Operation Rising Lion

 

13^th June 2025

 

Shabbat Shalom, or is that the right expression under the current circumstances. Let me begin at the beginning

 

It is now 03:22 and Zvi and I are sitting in the Mamad, the safe room, watching the news, as Israel attacks the Iranian nuclear facilities. I realised that the telephone warning was different to the usual siren and when we opened the news we discovered that we will be here for some time, possibly for hours rather than the usual 10 minutes or alternatively, close to the mamad for a few days.

 

STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED ACROSS ISRAEL: Israel adjusts homeland security guidelines as reports indicate Israel begins strikes on Iran. The guidelines include:

• A ban on educational activities,

• A ban on gatherings,

• A ban on workplaces operations, except for essential sectors.

This is a developing story.

 

We have attacked several military targets throughout Iran including nuclear facilities and we must be alert to the possibility of a major Iranian attack. Suddenly Greta Thunberg and her stupid little boat seem utterly irrelevant, not that she every presented a danger. For the next few days we must expect a response. The Iranian Chief of Staff Muhammed Bakhri has been killed. Going back to bed but staying aware, no deep sleep tonight and tonight’s Shabbat dinner with all the children is definitely cancelled.

 

This operation against Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, has been in the preparation stage for many years according to security experts, including building a drone base inside Iran and smuggling precision weapons systems and commandos into the country. The effort hinged on tight joint planning between the IDF and the Mossad intelligence agency. According to the official, Mossad agents set up a drone base on Iranian soil near Tehran. The drones were activated overnight, striking surface-to-surface missile launchers aimed at Israel. Vehicles were also smuggled onto Iranian soil, indeed a brilliant plan called “Operation Rising Lion” although I would have said Lioness because it is the lioness which strikes if her babies are threatened.

 

All operations, planned over the last few years were in full co-operation with the USA. We killed IRGC and military chiefs  and the  IDF intercepted Iranian retaliatory drones. 

 

We just got some good news! The Israeli Home Command just issued a new order that we do not need to stay close to our safe rooms and protected areas because we destroyed the Natanz Nuclear Facility which was the one aimed at Israel.

 

Hospitals are still preparing basement parking to receive patients and schools, concerts and parties are cancelled, but the immediate danger is over. All planes have been evacuated from Ben Gurion Airport to Cyprus and Hungary, just in case.

 

Hopefully that means I can go back to reporting current news and our week’s activities!

 

Greta Thunberg. Poor thing. Talk about a damp squib. First of all they had virtually no aid on board, secondly she, indeed all of them, were given the choice of a few days in jail or deportation. Some of the braver ones chose to be in prison but she broke her golden rule of never flying (ecology and all that) and got on a regular El Al flight, sitting near the back to the amusement of other passengers. Nobody bothered her, but she looked woebegone!

 

The major debate in the Knesset, indeed throughout the country is the haredi enlistment. Through many years of avoiding the issue it is now breaking us apart. Every time we hear that another young soldier dies fighting in Gaza, irrespective of how one feels about that continuing fight; every time another young family sees their father being called up again and again, some serve 500 days in reserve duty because we don’t have enough soldiers, every time yet another hostage is returned for his/her funeral, the anger rises. It can’t be just an issue of Torah study because the Torah specifically says that we must rise to defend ourselves, it also cannot be because they spend precious time praying because outside Israel pious Jews pray and earn a living, it is sadly, or has become sadly distain for our country. Yet again I am not generalizing and more and more young Haredi men identify with Israel, but the hard core do not. It makes me so sad because it is not the compassionate Judaism I grew up with.

 

Penny Wong, the Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs, decided to make a unilateral statement banning two members of the Israeli Government to the dismay of the opposition and many members of her own party. One cannot say that Wong is uninformed because it is a choice. Wong, a member of the LGBT community is so misinformed that she has no understanding that if she lived in any of the countries she supports she would not only be excluded from politics she would almost certainly not survive, since all members of the LGBT community are disposed of. Wong doesn’t speak for the vast majority of Australians. A country that welcomed many Jews after the War. Indeed the indigenous Australians are very supportive of Israel recognising that we are the indigenous peoples of this land.

 

Actually, if I may just address that subject, most of you, if not all of you, live on land occupied by either the present rulers or past rulers. Look into your own history before condemning ours. Nova Peris, spokesperson for the Australian Aboriginal community says it much better than I.

“Jewish people are not colonizers—Israel is their homeland. To deny the Jewish or Israeli connection to the land of Israel is akin to denying the massacres that happened in Australia against us Aboriginal peoples. Both narratives are rooted in deep histories of suffering, resilience, and cultural survival. The Jewish connection to the land dates back thousands of years, including significant events like the conquest by the Babylonians in 586 BCE, which led to the destruction of the First Temple and the exile of many Jews. Later, in 70 CE, the Romans destroyed the Second Temple, marking the beginning of the Jewish Diaspora. After the Roman conquest, the Romans renamed the region “Palestine” as a means to erase the Jewish presence and ties to the land of Judea and Israel, similar to how Australia was once named “New Holland” during European colonisation in an attempt to redefine the land.”

