the siren as we do. Most cars and buses stopped before the siren, to give time for drivers and passengers alike to alight and stand to attention beside the bus, most of our neighbours stood out on their verandas to hear the siren clearly – there are few who have not lost friends, fathers, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters or a family member in unwanted wars or terror attacks. As I said, we are still fighting our war of independence, our war for recognition.

 

Tomorrow, most families will go to the graves of their loved ones. Some take flowers to place on their freshly washed gravestones. The most tragic is to see a child hugging a gravestone, all that remains of their contact with their father. The strange thing is that with all this tragedy there is a sense of purpose to living here. We are horrified by each death, but at least we are fighting for our own land, our own right to exist and not in a far distant land in someone else's war. Here we fight for our home and the right to live in it.

 

As you well know, my favourite Israeli song of all time, the song that expresses everything about living here. It was written by Naomi Shemer, the same poet who wrote Yerushalyim Shel Zahav, Jerusalem of Gold. This is the song that expresses everything that I feel about living here in this the Promised Land.  Al Kol Eleh – Above All This – or The Honey and the Sting.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOhhIZnLcRU It has both subtitles and transliteration so you can join in.

 

High on a hill in Jerusalem, in front of the grave of Theodore Herzl, as the Remembrance Day draws to a close, the deep sadness, the grieving, the mourning, the flags are handed over to the new guard, the speeches are thankfully over and then, suddenly the mood changes and we recognise the fact that as in all wars, we lost loved ones but we are still here! Israel is now a thriving, noisy, busy, economically sound, scientifically brilliant, medically innovative and is truly the Start Up Nation of 9,500,00 citizens of diverse race, faith, religion and traditions! Yes we really do have what to cheer about and cheer we do!!

 

Dancers, singers, acrobats and fun as we change our mood in an instant and the Yom haAtzmaut - Independence Day – celebrations begin! A truly spectacular evening of entertainment and jubilation! I remember that before Covid put a damper on all and any celebrations I took my amazing grand-daughter Talia to the Ceremony on Mount Herzl. For her, she was 13 at the time, the change from mourning to celebration really reached her soul. She waved her flag, wore her flashing Israeli flag headdress, cheered with the crowd as each new wonder was revealed and oooohed and aaahed at the multi-coloured drones which formed patterns in the night sky, including Star of David, Menorah, etc etc. Yes folks, we really know how to celebrate!

 

Parties abound and some say that instead of calling it Independence Day we should call it "The Day of the Mangal" – a Mangal is a Barbecue in Turkish! Not a square metre of park is left without the inevitable portable barbecues! The aroma of succulent steaks, kebabs and lamb chops alongside the highly seasoned chicken wings wafts over the entire country. Each family comes armed with huge cold-boxes filled with salads of every conceivable variety and only the early comers manage to grab a picnic table to sit at, others either bring their own table or a blanket and sit on the ground. It is a day of joy, of family, of celebration never forgetting the cost in human life.

 

So what about the achievements for this incredibly young country, the reborn Israel. How do I love her? Let me count the ways

 

Israel is 1st place in the world in planting new trees every year.

 

2nd place in the world in the ranking of space sciences.

 

1st place in the development of medical patents.

 

Israel is a member of the exclusive World Space Club, of which only 9 countries are members.

 

The Israeli Air Force is considered one of the best in the world, and holds a number of world records in the field of air combat.

 

The Israeli Naval Commando (Squadron 13) is ranked as one of the ten best units in the world.

 

The Merkava Mark 4 tank made in Israel is considered one of the best tanks in the world.

 

The most protected combat bulldozer in the world is the D9 of the IDF Combat Engineering Corps (and even holds the Guinness record).

 

Israel is a world leader in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles/drones (UAVs), and in 2013 it already won the title - the largest UAV exporter in the world, and in general Israel is ranked as the world's leading arms exporter in terms of the size of its population.

 

Israel is the largest exporter of polished diamonds in the world. The Israeli Diamond Exchange is the largest and most important rough diamond trading center in the world, with over 60 percent of its global turnover.

Israel is one of the largest citrus exporters in the world.

 

In Israel there are12 Nobel Prize winners, which is an amazing figure in relation to the size of population in the country.

 

Ben-Gurion Airport is considered one of the most secure airports in the world, to which global companies come every year to learn about innovative security methods.

 

Israel is considered one of the leading high-tech centers in the world.

 

 Israel is one of the most advanced countries in the world in the field of water desalination.

 

 Israel holds the world record of cotton crop per hectare (245 kg !!!) The world average is only 70 kilos.

 

The yield of milk to a cow in Israel - the highest in the world!

The Israeli cow is the world champion in milk production, the average milk production of each Israeli cow is 11,653 liters compared to 8,000 liters per European cow)

 

 The number of scientific articles per capita written by Israelis is among the highest in the world. Also, Israel is in third place in the world (along with Switzerland) in relation to the registered patents per capita.

 

The average life expectancy in the State of Israel is in sixth place in the world. (Men - 80.6 years and women 84.3 years)

 

 Infant mortality in Israel is among the lowest in the world.

 

Israel is ranked 19th out of 195 countries listed in the Human Development Index.

