Truths and Stories

117th February 2023 Shabbat Shalom! How are you! Since I promised you to always tell the truth I will begin with the situation here in Israel, but on condition that it is taken in context with what is happening in the rest of the world, with the natural and man made disasters happening at this very moment. It’s as if man is not content with the hurricanes, earthquakes, cyclones, man has the needs to impose far greater tragedies of his own. I don’t want to list them all but just remember that Israel is not an island of dissention and belligerence, even though the UN seems to think so! So, what is happening here? On the one side we have an example, the ultimate example of democracy at work with quiet determined demonstrations, last week no less than 300-350,000 people found their way to Jerusalem to express their dismay at the actions of our government. They came in by packed trains when Miri Regev, Minister of Transport, refused to put on additional trains, crowded buses, sat quietly in long traffic jams and then walked to the Supreme Court. Not lefties, as the current coalition labelled them, people of all beliefs, with and without Kippa, left, right and centre, just ordinary families expressing their dismay at what is happening. There was no violence, just proud Israelis carrying flags. I am not yet physically up to joining in the crowds yet, but waved, tooted and supported anyone walking toward Jerusalem. If that demonstration is not the ultimate expression of democracy I don’t know what is. Now to the intended judicial changes; yes there are changes needed, reforms, but as I said last week, they must be considered and well thought out, with a gavel not a sledge hammer. During his term as President of the Supreme Court Aharon Barak made many changes to the judiciary, some of which need reversing, some of which are totally acceptable, but the fear of most Israelis is that the changes on the table now are very personal – hardly surprising when the Prime Minister himself has been indicted and a man who was accused and indicted for incitement to terror is in the position of Minister of National Security. There are those who stand up (not enough) and when exceptional Israeli journalist Alon Ben David was given the “speak out” slot on Channel 13 he turned to the real heroes in the current government, heroes of Israel, and asked why they developed feet of clay and are scared to speak out against the travesty. That’s it, I have so many wonderful things to tell you that I think that’s enough depression! First of all, Maccabi Tel Aviv has made history! They are the first Israeli team to get through to the final round of the European Volleyball Challenge Cup! Well done the team, well done Israel! As I told you last week, my lovely friend Jill is here with me while Zvi is gallivanting around LA, San Diego and now in his beloved Mexico City with more friends and family than he can count. I’ll tell you very quickly why he loves Mexico and why his family are there. After Zvi’s Bar Mitzva, his family, Kalman, Alla and the two children, Zvi and Meir, set off on an adventure – as representatives (shlichim) of the Jewish Agency, Hebrew teachers in the biggest Jewish School in Mexico City, the Yiddische Schule. In order to do this David ben Gurion said that anyone leaving on a mission had to change their name to an Israeli sounding name, to Hebraisize their name, so the family became Raviv instead of Rybak. The newly named Raviv family were happy to go to far off Mexico because almost all of Kalman’s family, except he himself, had gone to Mexico City from Europe before the war. Kalman, of course, was saved from the Holocaust by coming to Israel, sadly all his siblings were lost, as was Alla’s family, so the cousins in Mexico were the closest they had to family. As usual I digress! So Jill and I have been very busy. Friday night at Rachel’s was absolutely wonderful. She is an astonishing cook and Jill was thrilled to find all her favourites on the menu. Rachel had made a special Challah for me without any seeds on top, as always delicious! The children had guests staying over for Shabbat and Igal sang the very beautiful, very different melody for the blessing over the wine to start the meal. On Shabbat Jill and I went for a walk along the newly replenished reservoir in nearby Beit Zayit (meaning House of Olives), what Jill loved most was the fact that all the walkers, whether families or very intense, suitably attired runners, called out “Shabbat Shalom” some even reminding us how far it was to the dam. It was so refreshing! After Shabbat we went to visit one of my very favourite people, the amazing Tema Gaba and of course her daughter Sue who is my lovely friend. Tema is over 100 years old and bright as a button, full of stories from Cardiff, South Wales where Sue and I grew up and hasn’t lost her amazing sense of humour. I was such a delight to see her in her new home and sip a good cup of tea together. On Tuesday we went to Shaare Zedek Hospital where I am happy to say my surgeon is absolutely thrilled with my progress and proud of my determination to get stronger, walking every day and doing my physio. From there, we went to the Deer Park, one of the many green lungs of Jerusalem, where we saw lots of deer, grazing in family groups next to the natural lake. Finally for the most exciting, emotional part of the day – Shalva! Shalva is a miracle. This was the first time Jill had seen Shalva and especially Dr. Dan’s Room. Covid had kept her away for too long. After a delicious lunch we met Gaby, the wonderful Gaby, who took us directly to Dr. Dan’s Room and the acting class that was in session. As Purim approaches the youngsters were in the first stages of a play all about Esther, Mordechai and the wicked Haman….still at the ad lib stage. They were amazing, clever funny and having so much fun! Whoever said that children with Down’s Syndrome cannot act is crazy, they really hammed it up especially Benzi who did a real “drag queen” effect as Esther! The minute we walked in the room he started acting and had us giggling. At the end, as the lesson finished, the drama teacher, Edna, asked each of them to step forward and say what were the best things of their week, what were they grateful for. Some spoke more some less, some clearly some mumbled but each and every one of them said that their drama session with the incredible Edna was the highlight of their week. I admit a tear or two amid the laughter because one thing I am absolutely certain of, that my amazing son Daniel z”l would have loved it. The next day we went to collect Rachel and then on to Modiin, a fantastic new town half way between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, situated right next to Maccabim and Reut, towns that trace back to Judah Maccabi and the very first Jewish fight for independence. Next day my friend and neighbour Naomi Baba came for lunch. Naomi told us of her family’s origins right here in Israel, their sojourn in the States then return. I love hearing the stories of dispersion and return. Yesterday, wow! Yesterday we set off for the Kibbutz that was Jill’s home for two years, Berot Yitzchak, right near Ben Gurion Airport. It was the first time that Jill had been back since the passing of her teacher and mentor Katy, which was hard but we were welcomed with open arms by Katy’s daughter in law Tsippi and son Eliahu. The stories we heard were real “only in Israel” stories! We notice that the civilian aeroplanes overhead, on the flight path to Ben Gurion airport, were almost incessant, which prompted Tsippi to tell us this story. One of the kibbutz members passed away and the funeral was to take place but the family ralised that the noise of the planes overhead would make eulogies impossible. They called the Airport Authorities, explained the situation and the landings were re-routed for the duration of the funeral! One of the friends who came to Tsippi’s home to visit Jill was Ada, who was a nurse, like Jill, both in hospital and on the Kibbutz. When I mentioned that Zvi and I had moved and now live outside Jerusalem, Ada’s eyes lit up and she talked of her childhood and Motza Illit! “There used to be a Convalescent home in Motza Illit, it was a beautiful building and my mother worked there as a nurse” I told her that is where we live, that the convalescent home is now our cultural centre! She was so excited. Today we will take a walk as always but hopefully just around our complex, believe you me it is beautiful enough here that we don’t need to go anywhere in search of beauty. Tonight we are back at Rachel’s for Friday night dinner, then home to rest after a crazy week! I often ponder the fact that despite awful things going on around the world, as I pointed out earlier, not only the natural disasters but wars, famine, cruelty, invasions, ethnic cleansing, each and every day in this insane world of ours, indeed right here on our doorstep, so why concentrate on Israel? Why does the United Nations ignore the horrors, the utterly undemocratic behaviour of leaders throughout our region yet find the time to censure Israel at every step. Do we do it too? Do diaspora Jews tend to be ashamed of this miraculous little country? Do you assume that what you read in the NYT, the Guardian, the LA Times is the truth – that Israel is anti-democratic, an apartheid state? The current government, which I don’t necessarily support, is a million times better than almost any country to the south of us, indeed to the east and west of us. So why? Why is there one rule for the Palestinians and one for Israel? Anti-Semitism is the first port of call and undoubtedly part of it, a major part of it, but not the only one. So why? I’d love to hear your theories, your reasoning why a huge media giant like CNN, that purports to support human rights blah blah blah, concentrates on this small piece of real estate because I am at a loss. I know that friends in India, particularly Hindu/Indian friends (indeed the PM of Britain) recognise the similarities between our countries yet nobody doubts the existence of India as she is, LDS friends who understand persecution understand. What is even worse – maybe, is the infighting. Perhaps Zvi is right, we are living Hegel’s prophecy. So confusing. Enough of this down in the dumps attitude, back to the joys of Shabbat. As I came up in the lift (elevator) from our underground car park I could easily distinguish which country of their dispersion each neighbour came from by the aromas rising. There is a joke that if a Kurdish mother doesn’t prepare Kubeh Soup on a Friday lunchtime the family is so confused that they set off for work on Saturday! Even there, from whence you came decides the type of kubeh soup. Kubbeh Khamo (yellow kubbeh), Kubbeh Khamusta (sour kubbeh), Kubbeh Adouma (red/beet kubbeh), Kubbeh Bamia (with okra and tomato paste), Kubbeh Za'atar (with Hyssop and Lemon juice); then there is chraime, a spicy fish dish from Morocco, gefilte fish and kneidlach soup from the Eastern European kitchen, the Yemeni Jachnun being prepared to sit in the oven overnight beside the Cholent, aka Hamin. If ever a country marched on its stomach, it’s Israel! And so to music. Victor Hugo said “Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.” The late Ehud Manor wrote about Israel. He loved this country, understood her foibles, used his songs to remind us that this is the only Jewish state in