 

The Syrian scene is fascinating. The new regime is clearly extreme Islam, the most recent edict states that women must wear burkinis on the beach so as not the show any lily white skin. The new leader, formerly a member of the Syrian Al Qaeda, left that deadly organisation years ago and now goes by his real name, Ahmed al-Shara. He has swapped his military fatigues for suits and has embarked on a charm offensive to convince foreign leaders and his fellow Syrians that he can repair his shattered country and lead it toward democracy. Anything is better than the murderous Assad regime, father and son, who slaughtered 500,000 of their own people.

 

Of course there is more to be told, the Houthis are getting really boring. They know that we will all go into our safe areas and they are highly unlikely to achieve their aim of killing Israelis – please note that I say Israelis not Jews – indeed an Arab home was hit last week. This is not a boring country but oh my goodness it’s such a beautiful country. We are an argumentative people but that’s because we care deeply, even while arguing, nay fighting each other, if anything happens we will run to one’s aid.

 

So last night we went to a fabulous concert in Bet Shmuel in Jerusalem. Miri Mesika is considered the most representative Israeli singer but I didn’t really know her music other than the fact that she has a wonderful voice and appears on the panel of the Israeli Star is Born. Well, what a surprise! She is phenomenal! She has a fabulous voice and give a great performance, dancing across the stage and managing to capture her audience. Most of the youngsters knew every word of her songs and she encouraged them to sing along. Her husband is her musical director and a brilliant pianist, and we loved it! Actually there were several concerts last night; Shlomo Artzi was near us in the Mevasseret Arena, there was a huge open air concert in the Sultan’s Pool, but I don’t know who it was and right nearby and rather noisy wedding! All I know is that we couldn’t find parking so we called a friend and Alan Cohen let us in to their private parking nearby!

 

Other than that, I had all my usual courses, but each was with a difference. My creativity class is very special and this week it was exceptional. Upon arrival we were each given 8 postcard sized pieces of card and asked to decorate it on one side, as a greeting card. Once decorated we were asked to write a blessing to each of the 8 women without looking at the artwork. We then sat around a table and each woman lit a candle and gave a one word blessing to those in the room and the world. Then we each read out our blessings to that person. It was so moving not at all schmaltzy, very special, then we all sat around for our delicious end of term feast. Everyone contributed at least one delicious element.

 

So what more can I say. Obviously Zvi’s parliament, a rehearsal and the children coming for Shabbat dinner are all cancelled, after all, Iran is hardly a stable country and their actions are hard to predict. Luckily I managed to put all the meat that I bought yesterday at a wonderful local butcher, into the freezer and am about to make a special dinner for Zvi and I. Our neighbour Hannah just popped in, she was going to the same rehearsal as Zvi and then down to the Arava to her daughter, but her plans changed and she is staying home and her youngest daughter and her brand new husband came to stay and are busy making Shabbat!

 

We live in unpredictable time, irrespective of where we are in the world. Somehow good is bad and bad is good; we live in a world of instant gratification where nobody actually researches the truth, they read headlines, irrespective of their veracity, and forget the words that follow. In fact, young people learn history from Tik Tok etc, a sphere very cleverly manipulated by those who know no better and those who know full well what they are doing.

 

So let’s get down to music, because it is after all the food of love

 

Song of Hope by Shiri Mesika. It really tells it all. HaTikvah is not only our anthem it is our life. What would we do without hope. https://youtu.be/9eDzojXuMZY?si=AiOq9K1PM-wmvbSo

 

Neta Barzilai has come a long long way since she sang “Toy” in the Eurovision Song contest. No longer wearing strange clothes, singing strange songs, she shows her natural talent in this rendition of Chai. She brings us the very essence of Israel, the very essence of the Jewish people. https://youtu.be/iOPYui6f630?si=sgKKK--0nkWh2eVX

 

The final song is a plea asking you to understand that while we fight, often with broken heart, your support, your understanding can repair our broken heart. Omer Adam and Ishay Ribo sing “Only you can turn our mourning into dancing”  https://youtu.be/PcJ_cXib_TU?si=TQaw2wfm7CFzJM6d

 

What a dramatic missive this week! Dramatic but hopefully one that explains that we cannot simply sit back and allow our sworn enemies, those who demand the destruction of our tiny piece of land. We are better than that.

 

I calm myself by walking around our veranda (OK Harry, so it may not officially be a veranda, wait, I checked it out on the thesaurus and I’m right!)  and touching the hibiscus, the incredible flowering plants whose names I don’t know, the sweet smelling citrus blossom, the tomato seedlings, the acorn squash plants, the apple tree and best of all the orchid plants that are about to flower for the fourth consecutive year. We cannot allow enemies of freedom to take over this beautiful world. We have to ensure that the good people, the vast majority of citizens on the five continents are allowed ot live in freedom.

 

Shabbat Shalom dear wonderful people. I love you for your support, for you ability to go beyond the headlines. Barry my love, I know it’s a long letter but I know you can manage to read it all!