 

Eighth in the world in the global power index.

 

In fourth place in the ranking of the most educated countries in the world.

 

Ninth in the World Health Index (out of 163 countries)

 

Ranked 11th out of 158 in the Global Happiness Index.

 

In third place (out of 144 countries) in the ranking of the most innovative countries in the world.

 

My country is only young. She is only 74 years old.

 

I am proud to be Israeli

 

And so much more! Am proud of all our volunteers who rush to help countries around the world after natural disasters including the USA, Canada and Turkey; I am proud of Mashav, the government division that sends agricultural, medical and civic aid to third world countries and bring their people in all those professions to Israel to study in our universities to take their knowledge home; I am proud of the incredible work done to create tolerant societies in the midst of intolerance; I am proud that even as they call for our destruction we still provide Gaza with staple foodstuffs, electricity and gas; I am proud that one can see Moslems kneeling down to pray in the middle of the main road and nobody bats an eyelid; gosh I could go on and on.

 

I pray that the words of Menachem Begin (yes it was he not Anwar Sadat) when Anwar Sadat came to Israel "No more war, no more bloodshed"

 

When Naomi Shemer heard the Beatles sing "Let it Be" She decided to write "Lu Yehi" which carried the same sentiment, a sentiment of hope and prayer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDyHGjawbL4

 

How to end this missive of sorrow and celebration? Surely with that so aptly named anthem of the entire Jewish people and Israel in particular. Hatikva, the Hope. https://youtu.be/GQCu9kl68Tg

 

It's time to celebrate our differences, to accept each other as we are not as we expect.

 

With love from our veranda, where I watched the respect shown to those who keep us safe as I looked out over Jerusalem from the very spot that Theodore Herzl planted a tree. Indeed yesterday was Herzl's birthday. Can you imagine what he would have to say about his dream? It was not only a dream it came to fruition in a thriving, bustling country that even Herzl could not have imagined. Altneuland is a reality.

 

Chag Atzma'ut Sameach

 

Sheila 

Holocaust Remembrance Day

 28^th April, 2022

27 לחודש ניסן, 5782

 

יום הזיכרון לשואה   Holocaust Remembrance Day

 

 

Never Again? Really? Never again yet as I stood on the veranda with Zvi at 10:00 this morning, whereas in the past every car stopped, not a person moved, during the 2 minute siren which wailed over the whole of Israel. This morning it was only 50%, many cars just kept going on the highway. One cannot say they didn't hear or didn't know because the siren was on the radio, all around us. Either the drivers didn't relate to the Shoah or even worse, they feel it is in the past, gone and forgotten. In a Jewish world where what is happening in Ukraine is equated with the Shoah in too many communities it is not surprising that our children and grandchildren do not relate. The Survivors of the purgatory that was the Concentration Camps are passing away and their stories are untold for most. Never again? I'm not so sure.

 

"Never Again" is so banal, in fact it really means nothing since it is happening again, over and over again anti-Semitic 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? How can we expect those thugs to respect "Obvious Jews" when too many of our own deride them and speak of religious or observant Jews with disdain.

 

As I write to you there is a memorial ceremony in the Knesset called "To Each Person a Name" Members of Knesset, including the PM, the former PM and Speaker of the Knesset all stood and read out names of their family members who were killed, murdered in the most organised and cold-blooded manner imaginable. Whether from Thessaloniki, Tripoli, Bialystok, Lodz or Paris, each had lost many of their family, leaving only their parents to continue the family. Former Minister Ofir Akunis ended his horrifying litany of family members lost to the Nazi death machine and whereas the others all said "May their souls be blessed" he added "I will not forgive nor forget"

 

This is a week of mourning which changes to joy. The mourning continues with the deep sadness of young lives lost in the constant fight against terror since well before Independence. Yes I know everyone thinks that the terror is a consequence of the founding of the State of Israel but it began long before, the killing in the Arab riots of 1920, 1929 and 1936. 1929 in which 133 Jews were slaughtered and over 300 injured, mostly in Hebron. In those riots the British evacuated the Jews of Jenin for their own safety but you will never here of the Jewish community of Jenin and the fact that they never saw their homes again. The joy? Independence Day, Yom HaAtzmaut. After the solemn ceremonies both at the Western Wall and the Mount Herzl Cemetery, in fact military cemeteries throughout Israel of which there are just too many; parents visiting of graves of their children and children the graves of their parents; a day of absolute mourning with sirens and silence both evening and morning and suddenly, in a flash, Mount Herzl becomes a ceremony of jubilation, song, joy and fireworks! We know how to mourn but we also know how lucky we are to have our own country and to whom we owe the enormous privilege of a Jewish Home.

 

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

 

Incredibly, one Survivor, aged 90, served as godfather (Sandak) at the Brit Milah of his 49^th great-grandchild this week. That is true vengeance of the sweetest kind – to survive insurmountable evil and thrive here in Israel.

 

Last week the European Union requested a debate between www.impact.se CEO Marcus Sheff (with Arik Agassi) and the Palestinian Minister of Education concerning the Palestinian refusal to improve their textbooks, refusal to remove hate and introduce tolerance in education. The Palestinian Minister Awartani backed out at the last moment, leaving just Marcus to present the argument for Tolerance in Education, citing the success of Impact-se with many countries in the MENA region. Despite two virulently anti-Israel Members of the UN the members listened carefully to the presentation and are now contemplating demanding changes in the Palestinian curriculum or they will face defunding.