the world. Ayn Li Eretz Aheret, I have no other country is on my regular playlist. I particularly like this rendition. https://youtube.com/watch?v=pyFK0m-OGNo&feature=share If anyone understood what it meant to be persecuted it was Paul Robeson. Black, he won a scholarship to Rutgers University in 1915, received his law degree from Columbia University which history buffs will recognise as nothing short of a miracle at a time when being black in the USA excluded you from further education. Paul Robeson, with his incredible, operatic bass baritone, loved Judaism and later became a very vocal supporter of Israel. His rendition of Go Down Moses reminds us that we left slavery and came to this very land to find freedom. https://youtu.be/w3OjHIhLCDs To end this missive I wanted to share a song by the Shalva Band, for obvious reasons, when I came across this incredible video. In addition to wonderful songs it tells the stories of members of the band; Tal who learned sign language so that his friends who are hard of hearing can enjoy the music too, Dina who came from India as a child, suddenly blind and hopeless in her home country she prayed to come to Israel, Anahel, all of them come with stories that Shalva brought them hope and joy. Listen to their spoken word as well as their beautiful songs. I promise that you will come away a better person, a happier person. https://youtu.be/7vQFGfTMU7o I wish you a Shabbat Shalom from beautiful Jerusalem. As I sat here, writing to you, I looked out of the window to the blue skies above and realised that our very own almond tree is in blossom! Delicate pink blossoms on the sapling right next to our study, if that isn’t a sign of hope I don’t know what is! Sending you all much love and wishes for joy this week, hope that our world will be just that little bit kinder. Sheila

Turkey Gratitude and Charity

10th February, 2023 Good morning, Shabbat Shalom! I hope this missive finds you well. Today, this week, this contentious world came together to help a country that has suffered a horrific tragedy. Turkey is no stranger to the horrors of earthquakes but the sheer proportion of this quake and its consequences has left the country bereft and the tens of thousands dead or missing. The quake also affected Syria and even Israel although we barely felt it. The reaction of every country that has the ability to help, to send aid, has been heart-warming. The Israeli IDF team has set up field hospitals and search and rescue teams in the hope that they may find people alive in the rubble; IsraAid has set up clinics to provide psychological and practical help not just now but into the future; and many others. In the small town of Antakya the bodies of Saul and Fortuna Cenudioglu z”l, leaders of the small Jewish community were identified by the rescue team of Zaka. When tragedy hits a country, especially with the speed and magnitude of this one, politics, diplomacy even wars are irrelevant, the ultimate goal is to alleviate, to rescue, to help the people. Back to the inanities and insanities of political life here in Israel. When one is brought back to reality by such huge human tragedies just across the Mediterranean, we should take a more balanced view toward our own problems. I have a sneaky feeling both sides of the argument will consider my next statements somewhat controversial, so hold on to your seats. A bill was put forward in the Knesset by Shas leader Arieh Deri to limit the activities of women at the Kotel causing the expected furore in both the media and the secular community. The bill suggested that women who dress or act immodestly (a rather general description) at the Kotel, the Western Wall, could be liable to either six months in prison or 10,000 shekels fine. There are two aspects to this bill, one being that it is a distraction by the politically wily Deri who made the headlines until the PM came riding in on his white horse and proclaimed that nothing would change the status quo, however it is still lurking in the background and the secondly, that there is a small group of women whose aim is provocation, and has been so for the last twenty years or more. Led by Anat Hoffman, this group is not satisfied with the egalitarian section of the wall, where they can do, dress and act as they wish, but use provocation to gain attention when entering the regular section. I am all for women taking part in services, prayers, traditions but not for the sake of provocation. Israel is not the Taliban nor does it ban women from taking part as in Mosques or Christian Orthodox Churches but centuries old rules should be negotiated not shattered. The actions of this very small group of women plays right into the hands of the extremists. Somehow, ghosts of the Holocaust keep reemerging into our lives. I don’t mean the tragic, horrific loss of family, the cruel and highly organised death camps, I mean the proof that giants of industry, predominantly but not exclusively, American giants of industry and society who were complicit in the Nazi killing machine. This video tells the story of the Fords, Rockefeller, Bush, indeed far too many who supported Hitler’s aims. The funding of Nazi Germany by American Billionaires. https://rumble.com/v1fr8nd-86931337.html Israeli Presidents, unlike American Presidents, have a predominantly titular leadership role. They greet visiting diplomats and world leaders and present the acceptable face of politics to the world, a job that most do with distinction. President Herzog is presented with a dilemma, his political and social view is diametrically opposed to that of the current government particularly in the case of judicial reform. President Herzog has spoken out on the issue, asking for more debate and less demand. The Minister of Justice, Yariv Levin, promised in depth discussion of the proposed reforms but the fact is quite the opposite as reforms are being rushed through the Knesset without the opportunity of rebuttal. There are several Likud Members of Knesset who are against the manner of the reform and only time will tell if they have the courage to speak out. Democracy will allow for a reversal of the reforms, in four years’ time. And so to theocracies, or should one say imagined theocracies or accusations thereof. Did you know that in Britain the Monarch is the Head of the Anglican Church yet it is as far as one can imagine from being a theocracy? In the USA “In God we trust” is basic to the very core of that democracy and each session of both the Congress and Senate is opened by a prayer. Israel is a Jewish state, the only Jewish state in the world based on Jewish principles, a simple statement of fact. But this is no more a theocracy than those countries whose populations are mainly Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, or Shinto and recognise their significance. Are they all theocracies? Of course not and neither are we. Our identity is as a Jewish State which brings with it a responsibility to grant freedom of faith, prayer and creed to all who live here. Rabbi Jeremy Rosen explains it far better than I ever could. https://jeremyrosen.com/2023/02/israeli-theocracy.html Did you know that Barcelona and Tel Aviv were twinned cities? Well they aren’t any more because the Mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau, decided that she didn’t want to be twinned with an Israeli city which abuses human rights. Yes I know it is ludicrous but that her perception. However, the Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, immediately decided that Madrid would twin with Tel Aviv! Of course, being politicians, one Liberal one conservative, it was probably a knee-jerk decision with political gains, but I like it anyway. Israelis are really good at the Japanese martial arts! I am not sure if it is the athleticism or the competitiveness but we are! Gili Shahrir has just won a gold medal at the Paris Grand Slam Judo Competition. Well done!! My physiotherapist, Yonatan, lives in Tekoa. Tekoa is what most of you choose to call a settlement! The name means to blow a trumpet or horn or shofar (ram’s horn) and originates in the Bible as the home of Amos. What fascinated me is that the town abuts the Arab village of Te-koa, with the same origins. As I was doing my exercises Yonatan explained that despite the outside view of Tekoa, the cooperation between the two towns is a constant and their local industry of mushroom growing is a shared enterprise, with workers from both the Israeli and the Palestinian towns. As he spoke I thought about the huge difference between perception and fact of most of these small towns especially since until the woke description of a settlement it usually referred to a pioneer town, a positive description – it is only when describing anywhere outside the green line of Israel does it become an insult an offensive descriptive noun. This week the skies opened and the rains came down with a vengeance. While it made life temporarily uncomfortable, Mount Hermon’s ski slopes are covered with wonderful fresh snow and just a few hundred kilometres drive away the desert is blooming! Just in time for Tu b’Shvat! Israelis are going north to ski or south to see the sea of red, the wild anemones, which change the rich desert earth from arid to green and red. I haven’t gone south this year but on the other hand there isn’t a park or nature walk that is not covered in the wild flowers that I love so much. Perhaps tomorrow, Jill and I will go for a little walk over the road so that I can show here the reservoir filled by natures irrigation. Oh by the way, Jill arrived in Israel during one of our heaviest downpours but even that couldn’t cast a shadow on her delight at being back in Israel after a Covid break of 3 years. We have been busy in the best possible manner, seeing old friends and sightseeing what we could through the curtain of rain! We met with Dana and Betty at the Israel Museum, starting our day in a most delightful way, catching up on the intervening years. Betty is a volunteer at this incredible museum, which incidentally has been designated as one of the finest 10 museums in the world, in fact she is now responsible for the entire army of volunteers and organised for us to join a tour. The tour was of the works of Sigalit Landau who has her studio in Tel Aviv but her works express her love of the Dead Sea and her distress at the ecological disaster caused by the dredging works of both Israel and Jordan. Sigalit grew up in Jerusalem and at every chance her family would travel down to the Dead Sea Forming her special relationship with the salty depths. Her art is based on shapes, each of which has deeper meaning than appears, which are then immersed in the waters of the Dead Sea for months until encrusted withsalt crystals. Absolutely phenomenal especially when explained by our exceptional guide Barbara. https://www.imj.org.il/en/exhibitions/sigalit-landau-burning-sea When we got home two telephone calls changed out plans! One from Rachel, Yosef and Talia who informed us that they were on their way to see Jill and from Jill’s lovely friend Uriel who also wanted to hug Jill. It was a delightful evening, supper for everyone was on the table within minutes and the conversation didn’t stop! Yesterday we took it relatively easy and had an early lunch at the delightful “Pop Up” café in Kiriat Anavim. There was great excitement since the resident chef just won the Israeli Chef Games! Pop Up isn’t a