 

With much love from Jerusalem

Sheila

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ordinary People

6^th June 2025

86 weeks 6 days since the 7th of October 2023

 

Shabbat Shalom dear friends

 

After reading the story of Ruth over Shevuot (Pentecost) my renowned lateral thinking took me in many directions, but they all met up with one word, FAMILY. Ruth was married to Mahlon, one of the sons of Elimelech and Naomi. Sadly, Mahlon and Elimelech died and Naomi decided to go back to her home. We all know the obvious story of how Ruth chose to follow Naomi and adopt her faith, but what was behind the story? First thought was the vexatious difference between taking on the faith and family of Naomi then and the long and drawn-out route to be accepted as a Jew today, but that is another issue. I’d love to hear your opinion on that one. What drew Ruth to Naomi’s faith was the sense of family. The very basis of Judaism is family. Be it lighting the Shabbat candles together, eating and praying together, loving no matter what, family.

 

Right now, in today’s world, families are split by religiosity, by political views, by distance, by so many misunderstandings and it makes me sad. We could simply ignore our current situation; not talk about religion, politics and money like in the old days, or we can sit down and talk openly but politely about what is on our hearts without denigrating the other. No matter which page you turn in the Old Testament, it’s about family, not always agreeing with each other, some where twins are ready to kill over their father’s will, but family nonetheless. The New Testament begins and continues about family, the Holy Family, and the entire religion of Christianity is based on that family. Have we forgotten how to be family? I thank heaven that my family is diverse but loving, but do we talk about our real thoughts? Probably not. How on earth can anyone understand what is happening to us, as Israelis, right now, but it is not by chance that Marc and Chantal Belzberg called their organisation “One Family” because we all hurt, families of soldiers, families of hostages whose pain I cannot begin to fathom, families of injured, families of victims of terror, we are, must be One Family to survive.

 

Decisions made by our current government do not unite, decisions to continue this war, decisions which do not bring our hostages home; decisions to allow two sectors of our society to receive rights without responsibility; decisions which create sectorial hatred; decisions which mean that those who serve the country in Gaza, Syria or Lebanon (some reservists have served 500+ days) while their young children barely recognise their fathers, their wives cope alone, lost their businesses or jobs. To stop the internecine hatred just one decision must be made by this lop sided government, serve those who serve not those who receive.

 

Changing tack completely, did you know that most of the Moslem terror related groups are banned in most of the Moslem countries. Try shouting “Free free Palestine” in Bahrain, UAE, Saudi Arabia and if you are lucky you will be exiled but if not, well I’m sure I don’t need to go into details. Sadly, the Western countries have not taken that route, while accepting people from all over the world with open arms (mostly because they wanted cheap labour) rather than stopping extremism at its core the European memory of thought police created a situation whereby extremism was rampant. A famous philosopher Alan Watts asked the important question as to whether that happened because extremists were strong or because our societies are weak. What weakened us? Good question. Perhaps it all comes back to lost family values.

 

The Houthis are not scared of the USA or the UK who made a mediocre attempt at attacking their headquarters, by the way don’t be fooled into thinking that it was to save Israel from the daily missiles; it was predominantly to stop them from their piracy on the high seas and determination to prevent passage through the Suez Canal which in turn caused devastating damage to the Egyptian economy. Again I ask how a country that is so poor that it cannot feed its population can afford supersonic missiles that travel 2,198 kilometres as the crow flies or in this case, the missile. That’s one expensive missile.

 

Talking of feeding one’s population, the decision by the Israeli government concerning Gaza has several sides. Firstly, what other country in the world, in any wars, feeds the very people who are determined to kill them? Secondly, yes, the decision was made to stop the aid going through, but actually after the calculation was made that according to previous loads, there should be a stockpile of 3-4 months of food. One can only pray that the killing of anyone who gets between the caravans of food aid and Hamas will stop. Someone must be able to ensure that the staple foodstuffs reach the ordinary people without first going through Hamas who then sell the said foodstuffs to the people at extortionate prices to fund their ever growing renewed arsenal. I will bless anyone able to feed the ordinary people rather than the fat-cats of Hamas.

 

I have an admission, although I honestly don’t trust Mahmoud Abbas, he is infinitely better than anyone else to control Gaza and oust Hamas. After all, Fatah was ousted in a killing spree by Hamas, Hamas which was funded by………… OK, I’m not going there. As one exceptional friend said “You are the voice of reason” so I try to walk the line but it can be a very uncomfortable. I am, by nature, a truth teller and holding my tongue on the current government decisions is probably the hardest thing I have ever done in my writings.

 

A precis of this week’s news since we are all sick of long drawn out analyses!

 

Remember Greta Thornberg with her hysterical videos? Now she’s on the "Gaza aid flotilla" sending out a May Day (still hysterical) insisting that an Israeli drone was threatening the Madleen boat. Well, it was a Greek Coast Guard drone! Greta, time to think before acting.

 

The missiles continue and I thank heaven, yet again, that living in a new home means we have a safe room inside the apartment. Others are not so lucky having to race across parks or down multiple stairs. This war of Attrition is exhausting and aimed at ruining our economy. A shout out to Delta Airlines who decided to not only return but to increase their flights and to Air Dubai who haven’t stopped their flights throughout……. And my favourite, El Al and the Israeli Low-Cost airlines. I have a feeling that Delta realised that the lack of choice has made ever increasing profits for El Al!!!