 

After the loneliness of Pesach with Corona we have made up by having non-stop visitors – in other words taking advantage of our temporary immunity! Ira and Valeri with Tomer and Shelly came for the second chag of Passover once Zvi and I had tested negative for Covid; as Passover ended we visited two Mimounah celebrations in our little neighbourhood amazed as always by the incredible display of sweet Moroccan nutty delicacies, stuffed sweetened fruits and delicious home-made muflettas, fried in butter and soaked in honey. Considering that Zvi is diabetic and I have a nut allergy it was a visual delight although I ate a couple of muflettas! We had a fabulous, if short visit from my wonderful friends Judith and Marcus Hallside and yesterday tried out a new restaurant in Kiriat Anavim for breakfast with friends – it was absolutely yummy. Last evening Zvi, together with Dr. Motti Friedman and pianist Ronit Banit performed in an Assisted Living home in Jerusalem. They sang beautiful songs in Yiddish to the delight of the audience, accompanied by Hassia who sang beautifully. Among the audience was out lovely friend Prof. Gabby Barkay who many of you know as one of Israel's foremost archaeologists. Today our friend Carmen came for lunch after an emotional visit, with Zvi, to the Hadassah Hospice where our dear friend Frida is spending her last days.

 

It is appropriate that just before Holocaust Remembrance Day each building in our complex is displaying an Israeli flag. This country is so much more than just a country, more than a refuge, more than a haven, more than the most argumentative and innovative population, argumentative because now we can! Politicians may try to split us into sectors, and leaders may try to split us into sects but this is home! It makes me furious when I am told by young Jews that they don't relate to Israel as in this report in the Jerusalem Post "1/4 American Jewish millennials distance themselves from Israel" https://m.jpost.com/diaspora/article-705059/amp. They don't have to love us, they don't have to come here if they don't fancy but they don't relate? They will never see the incredible beauty of this country, its spiritual history, its innovation, it's fun side and serious side and most of all they will not find out that what they see on the news bears no relationship to what Israel is. Israel was not formed out of the ashes of the Holocaust, but perhaps the guilt of too many nations who knew of the horrors taking place under their yes but did nothing or took too long to enter the War, caused their vote and Israel's ratification through the UN.

 

I hope you don't object to my rambling but then most of you are used to it! Today there are movies about the Shoah, stories from Survivors and their families and music, sad music. Next Tuesday night and Wednesday photographs of the young faces of those killed in fighting and by terrorism will be on a constant display on our televisions, again stories of bravery and most of all music, sweet, sad Israeli music.

 

Before the music I almost forgot to tell you about the well-deserved nomination for Danny Adeno Abebe's book From Africa to Zion has been nominated for a major literature prize https://www.amazon.com/Africa-Zion-Danny-Adeno-Abebe/dp/9652012866

 

Just as the IDF choir sang Hatikva; on the first Shabbat after the 15^th of April 1945 when the British Troops liberated Bergen Belsen the survivors sang Kiddush and then, spontaneously, they sang Hatikva https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWOkML4A8sU The words have changed because now we sing about a Jewish country that exists, not just the dreams of a broken people.

 

Ein Li Eretz Aheret – I have no other country – is one of the most beautiful songs of Israel. This beautiful rendition by many Israeli singers is so emotive I had to give it to you even though it is in Hebrew. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtR6HF3MQKw  The lyrics by Ehud Manor carry a deeply important message that even though this country has gone through many changes, we have no other country. The chorus is

"I have no other country, even if my land is aflame
Just a word in Hebrew pierces my veins and my soul -
With a painful body, with a hungry heart,
Here is my home"

 

Since you love the music I want to give you one more song. Heveinu Shalom Aleinu – We brought Peace Among us. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5d_i2F2LlF8 Jewish and Moslem artists singing together in a prayer for peace

 

I wish you a Shabbat Shalom and pray that the world has learned a lesson.  That lesson is one of Tolerance, of empathy, of understanding that we are all different and tha tis the beauty of mankind

 

With much love from Jerusalem

Sheila

 

 

 

Sticks and Stones, Shabbat and Maimuna

 220421

21^st April 2022

 

Gut Shabbes, Shabbat Shalom, I hope you had a beautiful Easter and Ramadan Kareem

 

Time and again I try to understand what drives the international media to villainise Israel. Let me set the scene. The Temple Mount, Harem el Sharif by whatever name you choose, is holy to the three monotheistic religions. A very few times a year, with full agreement with the WAQF and the Jordanian Government, a small number of Jews are allowed on to the Temple Mount. This year in the lead-up to Ramadan and Passover there were already major disruptions of the fragile peace, such as attacking Jews on their way to the Western Wall with sticks and rocks; a gang of Arab youth standing in wait for a public bus carrying Jews and Arabs to the Dung Gate being throwing huge rocks at the bus injuring those inside; the gun and knife attacks you heard of in the news…….in other words something was definitely about to happen.