fancy shmantzy restaurant but rather a lovely, welcoming, wooden table coffee shop with delightful young waiters and a garden which bears resemblance to a bower, filled with flowers! Today will be a delight. I don’t even have to cook! We have been invited to meet with Cheryl Schur, a friend from Canada in the small town of Ein Keren. Home to Hadassah Hospital, St. Mary’s Well and the golden onion domed Russian Orthodox Convent, St John the Baptist Monastery and the Sisters of Zion Convent, another 4 churches and at least a dozen fun restaurants. It will be fun to introduce Jill to Cheryl and catch up on Cheryl’s news. Tonight will be extra special as Jill and I are going to Rachel’s for Shabbat Dinner. First of all it is very special for me to be with my Israeli grandchildren at a dinner table, a Shabbat Dinner table, apparently together with several other surprise guests and to hear my son in law’s kiddush (blessing over the wine). He has a delightful voice and sings a very different melody to Zvi’s. His is a Kurdish melody, an Eastern Jewish melody, really beautiful. I can’t wait!! Rachel is a phenomenal cook, truly delicious and varied. Her chraime style fish, a zillion salads and as many roast potatoes as survive the day of Yosef, Talia and Ayala pinching them! I can already imagine Jill’s face as we sit around the table – all of us trying very hard to refrain from filling up on her challot. Incidentally talking of challot, she baked me the most incredible heart shaped challah for my Hebrew birthday….it was scrumptious and very well appreciated! Zvi is having so much fun! He has left Los Angeles and is now in San Diego having spent time with both family and old friends unencumbered by my complaints because they always speak Spanish! Zvi’s wonderful parents, Alla and Kalman Raviv, were teachers in the Yiddische Schule, as I believe I told you last week, and at the ripe old age of 13, just after his bar mitzva, they headed off to Mexico City to serve as Hebrew teachers. The LA and San Diego sections of his journey are to spend time with the family members who have moved to the USA, and included a visit to the Magic Castle with Alan Cohen! After the weekend he will head off to Mexico City where he will have reunions galore of the school and of course with the family too numerous to mention. I know he will return exhilarated and exhausted. I’m so thrilled he kept up his contacts. I couldn’t decided whether to give you this first song. It is sung by an Arab and a Jew in Arabic with subtitles and speaks of peace among neighbours, peace among faiths, of tolerance and love. It is so different to my usual choices but I felt it important. I hope you like it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1s4sae9GiaE How can I go yet another week without Koolulam? Actually I can’t, this song written by Arkady Duchinfits the theme of caring for our world and exuding love. “I have love inside me and it will triumph” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J98XBmoZAi4 The Shalva Band broke barriers, as one says these days, they burst through the glass ceiling. They prove in the most beautiful manner that disabilities need not hold you back, that it all depends upon what the world is willing to see in everyone, to find the best they can ever be. Shalva proved that each person has beauty and abilities that emerge given half a chance. A Million Dreams https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnnOWLm3oxI&t=6s I am always amazed at how the weekly reading from the Torah mirrors our daily lives. This week we read from Jethro, Moses father in law, who advises Moses to appoint magistrates and judges to help him in the task of administering the Children of Israel, a team, a board, a group of those who understand and can help, rather than unilaterally making decisions. Jethro was a wise man, and gave his son in law good advice. As I said, each week the Torah reading seems to mirror our lives today. I wish you Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem, our city, the city loved by the three monotheistic religions and revered by two of them. Sheila

Trees, Terror and Travel

3rd February 2023 12th Shvat, 5783 Good morning, Good Shabbes, Shabbat Shalom! The wonderful healing rains came down this week, preparing the earth for Tu b’Shvat, the new year for trees – Jewish Ecology! The custom of planting trees and eating fruit began in the 16th century in the town of Sefat by the followers of Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, the father of Kabbala, as a time of purification and was then adopted in 1801 by the Jewish Teachers Union and the Keren Kayemet to encourage tree planting in the Holy Land. So, the very welcome rain will ensure the growth of healthy young saplings that each child will plant on Monday. I wish the healing rains could wash away our political predicament but it isn’t that easy. In truth the PM is, thus far, succeeding in quashing any extreme moves on the part of his cabinet, but that leads to a different problem. What has warmed my heart is the form that the demonstrations has taken, a quiet, orderly and deeply emotional rebellion in which rather than expressing anger and disorder the “rebels” wave the Israeli flag and gather to hear speakers and personalities before disbanding and walking home. It is happening in most villages, towns and cities. Last week, after Shabbat, a man from East Jerusalem took his car and a gun and headed for one of the poorest areas of Jerusalem, a neighborhood of predominantly new immigrants and the poorest sectors of Israeli society. First he saw a woman crossing the street and shot her dead, she wasn’t Israeli, was not a Jew and was from Ukraine; he went on to find a group of people outside the synagogue and began shooting, killing and maiming in cold blood. A couple, one a guard and one a dinner lady in Hadassah Hospital, heard the shots and rushed out of their home to help, they both died. The first person on the scene was a paramedic from East Jerusalem, a Moslem, a good and important part of Israeli society – such is life in Israel. The following day a 13 year old boy took a gun, an illegal gun, from his home, walked in to the street in the Old City and shot Jews walking by on their way home from prayers. It later came out that he was a student at a PA school, Al-Furqan Islamic School for Boys, that was reported on by Impact-se for hate education, sadly, yet again, proving that terror is taught in PA schools. The IDF operation in Jenin had nothing whatsoever to do with Neve Yaakov or the Old City; the IDF operation in Jenin was to wipe out a gang of terrorists planning a major attack. Friends, I know I say this all the time, but, shootings and stabbings happen all the time in most Western countries, here, each one is a tragedy, each killing, shooting, destroys families especially when those killings are religiously based, hatred, it kills the family of the perpetrator and the perpetrated against. Somehow Israel has become the headline country, maybe to deflect attention from the failings of others? Talking of guns, the Neve Yaakov terror attack raised a huge question. Because the neighborhood is predominantly religious or new immigrants, there are very few reserve soldiers so nobody carries a gun to protect the residents against exactly such attacks. As a result, the national requests for a gun licence has increased enormously. In Israel in order to receive a gun licence, which does not allow anything further than a handgun, the process takes about 9 months. The applicant needs to undergo psychological tests, training, proof that he/she is physically capable and proof that he/she has no criminal past. The only people one sees with handguns are guards, police and soldiers and those who have passed all the above requirements. The only problem is that criminals and terrorists do not exactly abide by the laws for carrying arms. I am not normally given to quoting the National Post, a somewhat right leaning publication, but this piece by Brendan O’Neill exposes with stark honesty the question of bias in the media. Brendan O’Neill: “The woke hatred for Israel is no longer just strange — it’s dangerous. They made more noise over a massacre that exists mostly in their imaginations than they did over a massacre in the real world.” https://nationalpost.com/opinion/the-woke-hatred-for-israel-is-no-longer-just-strange-its-dangerous/wcm/ee61b77d-801b-4e8a-b251-337090b3408f/amp/ If I gave you a map of Africa could you put a finger on Chad? Chad is in Central Africa, right between Niger and North Sudan, is named after Lake Chad, was part of the French colonies and is predominantly desert. The north of Chad is predominantly Moslem, the South is Christian, both Protestant and Catholic with a small minority of Moslems. This week, after a long period of negotiation, Chad decided to open its Embassy to Israel, to renew full diplomatic relations. Now South Sudan has begun direct talks to renew diplomatic relations with Israel. What strange times we live in, right is wrong and wrong is right. As the West becomes more and more antagonistic toward Israel the Islamic countries become warmer and warmer in their attitude toward us! Judicial Reform is top of the news here and apparently in the world, incredibly reaching headlines and the inevitable suggestions of instability which can have a detrimental effect on our economy! Quite honestly, it is an internal affair which we need to address not an international outrage! The proposed changes are the basis of the demonstrations all over Israel, although it is not the reforms themselves which has angered the populace but the manner of the intended implementation. A case of a sledge hammer rather than a judge’s gavel. The fact is that some form of judicial reform is essential, some need updating and others need change, but not forcibly it must be democratic change. It is so complex I don’t want to bore you but I maintain that a judge’s gavel is preferable over a sledgehammer when it comes to the banner of democracy. This week has been busy (what week isn’t?) but not crazy! It began with the wonderful Poodle, aka Alex, and my Rachel. We met, intending to have lunch in Caffit in the Botanical Gardens, partly because I wanted to tell you about (nay wax lyrical) the beauty of the pond and its water lilies, but lo and behold, it was closed for “shiputzim” which is a general word for repairs or renewal or any building work. We were so disappointed but remembering that all we wanted was to be together to talk we walked 50 metres to the coffee shop in the plant nursery. It really wasn’t the same, to begin with it was self service and limited menu and I had to do without my favourite salad, Oreganatto with sweet potato. However, we managed anyway and the quiche was delicious. We spoke of cabbages and kings and family and of course of Daniel and Dr. Dan’s Room in Shalva. Poodle, so named for her hairstyle so many years ago in Carmel College with Daniel and Justin, is an exceptional woman who exudes warmth and love. Rachel and I will walk a million miles for one of her smiles!! On Monday I went to visit our lovely friend Dina who sadly lost her mother recently. The Jewish tradition of Shiva, seven days of mourning in which people come to visit and console, is very special and of huge importance in the grieving process. Dina sings with Zvi, a beautiful soprano, and a dear friend. Zvi wanted to come