 

Konstantin Kisin is a thinker and his analysis of the current war in our region is fascinating, taking the situation and breaking it down to the skeleton, First Principles Thinking, without emotive responses. History did not start on October 7^th.  Fascinating. This is one to show your unconvinced family members – if you dare. They probably won’t want to but who knows?  https://youtu.be/O4m_EL9Dj2U?si=ZMByPF4jqxcNGn74

 

Popular thought in Israel is anti-Haredi, probably well founded, but as I always say, one should never generalise. Shai Graucher, inspired by his late father’s charity work, unites US donors and Israeli war victims through lavish gifts, viral acts of kindness and a mission to showcase Jewish unity amid tragedy. Probably best known for his truckloads of washing machines and dryers for soldiers in the field so that they could wash their wet and dirty uniforms in the couple of hours they came out of the battlefield. This shy Haredi Rabbi has done much more. He has been assisting soldiers and terror victims and their families since 2017. The current war sent his efforts into overdrive. opened a fulltime kitchen preparing meals for soldiers and displaced families; delivered thousands of care packages to displaced families and families of soldiers; brought gifts to children wounded in the Hamas attacks and children released from captivity in Gaza. So before we say all – Haredim, Arabs, Christians, Jews, are anything – remember, never generalise.

 

Judi Weinstein Haggai z”l and Gadi Haggai z”l, American/Israeli citizens, went for a morning walk in Kibbutz Nir Oz on the 7^th of October and never came back. Gadi was fatally injured and Judi’s call to Magen David Adom told us that she was horribly injured. They were both shot by the Mujahideen Brigades, who also kidnapped the Bibas family. Both Judi and Gadi were kidnapped to Gaza. This week their bodies were found and identified by the IDF and Shabak. They were given a Jewish burial in Israel.

 

How strange is the world?  Support for "Palestine and Gaza" by the Gay communities around the world is beyond my comprehension. Yesterday Jerusalem warmly welcomed the Gay Parade to the centre of the city. Freedom of expression is rarely abused here and despite certain sectors objections the colourful and joyful parade took place in absolute freedom. Apartheid my foot!!

 

So our Shevuot was spent in Tel Aviv, actually in the neighborhood called Revivim, yes honestly the Ravivs live in Revivim! So we spent the weekend with Ella and Yonatan while their parents went on a fantastic long weekend in Greece to celebrate Noga’s 50^th birthday. First of all the children are so easy that I think they looked after us choosing games such as Taki, Backgammon, draughts etc to amuse us! Their parents, Amiad and Noga, however, achieved a long dreamt of dream and climbed Mount Olympus to the very summit and took out an Israeli flag for their photo! I loved it and am so proud of them.

 

I took advantage of being in Tel Aviv to have an impromptu coffee with my lifelong friend Averil which is when I discovered that the delightful coffee shop/patisserie is entirely gluten free, in fact sterile of any hint of gluten flying in the air. Delicious breads, fabulous Danish pastries, cookies, everything you could imagine. Of course I bought our lovely friend Sha’ela some breads, already sliced for her breakfast toast!

 

Zvi is running an exhausting schedule of rehearsals, getting ready for two concerts, one each for the two choirs which will be held within days of each other. I am enjoying my creativity class and also my mind and movement class, a combination of mindfulness and free movement to music, both of which ease one’s anxieties and mend broken hearts.

 

Our “garden” is flourishing. The little apple tree has so many apples that I fear for its laden branches. I have been fighting the spring winds which threatened to break its slender trunk, but I think I have found a solution. The kumquat tree shows signs of its first blossoms, promising its usual exceptional crop, the tomato plants are beginning to flower and the acorn squash plants are starting to creep across the floor.  Quite apart from the obvious market gardener in me I am thrilled by the flowers, oh my the flowers!

 

The war, our longest war, made me think of Paul McCartney. Yes I know you are struggling to find the connection. Paul McCartney clearly knew his history and wrote a song called Pipes of Peace inspired by the Christmas Truce, 1914 during World War One. The song and its accompanying music video depict this historical event, showing British and German soldiers fraternising and exchanging gifts. https://youtu.be/B3q4Up5ugTc?si=3d5SmKpP5_L0kikS

 

Shabbat shalom, just two words but joined together are a prayer for peace.  In fact most of our songs speak of peace    https://youtu.be/VCMBkxr2WSc?si=3LzEKo3UN5ArIb9R

 

Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. Such simple words with such deep meaning. United, Unity, Together. Henei Ma Tov. Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach who succeeded in bringing young people together through joy! https://youtu.be/A6f0hFHB2fs?si=LJba3R1i5v2Phwiy

 

I wonder if I’ll have time to go down into the village to the Friday morning Coffee-wagon? It has become a true meeting place for everyone in Motza. In fact we have so many events, talks, shows, meetings that we are slowly slowly getting to know each other. On Wednesday Rachel and I went to a truly wonderful coffee shop that Zvi and I found on our way home. Motzeleh makes everything fresh, no bought sauces, no bakery bread, everything made on the spot. Their signature dishes are all Lachuch based (Yemenite pancake/pita) but Rachel and I decided to take a chance and ordered shakshuka. I’m very fussy about shakshuka but I virtually licked the plate it was all so fresh and delicious. Anyway, what I wanted to say was that Motzeleh was full of locals, either from our estate or the village. Community, family, togetherness. So important.