 

In the meantime, inside the Al Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam, young political hooligans desecrated the Mosque by entering with their shoes on sporting Hamas flags, collecting rocks and fireworks, destroying artifacts, then using all of the above to attack Jews and the police who as a last resort entered the Mosque, arrested the perpetrators and allowed some twenty thousand peaceful worshippers, from all over the area, to finally enter the Mosque to pray. One friend, a devout Moslem devoted to peace, felt dismay and anger at the desecration and sheer terrorism which led to the storming of the Mosque.

 

Perhaps the best example of the perfect response to antagonistic journalism came from Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem Fleur Hassan Nahoum in an interview with the BBC on the subject of the rioters in Al Aqsa https://youtu.be/fON2xpENZ1o

 

To suggest that we simply do not go to The Old City is to suggest that the war in 1967 was lost and Judaism and Christianity have lost the battle for their holy sites. I still remember my first visit to Jerusalem in 1963 when we could only look over the beauty of the City of Gold from a distance, singing the Passover prayer – Next Year in Jerusalem. We were not referring to the still small new city, nor the number 14 but, not even Mount Herzl, our prayer was for what was held in those ramparts surrounding our holiest of sites, The Temple Mount and the Western Wall.

 

On the other hand, in a project that has lasted several years, the Via Dolorosa has been made wheelchair accessible! Those of you who know the Old City will understand just how huge the project was, trying not to destroy and ancient stones in the narrow passageways that make up the Stations of the Cross, but it was finished just in time for Easter and the thousands of pilgrims that have returned to Jerusalem after Covid.

 

So we clearly survived our personal battle with Covid! As I told you our Seder was cancelled, everyone having to hurriedly cobble together food and preparations, and Zvi and I read the Story of the Exodus from Egypt, managing to get almost to the end before collapsing into bed. Our food was made up of contributions from my incredible daughter who left her famous long cooked beef and turmeric chicken, balloons to cheer us up and flowers outside the door, then standing outside to wave and blow kisses with the children; Leor came with the four girls (having just recovered from Covid) after they raided the Kosher le Pesach (Mahedrin even) ready food store in Abu Ghosh – yes that's what I said, the Mahedrin kosher for Passover ready food store in Abu Ghosh a predominantly Moslem town right next to us https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Ghosh . Abu Ghosh shares its Biblical name with Kiriat Yearim, a religious village next to it where obviously many of the clients for the Mahedrin store came from! To continue, our downstairs neighbour Yael called to me to open the door where I found home made Gefilte fish and chicken soup with kneidlach…… and other neighbours acted similarly leaving gifts of flowers and wine!!

 

The next few days went by in a fog of coughing and generally feeling sorry for ourselves, but actually gave our bodies time to rest from our insanely active lives. We spent a lot of time catching up on Netflix series and eating the wonderful gifts of food. Luckily I always like to be prepared (a former Girl Scout) so all our Passover dishes were already brought up from our storeroom! It was probably the quietest Passover we ever had but we are out of it, received our official letters of "freedom" from the Ministry of Health and yesterday finally both did antigen tests and were negative!!

 

Just a word about the last week. Do not be disturbed by the public words of the various Arab leaders, especially King Abdullah of Jordan, or to be more accurate his Prime Minister, who condemned Israeli incitement on Harem al Sharif. Firstly the Temple Mount is officially under the direction of Jordan, secondly King Abdullah was having back surgery in German, his population is now 70% Palestinian(remember the last 2-State solution) and his position as a Bedouin leader is tenuous and finally all the Arab leaders speak to the populace but keep to their position re Israel.

 

Do you know what the Maimouna is? In essence it is a celebration of the end of Passover, Pesach, but it also so much more!! A tradition started by the Jews of the town of Magheb in Morocco, it is an epicurean festival of huge proportions accompanied by enough sugar to ensure diabetes in all who attend!! A fabulous display of multicoloured sweet treats, all lovingly prepared by the hostess. It is said to commemorate the anniversary of the death of Maimonedes, indeed many explanations of both the name and the reason but here it is well explained https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/maimouna-a-post-passover-celebration/  We will go to our friends and neighbours Yehudit and Zalman Zvidetski for the Maimounah and if you wonder at their very Ashkenaz name and its relationship to Morocco, Yehudit's family come from Morocco! Everything has honey, whether the pancake like moufletas, stuffed dates, coconut cookies, little mini finger food style sticky, gooey deliciousness. Luckily for me I have a nut allergy otherwise I would be at least 10 kilos heavier just looking at it all!!

 

Yesterday was very special. Daniel's best friend Justin (aka Paddy) and his fabulous wife Daniella and two of their four children, Orly and Sam, came to visit. In celebration of their visit, Poodle came especially from Tel Aviv and Rachel, Yosef, Talia and Ayala came too! It was such a joy. We all sat outside despite the somewhat brisk weather. After checking out the food on the table the children all went inside and did some drawing and painting led by Talia, which left all of us to just be together. We spoke about the Dr Daniel Cammerman Impact-se Library and of course had hoped to go to see the Dr Dan's Room in Shalva but Shalva closes for Passover. They'll be back soon by which time the final touches will be made to the Studio and the young people of Shalva will be having fun there. We also spoke about Impact-se and the incredible work done by the organisation/research institute I am so proud to Chair. www.impact-se.org If I may be very British and tell you that Justin was "gobsmacked" at our work.