with me but was called to an urgent babysitting stint in Nes Ziona, with Leor’s 4 girls, a task he loves! Tuesday morning and Rachael Risby Raz came visiting! It is always fun to hear the latest news from Rachael, whose enthusiasm is contagious. Actually Rachael brought me a most appropriate gift – cans of seeds! Really! Apparently an Israeli idea, one takes the plug out of the bottom of the can, open the top, add water and hey presto! Herbs grow! Obviously we spoke of the current political situation and how different it was when Rachael worked for our former Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert. Yesterday we popped in to see our friends Yossi and Ronit Dagan. We went for a few minutes and before we knew it Ronit had prepared a three course meal for us! A wonderful Hummus soup, borekas, salads – a very Israel light supper. Such an Israeli situation, popping in for two minutes and receiving the warmth of a family meal and hospitality. Yet again the topic of conversation ran the gamut of discussion of the current government and our determination to be vessels of change. Ronit runs courses for retirees in the community centre in the neighborhood of Givat Massuah, in Jerusalem and Yossi is an historian, concentrating on Jerusalem. Givat Massuah means the height or hill of the beacon, because once upon a time before iPhones, the hills was the site of the beacon announcing Shabbat, festivals or any important situation. Today it is a lovely neighborhood overlooking the road to Bethlehem, Beit Jallah and a large part of Southern Jerusalem. Now that we are back to being a two car family, yes I am now allowed to drive after 3 months post-surgery, I hope I will manage to see Rachel and the children before Shabbat. Zvi will go to his parliament and I will prepare supper for Leor, Amiad and families, just 12 of us which is very manageable. We decided on a simple meal – Veggie soup to suit the cool and rainy weather, a side of beautiful salmon, roasties, stuffed mini vegetables (tiny sweet peppers and courgettes, and of course onion, which is separated into layers which then wrap the stuffing) a big green salad and Amiad is bringing his famous cabbage salad and a chopped salad and various ice-creams to go with the fresh fruit for dessert. Oh, I almost forgot! I make a petit beurre and chocolate brittle with all kinds of treats inside! Zvi will sing the Kiddush, the blessing over the wine and then we will sit down and do what all families do, chat, argue, discuss and try to listen over the noise! Rachel just called me to sing happy birthday and of course Zvi joined in! Today is my Hebrew birthday and I didn’t realise. It’s fine to have two birthdays as long as I don’t grow by two years each time!! Tomorrow night Zvi is off to Los Angeles, San Diego and Mexico City on a family and friends visit. He really earned this trip by being incredible during my recovery period, not that he needs an excuse to see the family. It never fails to amaze me how he has remained in touch with schoolfriends from the Yiddische Shule, the Jewish high school in Mexico City where his parents taught for five years on behalf of the Jewish Agency from 1958 to 1963. I wish him a wonderful trip and hopefully he will not be too busy to call me every so often! While Zvi is away my friend Jill will come to stay for two weeks. Covid stopped her regular travels to Israel ad this was the perfect opportunity. We will go to Jill’s kibbutz, have lots of visitors and generally enjoy our time together. So it’s that time! Time to say farewell for this week and think about how each and every one of us can change our crazy world for the better. Remember my motto? The power of one. We can each do something in our own way, writing a letter, creating a group who care, so many ways. The first song is called “Ayn Li Eretz Aheret” or I have no other country. The lyrics are clear, even if we are dissatisfied with changes and will not keep quiet, this is till our only country, the country I love, this is my only home. I wish it was in English but this version is so beautiful https://youtu.be/jtR6HF3MQKw What happens when a secular American Jew finds religion after being utterly lost? He becomes a Reggae singer! Matisyahu created a wonderful song of peace and brotherhood. One Day. https://youtu.be/WRmBChQjZPs The Shalva Band was created as a natural progression of the Shalva Centre in Jerusalem. Shalva was created by Malki and Kalman Samuels to show the world that people with special needs of every imaginable type, can reach the peak of their abilities. Just as their son Yossi, who is blind deaf and has ADHD learned to communicate and today is a fully fledged sommelier. The Band travels the world singing, is living proof that its members are stars, beautiful, talented stars. Here they sing Leonard Cohen’s Halleluyah in Canada. Breathtaking. https://youtu.be/6AJIdSNV64Y Sending you all our love from beautiful Jerusalem. Hopefully the rain will stop long enough to go for a walk and see the incredible almond blossom, those pink puff-balls that cover the hills, the wild flowers, cyclamen, poppies, quills, anemones, so much joy to be found if we just choose to look. This weeks Torah reading shows us that instead of talking of the difficulties of leaving Egypt the Almighty sweetened bitter waters, split the waters of the Red Sea, provided Manna from heaven (incidentally that’s why we have two challot instead of one on Shabbat because we received two portions before the Sabbath) so dear friends, we can see the bad in the world but life is so much better if we recognise the good. After all as the song says – Ayn Li Eretz Aheret – we have no other country. Shabbat Shalom Sheila

Think, Teach, Live and Love

27th January, 2023 Shabbat Shalom dear friends, The great educator Janusz Korczak who saved so many children from the Nazi death machine, said "The one concerned with days, plants wheat; with years, plants trees; with generations, educates people." Today is World Holocaust Remembrance Day a day to remember the Shoah, the millions killed in a heartless and regimented manner just because they were “the other”. If we compare those horrific, dark days of 80 years ago to our life today, we have a great deal to be thankful for, in particular this incredible little country, a Jewish homeland. We mustn’t forget the past and its role in creating our present and future. We must teach our children of this dark and cruel period of our history. We must never forget those who died just because they were Jews, but Israel was not created because of the Holocaust but rather the guilt of the free world that something as horrific, unthinkable as the Holocaust could happen allowed the re-creation of the Jewish State. Our ability to rise again out of the ashes a miraculous Phoenix, created an innovative, fast-thinking, feisty society that is very capable of taking care of itself and the world around it. I know that sounds a little arrogant, lacking in humility but Israel produced people who had no choice but to think on their feet in order to survive. Before I lose your attention, let’s look at Israel today, not the political aspects, unfortunately we have all gone through ups and downs as the price of democracy, but rather the achievements. First and foremost, Israel has grown into a thriving multi-cultural society of nearly 10 million souls. Some would call it a hotch-potch, which is fine, as long as we remember that it is a mosaic of faiths and colour. I don’t know if it is PC to describe the wonderful rainbow of Jewish/Arab/ Christian life in terms of colour but just as we were dispersed all over the world so we gather together bringing the colours and traditions of the lands of our adoption. Innovation. That urge to find solutions, to survive, has given birth to a generation of innovators as never before. In Medicine, Science, Hi-Tech, Biology, in all spheres we were forced to excel and we have, that includes military excellence, sadly through necessity. The IDF, born of necessity has become the greatest melting pot of all. From the very beginning, friendships were built as comrades in arms – Druze, Bedouin, Christians, Jews of all levels of observance, fight side by side protect us from those who do not understand that all we want is to live in peace. Education. The great educator Janusz Korczak said "The one concerned with days, plants wheat; with years, plants trees; with generations, educates people." I am proud to say that the Israeli state education system teaches tolerance, giving all sides of the conflict a point of view. Since we are looking at the bright side of life after the Holocaust I must mention the increase in Holocaust education in Moslem countries especially in the UAE. Sadly, it is not quite so in Europe (or the States) particularly Holland where 50% of children do not believe the Holocaust ever happened. Here Impact-se CEO Marcus Sheff talks about the wonderful reaction of UAE educators to Holocaust Education https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPRNE7rgkjE Democracy. Yes, I know we whine and moan and even yell when the government we didn’t want comes into power, but hey, that’s democracy! When a country is as strong as Israel, I know that the pendulum will swing back to the centre, that the people will speak. The incredible, peaceful demonstrations are testament to the freedom of everyday life of everyday people. I am aware that changes in either direction tend to alienate those who don’t live here, those who are connected through their umbilical cord but feel disassociated by certain aspects, but please remember that we are utterly interdependent, that we Israelis need our family abroad just as you need us. Sometimes we get cross at the sister who doesn’t call, or the friend who forgot your birthday, or their opinions that make us angry, but it cannot cut the connection, cannot stop us loving one another. We do not have to conform, sometimes we even reach vehement arguments or disagreements, but we must cling together. Food. Yes Food! We know that Israeli food is exceptional when our neighbours complain to international bodies that we stole their recipes! It really is crazy because Israeli food is actually an extension of the Middle Eastern diet with various additions from North Africa, Ethiopia and Eastern Europe. I love the fact that one can visit a Bedouin tent or a Circassion kitchen or a Druze home and get kosher food! No not Halal, although that is true too, but many restaurants of the above Israelis have catered to the needs of their Jewish visitors. It’s not just a one-way street, in Jerusalem, for example, rare is the day that a Moslem family isn’t eating in a kosher restaurant. They say that an army marches on its stomach, well the IDF marches on the huge food parcels sent by mothers or brought to the gate of the base to ensure that the entire camp enjoys home food. Remembering. We must never forget those who perished, the generations that remained unborn, the futures left unlived, but we must honour their lost lives by living ours to the best or our ability not wasting our lives on hatred. As a people, we have seen what “sinat hinam” has done to us and to the world at large. Sinat Hinam? To hate without reason. We survived the Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, even the Nazis, but must remember that sinat hinam brought about the destruction of our Holy Temple, twice. Our prayers today, the 