 

I wish you a beautiful Shabbat. Remember that family is not about blood relations, it is about those who care about you and you them, irrespective of outside connections, inner caring, the ability to help and be helped, to give and receive in equal parts, to love and be loved.

 

Be well, be strong, be happy with who you are.

Sheila

  

Singing through the pain

 

23^rd May 2025

 

Shabbat shalom to one and all

 

It happened again. Two young people were shot and killed for one reason only, because they were Jews. Don’t be fooled by the whole “Free Palestine” call of the killer, this entire diabolical situation is anti-Semitism raising its ugly head yet again in the guise of supporting the underdog. Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim were leaving an event at the Jewish Museum in New York when the attacker shot them, a beautiful couple, deeply in love, Yaron intended proposing to Sarah when they were next in Israel. Such hatred, such unreasonable, unfounded hatred carefully stirred up with careful grooming by a twisted news service and constant disinformation. One must ask the question, how on earth was this man, known to be unstable, able to get a gun. My question is who gave it to him and who sent him on his mission of death. As to this beautiful young couple, it only leaves to say May their souls rest in peace.

 

Last Saturday night, Yuval Raphael took the Eurovision stage not just as a performer, but as a survivor. At 24, having lived through the horrors of the October 7 Nova festival attack, she stood in front of Europe and sang “New Day Will Rise”, a raw, aching prayer woven in English, French, and Hebrew. Her voice carried the weight of loss, the courage to keep going, and the hope of healing. It wasn’t just a performance; it was her heart speaking. And when the votes came in, placing her second, the message was clear: the world heard her and felt every word.  The people, as opposed to the judges, spoke!

Israel received 12 points (the top score) from audiences in Azerbaijan, France, Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, Sweden, Portugal, Britain, Spain, Switzerland, Belgium, Australia and rest-of-world votes. Additionally, Israel received 10 points from audiences in Ireland, Cyprus, Finland, San Marino, Norway and Czech Republic.Yuval Raphael is a star!!!

 

Nuseir Yassin is an Israeli Arab, Or as he wishes to be described, an Israeli Palestinian born in the town of Arraba. Nuseir created Nas Daily which has become a huge information machine, and a positive machine on the net. I want you to see this video in which he explains his Israel/Palestine. A different point of view.  https://youtu.be/oNW2p0nTEto?si=lZR4cYCtIIcLl2dY  

 

I had a go at writing about our current situation by asking ChatGTP how to describe it.

From Israel's perspective, the nation faces an agonizing dilemma: the imperative to rescue hostages held by Hamas versus the goal of dismantling the militant group to ensure long-term security. The trauma of the October 7, 2023, attacks, which resulted in over 1,100 deaths and the abduction of approximately 250 individuals, remains a deep wound in the Israeli collective consciousness. The ongoing captivity of hostages, many of whom are believed to be held in underground tunnels, starved and beaten, continues to haunt families and the broader public. While military operations aim to pressure Hamas and secure the hostages' release, these actions have led to significant international condemnation due to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The United Nations and various countries have criticized Israel's tactics, citing the dire conditions faced by Palestinian civilians. Domestically, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under pressure from both international allies advocating for a ceasefire and right-wing coalition partners opposing concessions. This internal and external pressure places Israel in a precarious position, striving to balance the moral obligation to protect its citizens and hostages with the strategic necessity of neutralizing threats, all while navigating complex geopolitical dynamics

 

I have yet to summarise President Trump’s visit to the Gulf States. His policy of America First is undoubtedly part of it, after all he is the American President not the Israeli President, but since he is definitely an “out of the box” thinker, time will tell us the results.

 

President Joseph Biden has been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer. President Biden was possibly the most important American president in his love of Israel equal to Ronald Reagan.  A fine man, a true Zionist (yes, I know many love to paint him otherwise) and a highly intelligent leader. I was horrified at the suggestions he suffered from dementia and worse. Demonising the man who leads the politics you don’t embrace should not be a reason for derision and distasteful language, it is a reason for working to support someone who does embrace your views. I wish him better; I wish kindness to a man who gave himself to his country and now needs support to heal his cancer.

 

Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day) is celebrated on the 28th day of the Hebrew month of Iyar. This year, 5785, it falls on Sunday, May 25, 2025. Who can forget that day, during the Six Day War, when the IDF Paratroopers finally reached the Western Wall and General Motta Gur uttered the words “The Temple Mount is in our hands”? Today most of the world has forgotten that the Eastern part of Jerusalem, in fact most of the areas around Jerusalem and land claimed to be Palestinian, were in Jordanian hands since 1948. Jews were thrown out, Jewish sites were destroyed, the cemetery on the Mount of Olives demolished and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre left to fall apart (when I was in Israel, in Jerusalem, on Rosh Hashanah 1967 I saw that with my own eyes) Jerusalem Day celebrates the unification of this great city, finally Jews could visit the holy sites, could pray on the Temple Mount, touch the Western Wall, could walk the very stones that King David walked when he wrote his psalms. We will celebrate although the truth is now somewhat different and our dreams of praying on the Temple Mount are no longer viable.