 

I must get to my preparations for the second half of Passover! We are alone tonight but we have wonderful guests on Friday night – Nattie and Yolli Zonszein – and I need to have something really tasty because Nattie always comes up with delicious concoctions for us when we visit them – she is a fabulous cook.

 

So that's it for this week. I just hope and pray that the coming week will be more peaceful and that we can celebrate each other's festivals, our differences are all part of the beauty of Jerusalem, as I always say the rainbow would be very boring if it was all one colour, we need each other to create the rainbow of humanity that reveres the Golden City.

 

One aspect of Passover is that it is not the first nor the last story of oppression of Jews, although one of ultimate triumph as we leave slavery to freedom, but one song, a short Passover song, that expresses that is V'Hee Sheamda, He who stood up.

And this (Hashem’s blessings and the Torah) is what kept our fathers and what keeps us surviving. For, not only one arose and tried to destroy us, rather in every generation they try to destroy us, and the Almighty saves us from their hands. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnnKFpiP1hs

 

Since your favourite songs come from Koolulam and my favourite song is Al Kol Eleh and we all love Shlomi Shabat I decided to combine them all with https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxzR9Z-kG6Q

 

The Israeli police and Border Guards get a rotten press and after all they are the front line not only against crime and terrorism but to help us all on every level. They are above all ordinary human beings, Jews, Moslem and Christian Israelis, who have a sense of duty. I loved this  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwVhpiQzlUM The chorus says it all

Here is home, here's the heart

And from you I'll not depart

Our forefathers, our roots,

And we are the flowers, the tunes

A tribe of brothers and sisters

 

Wishing you a wonderful Shabbat and of course a sweet Maimunah. With much love from Jerusalem the city so beautiful that everyone wants it! There's plenty to share!!

 

Before I go, I have to beg you to teach your children to accept those different from themselves, it's called Tolerance. Tolerance has nothing to do with tolerating things that you abhor, it is teaching our children about that rainbow of humanity, that only when all the colours shine in their own space, in their own way, touching but not mixing, will we raise a generation of understanding. It doesn't happen only in schools, it comes from home, it comes from the heart.

 

Sheila

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

Tolerance and Terror in Tel Aviv

 7^th April 2022

 

Thursday night exactly one week before the Passover Seder!

 http://www.theviewfrommyveranda.info/tolerance-and-terror-in-tel-aviv/ 

It is a time of festivals, religious festivals, from Ramadan to Easter and Pascha/Passover/Pesach. Spring cleaning by any other name is in the air and the shops have scrubbed down their shelves and replaced the "regular" foodstuffs with Kosher for Passover goods. Even those of us who say "I don't understand why tea or sugar or salt, in the exact same packaging as always, should need a label saying Kosher for Passover – but I buy them anyway, because I would never give as guest anything but the genuine article. The promise of family gatherings and the scent of cleaning materials barely cover the finagling of politics. Idit Silman, a right-wing member of the current government decided to find a timely excuse to break away and resign from the coalition, the question of whether or not one should be allowed to bring non-Kosher for Passover food into hospitals over Passover. Her resignation letter was allegedly written for her by far-far- right MK Smotrich. Really? Why is it always just before a festival? Do they have to ruin everything? Of course the media immediately began with polls as to whether this government can continue as a minority government? who's to blame? Will there be elections before we have finished counting the Omer (between Passover and Shevuout) the 49 days so similar to Lent? Of course the first thing that happened was a right wing demonstration and Mr Netanyahu, leader of the opposition, spoke publicly for the first time since the beginning of his trial!! What politician can refuse an opportunity to gloat I ask you?

 

That's it I've had my moan with a groan. Now to better thoughts.

 

Out of tragedy good can come. When Druze policeman Amir Houri died in the Bnei Brak terror attack it really hit the heart of Israelis of every denomination and faith. Hundreds went to the funeral and the visitors to the Houri home have continued without stop. The family has been surrounded by those who wished to pay their respects and express their gratitude to this family who paid the ultimate price for their loyalty to our little country.

 

The media has made much of the "rioting" beside the Damascus Gate however those who regularly visit the area say that there are wonderfully decorated stalls with delicious foodstuffs for the worshippers to enjoy after sunset during Ramadan. As always it is the few, maybe 15 or 20 yobbos with trouble in their minds, having been inculcated with hate in the Mosques. Never ever paint everyone with the same brush. However, when I was sent a video of a young French Jew trying to escape a beating and fell to his death under the tram or the young thugs beating up young Jews in NYC, the Upper West Side, or London, it frightens me more than anything. When did it become dangerous to wear a kippa and why? Who are these thugs? Who is responsible for their hatred and what is being done about it?

 

Usually everything is blamed on "settlers" in the foreign media but this week I yet again understood that generalisation is a dangerous thing. I went to see Rachel and the girls in Givat Ze'ev, to the little open-air shopping area by the "Tahanat Delek" the petrol station. I love that the shoppers and owners alike are from every walk of life, Jewish Israelis, Arab Israelis, Palestinians, everyone together just being, without friction, without anger, just being…..just being.