27th of January must be for the souls of those who perished and for those who survived and rebuilt their lives against all odds. https://www.yadvashem.org/archive/hall-of-names.html Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and Senior Imam Qari Asim wrote this beautiful prayer to be recited on International Holocaust Remembrance Day in the UK “Loving God, we come to you with heavy hearts, remembering the six million Jewish souls murdered during the Holocaust. In the horrors of that history, when so many groups were targeted because of their identity, and in genocides which followed, we recognise destructive prejudices that drive people apart. Forgive us when we give space to fear, negativity and hatred of others, simply because they are different from us. In the light of God, we see everyone as equally precious manifestations of the Divine, and can know the courage to face the darkness. Through our prayers and actions, help us to stand together with those who are suffering, so that light may banish all darkness, love will prevail over hate and good will triumph over evil.” Amen It seems almost banal to tell you of our week on this day of mourning, but that is also part of Israel, part of Jewish life, taking past pain with us while thanking the Almighty that we are able to smile, to dance, to hear and create great music, so tell you I will, because living life to the full in the name of those we lost honours their lost lives. On Shabbat our young neighbours came to tea and it was really lovely. I had made a very British afternoon tea, scones etc, much to their delight! Sunday was a special day, Zvi’s baby arrived! A beautiful, brand new, bright red, electric car! Thanks to our wonderful neighbour Benny, who received his car a few days before us, we managed to learn all the incredible apps and tricks. It’s funny because I am the car person but Zvi has not stopped smiling since it arrived! On Monday, Zvi and I went for a glorious walk through the track which leads to the Beit Zayit dam, and the subsequent reservoir. We didn’t do the whole 7 kilometres but rather stood above, looking down on the waters which will be full before winter is out. I stop at every new flower, Zvi swears that I know each budding wild cyclamen (rakefet) by name and the only reason the almond trees blossom is to say hello as we walk past! It was so bracing and the best part is that it is literally across the road from us. Tuesday morning and I met with one of my very favourite people. Gaby Hirsch has literally held my hand through the deeply emotional period of creating Dr. Dan’s Room, the Studio for the Performing Arts in Shalva that bears the name of my amazing eldest son Daniel z”l. Gaby and I became firm friends through thick and thin. We met at a brand new patisserie just five minutes from our home. Oh my goodness me, the cakes and pastries, savoury and sweet were of the highest standard possible, the French trained pastry chef watching over every creation. Although the place is only a few weeks old the queues went all the way through the garden onto the lane, we luckily got a table outside in the sunshine and split all our goodies down the middle, literally. It blew any chance of diet but wonderful to the eye and the taste buds. If you want, I will take you there because you’ll never find it! It’s in Kibbutz Kiriat Anavim and called HARIM. To understand the depth of the tragedy of the Shoah, it is worth remembering that Shalva takes care of these incredible children, and adults, the fabulous “imperfects” who would have been first on Hitler’s list. Tuesday evening and we had guests for dinner. Ronit and Gedi, Eilata and Shmulik came from Tel Aviv, Rina from Jerusalem and Hannah came from across our park! In fact, it was on a visit to Hannah and Danny’s apartment to put up their mezuzot (the little box on every Jewish door post, it contains a prayer) that we decided to come and live here. The best decision of our lives. The delightful evening all began because Ronit took my advice literally and she and Gedi invited themselves! I love it! Thursday and Mayan’s Bar Mitzva in Nes Ziona, in a gorgeous old synagogue that has just been refurbished. It was the most amazing service I have ever been to! Joyous, the Chazan sang every prayer with gusto, and we all joined in!! We raced home without the delicious lunch because I had to Chair an International Board Meeting of Impact-se (www.impact-se.org ). I’ll tell you all about our achievements of 2022 and plans for 2023 next week although if you click on the link you can see for yourself why I am so incredibly proud to Chair this Board. Tomorrow evening, after Shabbat, we celebrate the birthday of Ella, our beautiful 10 year old granddaughter. Ella, a Ninja aficionado, is currently obsessed with Italy so Rachel has made her a gorgeous pinata in the form of a huge Gelato cornet, the gelato itself in the national colours of Italy! Gosh my daughter never fails to amaze me!! I think it is time to stop prattling on before you get fed up of me! If there is one prayer which personifies those in the Concentration Camps, the invocation that they muttered with their very last breath - Shema Yisrael - Hear O Israel. Cantor Yitzchak Meir Helfgot sings, with translation https://youtu.be/bnlvNYk7iLk Each morning, as we wake, we thank the Almighty for giving us back our souls, for waking, for continuing with our lives, something that as we remember today, we must show gratitude. The prayer, Modeh Ani, is sung here by Omer Adam in a beautiful Eastern rendition https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQVM8Was3vk Finally, to end on a happy note! My thanks to Don and Karen for this weeks song. Never judge a book by its cover eh? Arieh and Gil Gat are brothers and sang on Israel’s “Rising Star” much to the delight of the panel. I absolutely love it! https://youtu.be/YwWFA04sqEo And so we come to another Shabbat, another weekend, another Sunday, a weekend to give thanks for our freedom, our lives, and to fight for what we feel is right and teach our children why it is important to fight for the rights of others. As I have said before, irrespective of which direction you pray and on which day, I wish you a peaceful weekend and love of family and friends. Shabbat Shalom Sheila

The whole truth with elephants

20th January 2023 Shabbat Shalom! I hope you are all well, or at least feeling better than yesterday and if not, that the blue skies look down on you. Malcolm X was highly controversial on many levels but this quote was conceivably his wisest. “The media's the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that's power. Because they control the minds of the masses.” I really enjoyed writing last week’s missive, avoiding the elephant in the room, but this week I have to get down to “tachlis” to a few facts before cheering you up! Hope you don’t mind. Most of the news can be written in one line because it’s easy for you to catch up fully on what interests you and if not, you can write to me and I’ll happily fill you in- but one subject has gone beyond elephant, it fills the room, so let’s get it out of the way. As you already know, I have a major problem with leaders who have either served time or are indicted on criminal charges, admittedly white collar but nonetheless criminal, leading our incredible and precious country. I know all the jokes about politicians and honesty, most of them true, but those are jokes and we live in a strange reality when responsibility for crimes is not considered an impediment to power. Rabbi Arieh Deri is a very clever man who leads the Shas Party, founded in 1984 by the former Sefardi Chief Rabbi of Israel, Ovadiah Yosef. The party was created to care for the interests of the Mizrachi (Eastern) Jews and level the social playing field. However, rather than levelling the playing field Shas has widened gap by creating “the Second Israel” which claims that that particular sector is not given equal chances in life despite the fact that many Members of Knesset, the top businessmen and academics are indeed from the Mizrachi community. OK. That’s the background, now for the issue. Arieh Deri, who served prison time for fraud was given the position of Minister of the Interior with unlimited funds, control over immigration, indeed a position second only to the Prime Minister. His suitability for the position was questioned and it went to the Supreme Court and a decision was taken by a majority of 10-1 that he was not suitable for the position, for public office, and should leave immediately. This may well have opened the door to other cases denying the right to serve for Netanyahu and some say this was just a test case for him. Sadly, Deri’s supporters turned it into a racial issue claiming that the Supreme Court judges are all Ashkenazi (Western Jews) and the decision was not based on legality but anti-Mizrachi. For your interest, the panel of eleven judges consisted of the full range of sectors. So that is the issue absorbing and dividing our society at the moment. The peaceful Saturday evening demonstrations against this government continue in most towns and cities and only time will tell if this coalition holds or will fall apart. Apart from that life in Israel, while always interesting, is still wonderful as long as we don’t discuss politics!! In case you are wondering why I chose to tell you the whole truth, let me explain. Every Tuesday Zvi and four or five other friends meet for a mini-parliament in a coffee shop a shopping mall nearby. Much less formal than their usual and larger parliament on a Friday. I had some chores to do in the mall so went with Zvi and then met the guys. I asked them about my dilemma, should I tell you the whole truth or just the freshly varnished truth. Almost everyone said yes but one man, Meishi Schreiber, who has great experience with both every sector of Israeli society and the Diaspora, said yes, as long as you temper it with our everyday experience which is fair, happy and democratic, so that is what I am doing today, telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, including the split in our society to which I have only hinted in the past. A situation blew up again around the Temple Mount and was “leaked” to the news media. King Abdullah spoke of his concerns about changes in the status quo (which do not exist) and then suddenly, two days ago, the Jordanian Ambassador arrived on the Temple Mount, without the essential prior arrangements and unannounced! Of course, the young soldier guarding the entrance asked him to stop, the Ambassador walked off in a highly publicised huff, hoping to create a diplomatic incident but the situation was immediately righted and the Ambassador came back officially, as he should have in the first place and prayed in the Al Aqsa Mosque. Ordinary prayer goers have no problem but official visits by diplomats have to be pre-arranged. The United Arab Emirates have been wonderful partners in the Abraham Accords, on every level. Their decision to include Holocaust education in their school curriculum is the latest and conceivably the most important in changing perceptions for children. https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-728016 On the subject of the Holocaust and teaching those who do not understand the implications of the past, there is a new Yad Vashem Holocaust Centre in the Negev, at the Ariel Sharon IDF Base. I didn’t understand how exceptional