 

Today was not only the liberation of Jerusalem, it is the birthday of Bob Dylan (Robert Zimmerman; The day when Eli Cohen, a Mossad Agent, was hanged in Damascus; Operation Solomon, the covert mission  to bring Ethiopian Jews home took place on May 25  1991. One aeroplane. A 747, carried over a thousand people; As a sidebar, or in other words I digress, Zvi and I had the honour of being invited to the Diplomat Hotel to meet the most dignified group of people I have ever met. Knowing that they had no luggage (allowed just one and a half kilos on the packed aeroplanes) with only the clothes they stood up in, we went first to Mahane Yehuda and bought bags upon bags of underwear. Upon arrival we saw hundreds of people in their Shabbat clothing, white robes, and one man who stood above and out from all the others, the Kes, or Rabbi. I can never forget the beauty of the people, the calm dignity of people who had never seen a car let alone an aeroplane, standing quietly. We had been given a rose, a single rose when we arrived and as the late Uri Gordon came into the hall, each of these beautiful people held their rose out to him. No yelling, no whooping, just a silent appreciation of the man who led the mission. I am so proud to see that the children of those who arrived from Operation Moses in 1984 and further missions, have become an integral part of Israeli society

 

Zvi and have visited Jordan many times, six times to the Royal palace where we and the entire group, were treated “royally”, even provided with tours and kosher food. Imagine my distress when an Impact-se report describes October 7^th as Palestinian resistance. The report was heartbreaking, especially when you consider that if the Hashemite Royal Family were not protected by Israel they would no longer exist. Please read the report. https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/Review-of-Jordanian-Textbooks.pdf

 

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem celebrates 100 years since its founding. From a few buildings on French Hill it has grown into an internationally renowned place of learning and innovation. Probably 40% of its students are Israeli Moslems, studying every subject under the sun, scullcaps beside shayla and hijab, multicoloured headscarves beside traditional black costume; the Hebrew University has become a symbol of diversity. Zvi and I went to a wonderful celebratory concert at the Jerusalem Theatre, featuring the Jerusalem Symphony orchestra and a number of brilliant singers. They sang Shabchei yerushalyim, 

Lakum mahar b’boker, Avinu malkanu and Shir hamaalot and the orchestra played the song of the Hebrew Slaves from Verdi’s Nabucco. It was a spectacular evening.

 

Australian Jews are going through a difficult time at the moment, actually I cannot think of a Jewish community that is not going through a difficult time, but I am in awe of their resilience and determination to come to Israel during this time of war. I told you about the excellent group brought by Keren Hayesod a couple of weeks ago, and this week we had lunch in Tel Aviv with Keith and Deidre Beville from Melbourne. This week we will visit the new Museum of the Jewish Soldier in Latrun and of course they will come to us for Friday night dinner. Reaching the fine age of 90 has not stopped Keith from coming to Israel and neither age nor war will stop him from coming. As I have told you all time and again, even in wartime this is still the safest place imaginable.

 

The words of our first song praise Jerusalem but so much more

Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem;
Praise your God, O Zion. Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem;
Praise your God, O Zion.
For He has strengthened the bars of your gates;
He has blessed your children within you.
Praise your God, O Zion.

Shebachi Yerushalyim https://youtu.be/K3dX1elMLy4?si=b6XbdjWHgR6oXqW-

 

In 1979 Israel won the Eurovision Song Contest with a wonderful song of hope in the days when it was all about the song and not politics. Halleluya! https://youtu.be/jKbvuYRR35E?si=TZaW_vg2E4Q7xbYS

 

The Party is Over is a song better known as “To Rise Tomorrow with a New Song” I loved this rendition by a choir of wonderful children! In many ways it is the story of Israel, of the Jewish people. We fall and rise, always rise even as our enemies disappear from history. We should all rise each morning with a new song in our heart, to start again from bereshit! https://youtu.be/q-U5yTtJu38?si=Mg0nlIVFNim3-1we

 

It is nearly Shabbat after a crazy week! Lunches, concerts, lectures on Gaugin, visiting friends, friends visiting us, actually I want to tell you about an impromptu visit by some friends who live on our estate. Five women each with a fascinating story of family history including one neighbour, actually a neighbour whose apartment overlooks our veranda, her name is Hinda, and she told of her family’s history beginning in Lodz, in Poland, through Russia, and several European countries to arrive in Israel at the age of 10. Hinda worked for many years in the Jewish Agency and knew many people that Zvi also knew. As is my habit when someone new comes to our apartment, I took her to our study, where Zvi was busy writing. She was impressed by our “wall of fame” but her expression when she saw the poster of the very first demonstration ever held, in the world, to free Soviet Jewry with the headline “Let My People Go”. Her amazement grew when she learned that Zvi, together with Yona Yahav, started the entire struggle for Soviet Jewry, beginning on that day when they were both students at the Hebrew University. “It’s thanks to you that I am here today”. Such emotion and joy that Hinda was in our house, is my friend, enjoys a wonderful life with her husband Itzik, because two cheeky students refused to take no for an answer  from Golda Meir when they knew that Jews were suffering in far off Soviet Union, longing to come home.