 

We know how to deal with our own region and as I have reported time and again, we are making great strides in changing the education of young people, taking hate out and putting tolerance in to their curriculum – and it is working, slowly, one child at a time, as more and more countries recognise that the hatred of the past cannot continue – and the schoolbooks were filled with hatred, not only of Jews but of all who did not follow the teachings of Islam. Now a new openness is coming to this region, women are no longer described as chattels; respect and tolerance toward "the other" is being taught; a far more moral approach is being taken toward non-believers and more and more countries are now demanding that the Palestinian Authority joins Bahrain, UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia (yes really) Morocco and others in taking hatred out of their children's schoolbooks. The latest news is that the EU is threatening to stop funding if they do not comply. Comply? They must make changes according to the Criteria of Tolerance in Education of UNESCO – all as a result of the reports compiled by Impact-se  www.impact-se.org and the hard work of our CEO.

 

This Shabbat is called Shabbat ha Gadol, the Great Shabbat or the Important Shabbat. As with everything from the Torah the interpretation is open to discussion. The Torah reading is about the Plagues that the Almighty brought down upon the Egyptians, indeed about the lambs that were bound before the plague of the First-born, which is thought to be the time that the Children of Israel began to understand that something important was about to happen, that they would soon be free from slavery.  I didn't know that originally Christians celebrated Easter on Shabbat HaGadol, but then it was changed, and the Seder night was also changed from Shabbat haGadol. Gosh this is getting complicated! Anyway, one thing we are sure of is that the Last Supper was indeed the Seder Night, and basically we have so much in common, much more in common than that which separates us.

 

So let's get back to traditions, it's far less complicated than the history of who does what and when!

 

Homes are cleaned, not just cleaned but CLEANED! Surfaces are scrubbed, fridges emptied and cleaned, many putting aluminium foil to cover all surfaces so that kitchens look like spaceships! Once all the breadcrumbs have been swept out of the house, not under the carpet because that is outside being beaten to death! Then comes the exciting part, all the special foods that need to be bought and stored ready for the marathon cooking spurt just before the big night! This year we are just 20, I can't remember everyone who is coming but I can promise they will have a place at our table. First comes the blessing over the wine and then we are off, recounting the story of Pharaoh, Egypt, Slaves, Moses and of course how the Almighty freed us. Before the food comes  the "Seder Plate" https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/the-seder-plate/  , each of the six items has a special meaning and  receives a blessing, and of course the Matza or unleavened bread. This is followed by hard boiled eggs in salt water, yes really, it is actually delicious, before we dive into the food. There are so many traditions of what one can and cannot eat on Passover, totally dependent upon the lands of our dispersion. Ashkenazi Jews cannot eat any pulses whereas Eastern Jews can and do, which is cause of great jealousy on my part since my Ashkenazi soul cannot break with the traditions of my ancestors and eat a lovely dish of rice! After the meal one says grace and then the last part of the story and then…….we sing! The first song is the most important "Next Year in Jerusalem" the prayer of 2,000 years. Today it is sung to a joyful tune but once………

 

Tradition. It's all about tradition. The traditions of our parents, their parents and their parents going back hundreds and hundreds of years. We are called upon to tell the story of our slavery, the interpretations of the Rabbis and Zvi always says that the most important characters of the story that we read are the Four Sons. It is the story of four young men "One who is wise, One who is wicked, One who is simple and one who does not know to ask." Many say that these four sons represent the levels of knowledge of our religion. The wise son who learns and carries out the blessings; the wicked son who may have learned but derides anything to do with his religion; the simple son who is too busy with TikTok to bother with anything and the one who doesn't know what to ask because nobody bothered to teach him. What do you think?

 

Tomorrow morning, really early, we are off for a break with the choir. We are going South, touring and learning, stopping for a picnic to which everyone brings sandwiches, quiches and cakes, then arrive at the Kibbutz Guest House well before Shabbat so that we can get ready for Shabbat Dinner. Shabbat Dinner with the choir (Hakol Yachassi) is fabulous. We are all old friends and we sing together, starting with Zvi's Kiddush, singing traditional Shabbat songs. We then sit together and sing some more! On Shabbat morning we go for a walking tour coming back for a traditional lunch, then rest and come home after the Sabbath is out, after nightfall. It is a wonderful break from Passover preparations!

 

I'm going now, and I hope that I'll manage to write to you next week since the Seder night is on Thursday, but I promise to try.

 

If not, I wish you a good Pesach, a Blessed Easter and a Holy Ramadan. I would be a fine world if only we could all accept and embrace our differences and recognise our similarities.

 

Shabbat Shalom dear friends. Remember to sing "Next Year in Jerusalem" with gusto and if you don't know the melody…

 

There is a terror attack in Tel Aviv right at this moment, just as I was telling you of the joy of Passover. At least 5 people in serious condition as a terrorist began shooting in all directions. The shooter has not been caught yet. It was a beautiful balmy evening and many people were out enjoying the night life of Tel Aviv. I must go, without songs I fear. I must watch the reports, check on family and friends. Again, yet again, hate wins through. The security forces expected an attack in Jerusalem but yet again it is in the Central region. Why, why? Why can't we all live together in peace?