this place is until speaking to the wonderful Harold and Rebecca Finger who are here in Israel at the moment. Harold and Rebecca use their time well every time they come all the way from Australia and as Harold described the centre I knew that it has to be on the visit list of everyone coming to Israel. https://www.yadvashem.org/events/26-april-2022.html Do you know what Dugo Day is? It is far more important than just another day for oak trees or whatever and the story was published in the Jerusalem Report. David Leitner, nickname Dugo, was 14 years old on the 18th of January, 1945 when he went on the death march without food or warm clothing in the freezing weather, starving but holding one thought in his mind, the felafel that his mother told him about, the felafel of Eretz Yisrael and the thought of that felafel kept his hope and him alive. Dugo and his brother survived and came to Israel, went to Mahane Yehuda Market in Jerusalem and for the first time in his life saw the felafel that his Mother spoke about. Since then, January the 18th is the day he eats felafel with a blessing of thanks. His story has spread and now Dugo Day is official! When invited to eat felafel with General Kochavi, Israeli Chief of Staff and he said “Who would have believed this just 75 years ago” https://www.yadvashem.org/events/26-april-2022.html Herzi HaLevi has a family tree to be proud of. The son of Haim Shalom HaLevi who fought for the founding of Israel and Tzila, the daughter of Rabbi Kook and niece of Rabbi Avraham HaCohen Kook, the father of religious Zionism, Herzi is named after his uncle who died in the Six Day War. Herzi HaLevi is the new IDF Chief of Staff taking over from the outstanding Aviv Kochavi. The swearing in ceremony showed the true character of Israel as both the outgoing and the incoming Chiefs of Staff praised one another and stressed the importance of their life partners. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herzi_Halevi Professor Mohammed Dajani Daoudi is an exceptional man. As a proud Palestinian who seeks a peaceful resolution to the conflict through education, indeed he is on the International Advisory Board of Impact-se. This week he wrote “How to solve the conflict over Jerusalem? Looking at this painting by David Roberts drawn in the 1850s, one may notice that the historic Jerusalem mentioned in the holy Jewish, Christian, and Islam is within the walls built by the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman I The Lawmaker, back between 1535 and 1538. So there is no religious significance for the land outside the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem. Inside the walls, the area is divided into four quarters: Jewish, Christian, Armenian, and Muslim. Here are all the holy places where followers of all religions can practice their faiths and beliefs freely. https://pixels.com/featured/jerusalem-david-roberts.html If you want to read about the good news from Israel, then this site has it all, as long as you don’t stop reading mine!! https://verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com/ Back to my good news and there is plenty! First of all, I had a wonderful birthday, full of friends and good food as predicted. The best of all Yonatan and Ella wrote me birthday messages of such beauty that they are about to be framed, although currently on the fridge for all to see. On Monday Zvi and I went for a glorious walk on the path down to the reservoir in Beit Zayit which begins right opposite our complex. Truthfully, I am not yet up to the 7 kilometre walk all the way down but we stood at the top of the hill and looked down on the gorgeous sight of the reservoir, the recent rains doing a good job of filling it, and enjoyed the wonderful sunshine and blue skies which brought out the wild cyclamen, the almond blossom, forming clouds of pink in all directions, olive trees which cover the land and of course the breathtaking sight of Jerusalem and the golden onion domes of the Russian Orthodox Church in Ein Kerem in the distance. Incidentally Ein Kerem has several Christian sites worth visiting. The Benedictine Monastery and Mary’s Well among them. It felt so good to be back walking especially when greeted by such an amazing sight! Last week Yosef and Talia surprised us and on Sunday evening Rachel and Ayala did the same. I love being near to my amazing daughter and her family! On Tuesday we had the regular mini-parliament and then various neighbours popped in for a cup of coffee or just to say hello. I love it when they knock on the door and just visit, just like once upon a time, so much nicer than the formalities of invitations! On Wednesday we decided it was high time to hang all the photos that we used to have in the study in our old apartment. I call it the “Rogues Gallery”! During Zvi’s long professional life we met many people, political leaders, even Royalty. Then came the test, who would recognise whom. I can’t wait to see. Talking of neighbours, tomorrow, Shabbat, we have invited five young couples to have “Afternoon Tea” with us. All Israeli, I hope it will amuse them to have scones – fruit, plain and cheese – and many other very British treats, ending with Apple Crumble. When I arrived home from hospital and rehabilitation, these young couples not only called Zvi to check on me but sent the most beautiful platter of cut fruits – the perfect gift for a recovering patient. I was deeply moved and accepted their expressions of love with many a tear. So, they will come and I can learn more about them and their lives, not just meet them in our park. That’s just one of the wonderful aspects of living in Israel, we don’t just get to meet our neighbours, we don’t just nod good morning or good evening, we really get to meet them and they so frequently become friends. I know, for instance, that if I have difficulty when out on my daily constitutional, I can call on anyone and they will come running. And so life goes on despite the political mayhem. The sheep will follow the call to noisy and sometimes violent rebellion against democracy and the rest of us will quietly demonstrate or just get on with our lives, determined to hold on tight to the incredible melding of faiths, beliefs and the most important thing that binds us – we are one people, irrespective or maybe in honour of where our parents and grandparents were born. The very strength of the Jewish people is that we never made a difference in where you came from, it was enough that you wanted to be part of the family. The very strength of the Jewish people is that while upholding all our traditions we were proud to sing God Save the Queen, the Star Spangled Banner, Advance Australia Fair, Hen Wlad fy Nhadau, or any anthem of the country of our adoption so please, I beg of you, express the same pride when singing Hatikvah and be as proud of our blue and white flag as you are of your adoptive country’s flag. Almost Shabbat, tomorrow’s afternoon feast is prepared, tonight’s Shabbat Dinner is already on the stove, or should I say the induction hob (!!), the Challot (plaited loaves) are rising and waiting to be plaited, and Zvi is about to go to his parliament, the big one in the Botanical Gardens as opposed to the local mini-parliament. I’m thrilled he will spend some down time because he works so hard on the Boards of so many organisations and brings new and interesting solutions to everyone. The sky is blue, the air crisp and I hope to have time to go for my walk. I sense the anticipation in the air as Shabbat approaches, houses are cleaned to sparkling, tables set with white tablecloths, the air redolent with the aromas of a hundred traditional dishes, so different yet so similar, just with more or less jalapeno peppers! So let’s put politics and worries aside and think of music. Music calms the fevered brow so that even politicians become almost human! I know that you are with us as we are with you and this song expresses that so beautiful – Ten Li Yad – Give me your hand. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVm0bVmLChA&t=5s Rak b’Yisrael which means Only in Israel can be used both as a compliment and an insult! See for yourselves https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-7EvfJje88&t=1s The haunting voice of Mosh Ben Ari expresses our deepest prayer Od Yavo Shalom Aleinu, Peace will come to us and to everyone. Shalom, Salaam. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4HViPVymlo&t=2s May we all know peace, tolerance and kindness, perhaps the most important prayer this Shabbat Shabbat Shalom dear friends, you are so important to me; you make me think, force me to put into words of tolerance instead of anger, surely the most important aspect of religion, of all religions, of all beliefs, that is forgotten in the need to prove who’s best. So Shalom Aleinu and Shabbat Shalom. With love from Jerusalem Sheila

Good News and the Elephant in the Room

13th of January 2023 Shabbat Shalom! Talking of Shabbat, the latest believable news from the British Royals concerns the Coronation of King Charles III. The Coronation will be held on Saturday, 6th of May and among the invitees is one Ephraim Mirvis, the Chief Rabbi of Britain and the Commonwealth. Nothing special in that after all Prince Charles attended Rabbi Mirvis’ inauguration. So what’s the big deal? King Charles and his Queen Consort have invited Rabbi Mirvis and his wife to stay with them at Clarence House so that he will be able to attend the ceremony without breaking Shabbat. Clarence House is but a short walk across St James’s Park to Westminster Abbey. A favourite advisor and friend of the late Queen on anything religious, personal and public was Lord Sacks and so the tradition has continued with Charles and Rabbi Mirvis. In case you wondered I have no intention of discussing the prodigal son. https://www.thejc.com/lets-talk/all/it's-no-surprise-that-king-charles-plans-to-accommodate-the-chief-rabbi-5sBoJZ9uM8jxxNK5F0jlBa Steven Spielberg, like so many, suffered bullying anti-Semitism just because he was a Jew. Rather than hiding away and licking his wounds he chose to succeed, to become a great film producer, director and writer. He has just made a film based on his own life, his family’s life, in a movie which has been described as “the antidote to Jewish victimhood”. I love what he said as he received his award he said he was the sixth-happiest person in the world after he won best director at this year’s Golden Globes awards for “The Fabelmans,” his autobiographical film about his Jewish family. “I think … there’s five people happier than I am,” he said in his acceptance speech, which he said he had not prepared in advance out of superstition. “There’s my sister Anne, my sister Sue, my sister Nancy, my dad Arnold and my mom. She is up there kvelling about this right now.” Did you know that the United Arab Emirates as made the decision to introduce Holocaust Education in their school curriculum? They will do so with the guidance of the Holocaust Museum and Archives of Yad Vashem. The Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-se), the Israeli-British organisation that analyses education around the world for biases and intolerance, highlighted the importance of introducing the Holocaust in the Emirati school curricula. "The United Arab Emirates has been leading the way in peace and tolerance education in the region for some years. IMPACT-se is delighted that they have taken