 

So our world is not becoming any kinder, but we can hold our hope and prayer and rise tomorrow morning with a new song in our heart. I am travelling to Tel Aviv this lunchtime, to the home of Lea Ressler, to meet with friends. Zvi is going to his parliament in the Botanical Gardens and then we will meet up for our Shabbat Dinner in the peace and quiet of our own home. Of course I will wander out to our veranda where the little apple tree is weighed down with the burden of dozens of ripening fruits. Actually, that little apple tree is yet another example of hope. So many people told me that an apple tree cannot thrive in a pot and here it is. Proof positive that one should never listen to the doubters!!

 

Shabbat Shalom dear friends, I pray that your Shabbat will be peaceful.

 

With love from Jerusalem, the centre of the world.

Sheila

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lag b'Omer, Good News Bad News

 

16^th May 2025

Lag b’Omer 5785

 

Shabbat Shalom! Today is the 33^rd day of the counting of the Omer, the days between Passover and Pentecost (Pesach and Shevuot) and a day of bonfires, barbecues and a halt in the restrictions of the Omer, similar to the restrictions of Lent.

 

My cousin Debbie sent me this quote and I felt it fits so many of the released hostages especially Eli Sharabi. ”Ernest Hemingway once said, “The most beautiful people we encounter in life are often those who have walked through fire.” They’ve faced defeat, endured pain, struggled with hardship, and experienced loss in ways that most of us can scarcely comprehend. Yet, through these trials, their true beauty emerges—not the kind that can be seen on the surface, but the kind that radiates from deep within.”

 

Today we are trying a new format. I decided to avoid depression and create a good news, bad news, good news format, starting with an informative paragraph. Does that make sense? Are you happy with the mixing of good and not so good? It sort of describes our seesaw life. I actually looked up “seesaw” on the thesaurus synonyms and one description stood out above all others – “to perform a nontranslational motion”. If anything described our world today that has to be it!!

 

So after my traditional digression, back to Lag b’Omer. As I wrote above, it all begins with the counting of the Omer and as a celebration of the end of the plague that killed most of Rabbi Akiva’s students, it is said to be a plague sent by the Almighty because they failed to treat each other with respect, we celebrate that day, the 33^rd day of the 49 days of the counting. Today celebrations such as weddings are allowed and we light bonfires because….. actually I’m not 100% sure where that came from. If anyone can give me a logical explanation rather than a philosophical one, I’d be grateful especially since we are in the middle of a Hamsin (heatwave) with strong winds and the danger of a repeat of the forest fires is looming.

 

The traditional flame that is lit on Mount Meron to honour Rabbi Simeon bar Yohai who initiated the ideal that students of the Torah forsake all other activities, devoting their lives to the study of the Torah. Thus devout Jews (mostly men) go up to Mount Meron where he is buried on this day. Sadly in 2021 far too many were allowed into the site and a tragedy occurred when a grandstand collapsed and, in the rush to flee 45 people died. This year the number is thankfully limited.

 

Yuval Raphael is a beautiful young woman with a wonderful voice and she is representing Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest in Switzerland. As if it not enough that she survived the Nova festival Hamas attack on October 7^th she has to deal with the pro-Palestinian yobbos who are demonstrating against Israel. Her story, her description of the hours spent in the bomb shelter while young people were murdered, raped and mutilated around her is beyond belief. She hid under the dead bodies in that shelter for eight hours, acting dead after a desperate phone call to her father who begged her to play dead. She says she retained her sanity by singing and now she is representing Israel in a competition where Israel-hate has been obvious and even encouraged. This year Palestinian flags are allowed in the main hall but I promise you there will be more Israeli flags and very vocal ovations! She is a warrior on a musical battlefield for sure.  She is now into the final after a phenomenal performance last night. There were some jeers at the beginning of the performance, but Israel's Yuval Raphael was a superstar and the cheers at the end were epic! What a survivor, what a phenomenal woman, what a true heroine.

 

Tzeela Gez z”l was a mother of three tiny children and on her way to the hospital to deliver her fourth baby. She was travelling with her husband to hospital for a caesarian section when a terrorist shot and killed her. He didn’t know that she was a good, kind woman who helped those suffering from traumatic events. He didn’t know that her three children have lost their mother. He didn’t know that her husband had to bury his wife yesterday or that their baby is fighting for his life in hospital. He didn’t know because he didn’t care. He was so deeply inculcated with hatred by those the politicians who benefit from death and destruction that he felt deep satisfaction that he had killed.

 

I’m so happy that Edan Alexander came home. I am thrilled that he is reunited with his family; I was happy that his mother spoke her heart and thanked President Trump; I wish all the Israelis who don’t have dual citizenship were brought home by the Israeli government; I wish that no more soldiers would die in a war against an unseen enemy which hides in tunnels and keeps our hostages in vile conditions; I wish many things and yes, I am thrilled that Edan is home and looks in relatively good condition, but wish that he had come home because our government fought for him not the USA government. I’m sure that you all love the exultation of hostages as they come home, but the truth is that after those first moments they enter an emotional abyss from which it is almost impossible to return.

Talking of hostages who manage to celebrate their release, Emily Damari is a Tottenham Hotspur fan, a very serious Spurs fan! This week she went to a match and was greeted by a sea of yellow balloons, placards with her symbolic hand and cheers from the crowd. What a wonderful welcome!