 

With love

Sheila

Vayikra, Ukraine, Despots and Generosity

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11^th March, 2022

 

Shabbat Shalom. Today we sense the need for Peace, Shalom, Salaam, Mir and Myr.

 

These last two weeks we have learned to say Lviv instead of Lvov, Kharkiv instead of Kharkov and Kiv instead of Kiev - and watched in horror as a people who just recently learned what freedom means are bombed without mercy – and for what? I always say that there is nothing new under the sun, which is iterated by Rabbi Jeremy Rosen's explanation of this week's Torah reading (www.jeremyrosen.com ). Vayikra.

 

"The Book of Exodus that we have just completed, provided us with two examples of leadership. On the one hand, there was Pharaoh, an omnipotent autocrat, rooted in a static and immovable mindset, who was unable to comprehend the inhumanity of his policies or an alternative narrative. On the other hand, Moses, a revolutionary, was animated by ideals and spiritual inspiration. Both sought order, one through oppression, the other through inspiration. Pharaoh was concerned only with the preservation of power through force and oppression expecting others to carry out his orders. Pharoah expected his inner circle of oligarchs, priests, magicians, and advisors to support and reinforce his policies. Moses was brought up in different societies and therefore was able to evaluate and differentiate systems and policies. Moses challenged authority and fixed ways of thinking.

 

I have in mind the revolting Putin who is so blinded by his ambition that he brooks no opposition and like Hitler and Stalin (and of course Pharaoh) he cannot see how counter-productive force is in the long run. He is reinforced by his yes men and facilitators.  He has sown the seeds of his own failure and will be remembered not as the man who rebuilt Russia but as the bully who so violently attacked civilians and tried to crush the spirit of Ukraine."

 

We are all horrified and somehow helpless as we sit glued to the news, appalled by the execrable tragedies unfolding before our eyes. I have asked the question "Why are we moved by this war, this invasion, when such horrific acts take place every day in the MENA region and in Africa, even South America, is it because they are white, European, Christian"? I have some less pleasant answers but somehow, this one feels near to home. Our countries help where possible but need to hold back before it becomes a world war, something Putin undoubtedly recognised. Israel has opened her doors, clearly to Jewish refugees who are offered instant citizenship but also to many non-Jewish refugees who immediately upon landing are given work permits. Israel is accepting refugees at a rate far above her size; hotels are filled and schools are hurriedly turned into dormitories for orphans…. Jewish orphans cared for by Chabad in Ukraine and brought by them to Israel. Israel has no orphans and this is a sad turn of fate. Orphans who cannot be adopted because their parents are still alive but abandoned their babies and have not signed any document allowing these children to be adopted. Our field hospitals are already on the ground, our first responders have been working furiously for over a week and the field hospital is in place. A fascinating, but sad reality is that suddenly, understanding the urgency of the situation, over 14,000 Russian Jews have also applied for Aliya. They have seen the writing on the wall. If you think this is the first time Russia has killed Ukrainians, you are wrong. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holodomor

 

Ironically, a pre-Holocaust Yeshiva in Poland is being used to house refugees from the evil of war.

 

President Herzog flew to Istanbul to meet with Turkish President Erdogan. When one remembers that Erdogan is conceivably the most openly anti-Israel leader in the region one may wonder why! Israel and Turkey have many economic ties, although very little in the way of diplomatic ties after the Marmara Affair but, as always, Erdogan see beyond the bitter words to "What's in it for me" and his aim is to initiate relations so that he can benefit from Israel natural gas and create an Israel- Turkey gas line which will then allow him to carry natural gas into Europe. What he didn't expect is that instead of a belligerent representative of Israel who would come with his own demands he met with a gentle, polite softly spoken Isaac (Bougie) Herzog, a negotiator supreme. President Herzog completed his time in Istanbul with a visit to the Neve Shalom Synagogue, scene of 3 horrific terror attacks. Today we saw that Neve Shalom not only stands, but stands proudly. https://m.jpost.com/middle-east/article-700790/amp  

 

This week many Maccabeans arrived from all over the world. Lovely, lovely people. I dare not begin to name names because I will undoubtedly offend someone by leaving them out but - among those people was Sadi Beceren. Sadi, a lovely man and a long time Maccabi leader in his native Istanbul and after the usual hugs and niceties our conversation led to Erdogan. What became clear is that the vast majority of Turks have no quarrel with Israel and cannot wait to get back to full diplomatic and friendly relations. In his quest for power Erdogan courted just about every evil leader in our region, a courtship which demanded anti-Israel rhetoric after being refused entry to the EU.