this important step in educating about the Shoah and humbled to have partnered with the Ministry of Education," the institute's Director, Marcus Scheff, said. Yes, you are right, I am avoiding the elephant in the room simply because tomorrow is my birthday and I have no intention of depressing myself talking about the current government and the disturbing plans to change our judiciary and our lives. I am most angry because with all our differences we Israelis always came together in adversity and I find that we are split asunder. Perhaps the straw that broke this camel’s back was the suggestion that the opposition leaders be arrested for treason for encouraging the populace to peaceful demonstrations. I know everything will be alright, but who needs to discuss such matter on their birthday when there are so many wonderful aspects to our world, especially right here in Israel. For those of you who are interested, the changes are explained in this article https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-728206 Zvi had a meeting in Jerusalem yesterday, and I decided to go with him and walk through the park beside the David Efron Hora Dance Centre where he meeting was held. The dance centre was filled of happy young people full of good energy after rehearsals. It was a chilly evening but the rain held off so off I strode on my daily constitutional and then it happened! The most phenomenal sunset I have ever seen! It was as if the sky was on fire, if you can imagine a red, yellow, orange aurora borealis. Obviously I stopped and took a photo but nothing does justice to the wonder of mother nature. On Sunday evening we were invited to the home of Nomi Ballas together with some old friends, I say we but Zvi really wasn’t well with this awful coughing bug that is going around. He insisted that I go alone, especially since I had made little bread rolls and antipasti for the meal! Zvi’s friend Sami collected me and the evening was truly delightful, we chose to avoid politics and just talk about normal everyday things, exchanging ideas of what to watch on Netflix etc! I strongly recommend “The Plot Against America” which follows a Jewish family in the imagined world where Lindbergh won the elections against FDR. The most exciting visit this week was when John and Pauline Gandel came to see our new apartment for the first time! It was so thrilling to hear them wax lyrical at every aspect, especially the veranda, the incredible veranda with views all the way to Jerusalem. It’s strange, in our former home the view from the veranda, after which my newsletter is named, was exciting overlooking most of Jerusalem but now, now we have trees and peace and know that one Theodore Herzl visited this very spot 124 years ago. I love the Gandels, I love their natural kindness, sense of fun and family and determination to make this world a better place. I had a wonderful time with my Rachel on Wednesday morning, just being together and then on Wednesday evening we had the most incredibly Israeli evening with the Gandels. I have to tell you about it because what I am about to describe is the real Israel!! So, John and Pauline asked to go to a typically Middle Eastern restaurant, not a fancy, one, a real “Al ha Aysh” (literally meaning on the fire or grill) meat restaurant, shishlik, kebabs, skewers of spring chicken, chicken livers and of course the “Morav Yerushalmi” which developed from the need to use all parts of the chicken, the parts we don’t talk about mixed with loads of onion and spices on the grill. I called to book a table to be told that they are so busy that they do not allow booking in advance. Somewhat peeved we stopped the car outside Ezra, my favourite, and Zvi jumped out the car and went to talk to the “Sadran” the man who organises tables, waiters, food and everything all at once. Zvi returned with the good news that they would set us up a table. As we waited in the insanely busy entrance we were fascinated as we watched Ephraim, the sadran. Without losing his cool for a moment he was in total control of everything, of the constant flow of humanity demanding food! As we sat down at least 16 or 20 small dishes were set out before us, tehina, humous, cabbage, fiery aubergine salad and even more fiery Moroccan carrot salad, felafels and so on, accompanied by steaming hot, crispy Iraqi flatbread straight from the taboon. We all tucked in and there was little conversation because we were all fascinated by the hustle and bustle of the non-stop flow of people, the singing of Happy Birthday at various tables and of course the children – in Israel eating out is a family affair not a call for babysitters! Ephraim continued seating the non-stop flow of diners and the entire evening was the most delightful “balagan” imaginable! Who were the diners? The full gamut, the full rainbow of Israeli humanity! From deeply Orthodox to mini-skirts; Jew and Moslem; locals and tourists. It was so much fun! The culmination of the even was when four soldiers of the Border Police came in and sat at the bar – in this, like many restaurants, they get their choice of food for free – and I managed to thank them for protecting us. Their job is with people, one on one, face to face. If you come to Jerusalem and are prepared to wait your turn, Ezra restaurant on Yad Harutzim in Talpiot!! Last night the Silvers came for supper! Ira, Valeri, Tomer and Shelley, our non-blood related family. Shelley, having completed her national service with distinction, is off to South, Central and North America and we wanted to have a farewell meal together. Shelley really is an exceptional young woman and if anyone in the sub-continent wants to show her and her friends their city, just let me know! In a few minutes, Zvi is taking me for breakfast in Derech ha Gefen, in Beit Zayit, the village next to ours. It is becoming a tradition because last year there were about four others celebrating their birthdays and so we decided to meet up again this year! We are back! Breakfast was wonderful, the friendly atmosphere adding to the culinary enjoyment, I had Croque Monsieur and Zvi had Croque Madame (the kosher version of) both equally delicious, and we chatted with the delightful couple on the next table who had come all the way from Rishon Le Zion to have breakfast here. It was lovely but for me the highlight was even before the meal. As we sat waiting in the porch, sheltering from the chill of a winter’s morning, a young couple sat on the bench opposite us, clearly in love. I couldn’t help smiling at the incredibly Israeli situation before me. Two beautiful youngsters, both carrying very large rifles which did not in any way hamper their loving hugs. What? What did I just write? Clearly, they were both in a fighting unit of the IDF and by law they are not allowed to leave their weapons anywhere, always by their side, once issued they are responsible for them day and night. So here were two soldiers, a beautiful girl and boy, out of uniform and about to have a romantic breakfast, acting as if it is the most normal thing in the world to be cradling each other and their life support system, their rifles. As we sat together Zvi asked me what I felt about the last year, what we have achieved since my last birthday. Almost completing furnishing our apartment, selling the old apartment, managing to see all 14 grandchildren from 3 continents, receiving friends, completing the Dr. Dan’s Room project in Shalva, successfully returning to normal life after Covid and being involved in the work of Impact-se in changing the way we, Israel, Jews and Christians, are perceived in the schoolbooks of our former enemies and in Zvi’s case ensuring that teachers are taught to teach and bringing joy to all with his glorious voice. Our conversation drifted to what our hopes and expectations are for the next year and how it differs for each generation. For our parent’s generation, whether in Israel or in Wales, the generation who knew what it meant to be without Israel, without Jewish independence, to suffer the blows of the Shoah, their altruistic dreams were of hope and how to build a Jewish State; our generation still had dreams of a perfect Israel while understanding that the country would grow up and create a different society with haves and have-nots, still ready to give ourselves to the cause; our children tired of the stories of giving and opening our arms to all and began to build their own financial security even if it meant leaving Israel; their children, the “Tik Tok” generation are taught of the heroism of their antecedents but do not totally absorb the implications or the need to fight for their right to exist which was the driving force behind their great grandparent’s very existence. Tonight we will have Shabbat dinner at home then in the morning we will have breakfast at Nattie and Yolli Zonszein’s, then to Amiad and Noga to be joined by the remainder of Zvi’s grandchildren for lunch and then back home where Rachel and the children will come to visit after Shabbat. A truly family style birthday, the best I could imagine. Why did I avoid that huge elephant (current Israeli politics) in the room? One good reason is that I made you smile, in fact I made me smile and also to prove that one can maneuver one’s life around that elephant, one can prove that life is good without being complacent and accept that one has to work hard to change the elephant into a Lion of Judah. We are not that country that you read about, that reaches the headlines, and we, the people are not the sum of our politicians. Life here is good, in fact life here is wonderful, and compared to anywhere else it has a deep meaning. The fact that we are free to disagree with our leaders is a sign of a true democracy. How about some music? I love finding the music for you, songs that have deep meaning whatever language they may be. The evolution of Jewish music is fascinating and here the acapella group Y-Studs sings the gamut of music from the 1700’s to today https://youtu.be/gbeArPQqsc8 I can’t remember if I gave you this wonderful rendition of the Havdallah service, the service which ends Shabbat as we go from Holy to everyday, reawakening all five senses, with the light and heat of the candle, the smelling of spices all bringing us into the week ahead. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECwNkXM5dKA Koolulam with “Yesh Bi Ahava” there is love in me. I says everything, love really will conquer all, we will find a way through every situation, the tragic, the cruel and the unpleasant if we keep hope and love in our hearts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J98XBmoZAi4 Shabbat Shalom dear friends

Politics, Parliaments and Phone calls

6th January 2023 Shabbat Shalom and a Holy Christmas to the Orthodox Church Did you notice the date? Do you remember the date? January 6th 2021 heralded the storming of the Capitol in Washington which some said was the precursor to the end of United States democracy as we know it. Well that proved to be a premature prediction and both the rule of law and democracy survived. So please, when you try to claim that Israeli democracy has flown out of the window, think twice. As I have written many times, the test of democracy is accepting that the government you didn’t want won the election. I find that the United Nations condemnation of a Jew spending a few minutes (17 to be exact) on the Temple Mount is offensive and further proof of the double standards not only of that once august institution but of the countries whose leaders who joined the braying of asses. I am very far from approving of Ben Gvir or his boorish behaviour but in this case I defend his right, indeed all our right, to visit Judaism’s only Holy site. Jews and Christians have a legal right to visit the Temple Mount. If you look into the recent history of the Temple Mount you will discover that Moshe Dayan not Ben Gvir is the culprit here. In my research I came across this article which explains how we came to today’s balagan, a wonderful Hebrew word for a mess, an ado, a confused situation. Well worth reading https://www.israpundit.org/temple-mount-controversy-blame-moshe-dayan-not-ben-gvir/ Interestingly enough, Ben Gvir’s greatest critic here in Israel was Member of Knesset Gafni of Degel haTorah and Head of the Finance Committee of the Knesset who said that an observant Jew should not go to the Temple Mount at all since he may, by accident, go to the site of the Holy of Holies of the Temple where only the Cohen haGadol – the High Priest - was allowed. Well that made me feel better but I am still very concerned at your concern, in fact I’m not overly thrilled at the new coalition but that’s another matter! I know that most of you read your local news representation of the truth and are convinced that the State of Israel is going through a total change and some are convinced that they will not be welcome here unless able prove one’s Jewish lineage for generations. Not true! You will always be welcome indeed the Aliyah numbers are extremely healthy this past year, not just from Russia but from the USA, Canada, UK and many other countries! While objecting strongly to the fact that a senior Minister in the Government has a criminal record, Arieh Deri has been Minister of the Interior before and actually took a pragmatic view and upheld the status quo concerning eligibility for citizenship. A wonderful 2.67 visitors came to Israel in 2022, an excellent post-Covid number My final comment (maybe) on the intended changes in the Israeli legal system, the powers of the Supreme Court in particular, has raised many fears, especially since our Prime Minister could benefit from those changes, and Former Defence Minister Benny Gantz has put forward a proposition which could well mollify the fears of many; He suggests a non-partisan cross-party committee to discuss and if necessary, implement any necessary changes. I think it is a logical and sensible solution but it has yet to elicit a response from the PM. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-726713 I worry about the perception of Israel, I worry far less about the reality, as confused as it may be at the moment. Israel is thriving! We have low unemployment, the economy flourished while others were failing, we are amongst the top “Happiest Countries”, yes really! Even more surprisingly the report came through the UN! Here’s why. https://youtu.be/4SvqWG3cVDk One positive question that is always asked of Israelis when meeting leaders around the world is “What is the secret to Israeli innovation”. One obvious answer is that during their service in the IDF many become expert in technology, computers, engineering and adaptability, the last being the key word. I always remember Zvi’s words when lecturing around the world, “Organisations don’t have problems, organisations have solutions” problem-solving is also the watchword of the IDF which in turn flows into good business and innovation. Israeli innovations led to so many everyday applications that we all use today and one that I use every time I leave the house! Waze. The story of Waze has always fascinated me so when my friend Yitz – aka Yitzchok Katz – sent me this article from the Jewish News, all about Uri Levine, the Founder of Waze, I was really excited to meet the man, if only on paper. https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/where-theres-a-will-theres-a-waze/ Israel has been faced with heavy challenges since before the inception of the nascent State yet we continue to flourish. Why? How? The answer lies in both the IDF and our Biblical history, we find solutions. Do you know how it came about that you have free phone calls and video calls all over the world? Imagine a young soldier in the IDF hearing that the USA had come to the decision not to sell or give Israel a super computer due to the diplomatic implications and the disappointment of the senior politicians and IDF staff. This young upstart told them “I know how to create a super computer and it won’t cost a penny” Instead of meeting this suggestion with derision they chose to listen to him. “You simply go into all the personal computers in Israel and use their spare space” of course the response was immediate, nobody in their right mind was going to allow entry into the PCs. “Give them free international phone calls and they will” and so it began. American VoIP guru Jeff Culver, back in 2005 when it was in its infancy, credited the development of VoIP to Vocaltech and IBM-Israel. Just look what we take for granted today and all because some Israel kid wasn’t fazed by a problem and turned it into a solution. I have some very exciting news from Impact-se (www.impact-se.org ). The UAE is the first Arab state to introduce Holocaust education in their national curriculum. IMPACT-se has been working in close collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Education since being invited last March by UAE Cabinet Minister and Minister of Education, H.E. Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, to Abu Dhabi to meet with officials. IMPACT-se partnered with the ministry on a curriculum framework based on standards of peace and tolerance, also sharing with the ministry an Arabic language lesson-set about the Holocaust and discussed teachable material. IMPACT-se’s report on the UAE curriculum found it to closely meet international standards of peace and tolerance, teaching about peacemaking, religious tolerance, and acceptance of the ‘Other’. The United Arab Emirates has been leading the way in peace and tolerance education in the region for some years. IMPACT-se is delighted that they have taken this important step in educating about the Shoah and humbled to have partnered with the Ministry of Education. Impact CEO, Marcus Sheff, has been an essential link in the chain of collaboration with the UAE and other countries who have joined the determined effort to change perceptions in Islamic countries through their schoolbooks. I am so proud to Chair the Board of this exceptional and unique organisation that is making the world a better place. Israelis love to travel and the moment we sign a peace treaty with anyone, thousands head off to discover our new friends countries! I have given up asking friends where they are travelling to because I know the answer before they respond – to Dubai or Abu Dhabi! Israelis are curious and love new cultures. Although London was the top destination for December, seeing the Christmas lights and of course for the sales, Dubai was the first choice for a quickie visit. I was thrilled this week to see an interview with an Israeli Arab called Wahid Alhazayid. Wahid was born in Rahat, a Bedouin city in Southern Israel. He was one of 17 children, could barely read or write but decided that he wanted to enlist in the IDF. In the IDF he went on to study for his baccalaureate, became Lieutenant Colonel and today he teaches young people in danger of descending into a life of crime. There is no other country in this world that would give a chance to someone like Wahid and he knows it and gives back to his country every day of his life. I am thrilled to tell you that it is raining, pouring, no the old man isn’t snoring her is currently reading the newspapers in readiness for his parliament later this morning. Current Affairs lead the conversations at this particular parliament since many of the participants are either journalists or involved in politics themselves. A common question that you all ask is, what on earth is a parliament! It stems from the French word parley, to talk, and that’s exactly what they do. It happens all over the country and there are women’s parliaments, men’s parliaments and mixed parliaments totally dependent upon personal interests. These gatherings, big and small, usually centre around food (of course), are held on Friday mornings and each of the members comes away feeling that he has solved the problems of the world, or at least the men do. The women usually have lighter topics, depending upon whether they went to kindergarten together, are from the same neighbourhood or have similar academic or business backgrounds, perhaps less eclectic than their male counterpart. I occasionally join Zvi but by the time I have finished chatting to you he is on his way out! This has been an exciting week in terms of visitors. Dana and Betty came for lunch on Monday, it was really exciting because Covid kept us apart and Betty’s volunteering work at the Israel Museum, in charge of all the volunteers in that incredible Museum, keeps her busy! Incidentally the Israel Museum in Jerusalem is considered on of the top 10 museums in the world. Here is a glimpse https://www.imj.org.il/en/current-exhibitions Then on Wednesday our new lounge curtains arrived, a great celebration, and on Thursday we had a surprise visit from Galit Schwartz, lovely Galit who was undoubtedly the best assistant Zvi ever had, hired on the spot when we met her amazing parents! After a delightful catch-up of her life from student-assistant to mother of four, I walked up the wide passageway between the apartments on our complex and had a lovely time with my friend and neighbour Naomi Baba who is originally from the USA; we always have fascinating chats on so many interesting subjects then as I walked in the door I had a phone call from Yosef, our 18 year old grandson “Are you home Safta? Can we come to you?” Can you imagine saying no? They arrived and since both he and Talia are in the intense process and lead up to their baccalaureate, particularly in Civic Studies, which is based on the State from before the founding to today they both went to our resident expert, one Mr Zvi Raviv for a briefing. While Yosef stayed with Zvi who gave him a potted version in answer Yosef’s questions, including the fact that Theodore Herzl planted a tree under our veranda, Talia and I went to the other room where, at her request, I read her English dissertation on “A hero” which for her was the Lubavitcher Rabbi. For a young, 16 year old woman whose mother tongue is Hebrew it was stunning! I was so proud, not only that it was written beautifully without one mistake in her grammar but she actually wanted me to read it! Gosh it’s getting late and I haven’t started cooking yet and the house looks as if we had lots of visitors this week, probably because we did! Music can bring people together as nothing else especially when we sing together https://youtu.be/JIdADujEf2g Oof Gozal, Fly fledgling but remember there are eagles in the sky. Arik Einstein singing for all of us As we watch our children leave the nest https://youtu.be/ez1e2VPsRFw Finally, I was born for peace by Uzi Chitman, aren’t we all? Should we all have that as our basic right? https://youtu.be/4fz18D68Vdw Sending you love from Jerusalem, beautiful city, centre of our spiritual world. Shabbat Shalom dear friends Sheila