 

When one looks at all of the above, of cruel leaders and in Herzog's case a quiet diplomat, it leads directly to Purim which takes place next Wednesday. Purim is not just fancy dress and being too tipsy that one cannot tell good from bad; Purim is about an evil, megalomanic leader, his evil Prime Minister and quiet diplomacy, admittedly using the wiles of a beautiful girl but nonetheless, it proves that nothing changes. "Ve'Nahafochu" means basically – we will turn upside down. On Purim you determine to turn the current situation on its head, to turn evil to good, to change things that don't work. CocaCola simply turned their labels upside down…. https://www.chabad.org/multimedia/media_cdo/aid/1519/jewish/VNahapoch-Hu.htm

 

Away from gloom and doom! We had a great week! We met with Rebecca and Harold Finger from Sydney, Australia. Rebecca and Harold are the perfect recipe for a Jewish leader, as a couple. They do everything, every wonderful act of being a Jewish leader, together with grace and kindness. They are also fun! I have to thank Impact-se for bringing us even closer together! While talking about Sydney, the news media has been so caught up with Ukraine that few know that beautiful city of Sydney has been inundated with torrential rain, flooding and storms. Thankfully, so far, our Sydney friends have written to say they are alright.

 

Last night we got to meet with Nattie and Yolli Zonszein, Irit and Itzik Lev and Judit and Danny Liwerant for a quadruple birthday celebration. Al four men have birthdays, but Danny's was actually on the day. I loved the reaction of the young waitress when she heard that there were four Piscean men "All of you are Pisces? I pity your wives" A quiet female giggle was heard but luckily none of the men realised. We met in Tel Aviv and on the way home were met by unbelievable torrential rain – hard to drive, but luckily great roads. In Israel, even at midnight the roads are busy, as Telavivim come to Jerusalem events and Jerusalemites go to events in Tel Aviv!

 

Tonight we will go the opening Shabbat dinner of the Begin Symposium https://www.begincenter.org.il/the-begin-symposium-march-2022/ together with Barry and Monica Gurland. Menachem Begin, who fought when he had to and made peace when he knew he must. A true leader without any illusions of grandeur.

 

After Shabbat I have a fun event – right here in Arza – at the pool. Ladies of a certain age and over are all invited to a 'Girl's Evening" at the pool, bathing costumes and all (sorry but not me) for a pre-Purim party!!I'm really looking forward to it!

 

Almost done, about to have my breakfast then get myself ready to go to Rachel's and get my cuddles from Yosef, Talia and Ayala. I won't see them for a couple of weeks because……… finally and at last I am going to London to see Gideon and Stephanie, Sammy, Olivia and Zachary. To make everything perfect, my niece and nephew, Claire and Steve Bloom (who did an incredible job of collecting goods for refugees) will bring my siblings, Doreen, Ronnie and Sandie, to London to see me! I am bot nervous and excited beyond imagination that I will be with everyone (but especially the children) after nearly 3 long years.

 

Before I go I have to tell you about a wonderful initiative by an amazing young woman, a dear friend of Daniel's from Carmel College. Her name is Rachel Feuerstein and she puts together beautiful sets of Shabbat necessities for travel. Rachel decided that every set that people buy go toward the Ukrainian refugees coming to Israel. I'd love you to take a look. They are gorgeous gifts whatever the situation. https://www.theshabbatcollection.com/collections/frontpage/products/shabbat-away-travel-essentials

 

Rachel just called to tell me that I must finish on a happy note. "Tell them about the flowers" Well, Zvi and I usually go into Jerusalem through the back road, toward Hadassah Hospital in Ein Kerem. I love it and drive Zvi crazy with my oooohs and aaahs ever two seconds as I see the puff balls of the almond blossom (shkediot), the carpets of wild rosemary, crimson calaniot (anemones), pink wild cyclamen which seem to grow out of the very rocks, tall, stately asphodel and purple lupins….spring is around the corner even if it is pouring rain outside!

 

 

The first piece of music that I could not resist was sent to me by my niece Rochelle.

A violinist in the London Symphony Orchestra initiated a video in which 94 violinists from around the world play (virtually) together with violinists in Ukraine, from their bunkers and homes. Moving and exceptionally beautiful https://www.facebook.com/100044486977736/videos/728324734820514

 

It was another war, another fight, another time but when Bob Dylan wrote "Blowin' in the Wind" it was all wars, all freedom, the story of the human plight, the human right to be free of oppression. https://youtu.be/vWwgrjjIMXA

 

I am stepping right outside my comfort zone with the next song! I wanted to give you "Rozhinkes mit Mandlen (Raisins and Almonds) a traditional Yiddish lullaby, but instead you get a hip hop Purim song about strong Jewish women! Actually it makes sense after International Women's Day because, Esther, the heroine of the story was a strong woman, prepared to plot, together with her Uncle Mordechai, for the downfall of Haman, the Chief Vizier of Shushan, Persia.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-EyNyy2qqw

 

Time to go! I wish you a wonderful weekend, a great Shabbat. It is irrelevant to me how you pray or if you pray, as long as your invocations never turn to imprecations and your heart is open to all who need it. Zvi's wonderful Mother used to say "If someone asks for something it is a sign that they need it" Both of our Mothers gave with a full heart and a helping hand.

 

Under the shadow of modern day Hamans, my prayer for this week is that human beings, wherever they may be, lift their heads from under the heavy boulder of oppression and raise their children in freedom and tolerance.

 

With love from Jerusalem, the city of gold, the city which embraces the full rainbow of humanity.

 

Shabbat Shalom and a wonderful Purim. Remember to read the story of Purim to your children. Teach them that they can be brave.

 

Sheila