 

Like it or not, the Trump visit to the region has been a great success for the United States. I am not surprised by the warm reception from Saudi Arabia, Israel and Saudi Arabia have been on good terms since the days when Ehud Olmert was Prime Minister and the ground was laid for closer relations with the USA. I am surprised at the apparent closeness with Qatar but then as I have always said, one doesn’t need to negotiate or discuss with one’s friends, one must, however, negotiate and discuss with one’s potential enemies. President Trump moves in mysterious ways, he is undoubtedly unpredictable, but I believe that his ultimate aim is to bring some semblance of peace to the area. I wish him luck if he is serious about a US presence in Gaza. Neither Israel nor Egypt succeeded in creating a workable society there and since Netanyahu is against any intervention by the PA (Mahmoud Abbas wanted to take Gaza back from Hamas) perhaps this is the answer – an outside, international force that can control the hate teaching and its horrific outcome.

 

Yesterday we went to se a play at the Khan Theatre! Totally spontaneous decision since the play was on at 5 in the evening. It was wonderful! It’s the story of four Saftas (grandmothers) in  assisted living and their habits, stories and distress when sons and grandsons either don’t visit or let them down at the last moment when they have already cooked their favourite foods. It is funny, sad and brilliant. Upon leaving the theatre one sees large posters with each actor talking about his own “Safta” from whom they took their characters. Brilliant. We left the theatre and rove home past the President’s house. On our side of the road were a number of families of hostages with the all too familiar posters of their loved ones and one very active lady handing out yellow ribbons for cars. Of course we stopped with a word of encouragement from Zvi and the lady tied the yellow ribbon to our door handle. Zvi thanked her and she told us that she had been there, opposite the president’s house, with the families every single day since October 10^th 2023. The very salt of the earth that makes up the vast majority of Israelis.

 

On October 11^th 2016, UNESCO had a preliminary vote on a declaration that Israel, the occupying power, cease and desist all archaeological excavations in the Old City. The declaration erased all Jewish connection to the Western Wall (al Buraq Plaza) and the Temple Mount (Haram el Sharif) on October 12 the declaration was passed, a stain on the once august organisation which has gone the way of all UN organisations. What prompted their declaration? Archaeological finds in David’s City that proved undeniably the ancient Jewish presence.

 

I honestly do not know how Alon Nimrodi is able to get up in the morning. His son Tamir has been in Hamas captivity for 587 days. Tamir, an Israeli soldier captured in uniform, undoubtedly suffers horribly, as do all the captives, and Alon has not heard anything from Tamir, no “ot haim” sign of life, over all that period. The government has announced that one of the hostages is no longer alive but not once during those 587 days has anyone from the government, not one official phone call, not a message, not even a WhatsApp, nothing to ease the pain of this father, this family. I am angry and ashamed.

 

Zvi and I have spent more time than usual beside our computers. No we didn’t do it for pleasure, our office is in the “mamad” or safe room. We are among the lucky ones because we have a mamad at home, in fact we have a mamad. Many have to cower in their stairwells or make a run for the communal bomb shelter until ten minutes have passed since the siren warning us that yet another Houthi missile is overhead. Who are these dreadful people, pirates of the high seas, killers, funded by Iran, given supersonic and hypersonic missiles instead of food and education? They are not Yemen, although that country is like a broken vessel, shards of what was a society breaking it apart form the inside. Apart from one last week, the one that landed near the airport, we get each one. The ten minute wait is to avoid damaged from pieces of the destroyed missile.

 

This has been a great week in many ways. I returned to all my courses, in fact managed to move in my movement class and create in my craft class! It is so rewarding, so refreshing and a real boost to my confidence. I am basically back in the saddle. It feels wonderful.

 

Today we will go up to the graves of Zvi’s parents, the beautiful Kalman and Alla Raviv, to a very special area in the Givat Shaul cemetery reserved for people who have received the high honour of becoming “Yakirei Yerushalyim”. Since nobody receives the key to the City of Jerusalem this honour is the closest equivalent and those who receive it have the honour of being buried overlooking the city in a quiet and almost pastoral area set aside for their families to visit the graves. Among those buried there are Naftali Herz Imber, the Galician Jew who wrote the words that we hold so dear. Zvi will recite the blessings, using the initials of each letter of the names Kalman and Alla, and then will sing the prayer “El Rachemim”. A simple tradition but it is important that grandchildren understand the purpose in life of their grandparents that we do not lose their brave history in the formation of this amazing country.

 

Almost Shabbat and high time for some music. Shabbat in Jerusalem is so special. There is nothing like it in the whole wide world. The peace that surrounds us no matter what the outside world is doing.

 

I wrote about Yuval Raphael but now you can see and hear her incredible voice as she since her heart out for us, for Israel, for all of us, in three languages. A New Day Will Rise. Just listen to the resounding applause at the end!!  https://youtu.be/R1J7nJXLKAg?si=NSaMkfmhVauEiQpo

 

"No More” Idan Amedi, is an Israel singer and actor, a very special, humble, human being, left his many concert appointments on October 7th and volunteered to do his miluim in the war in Gaza. He was badly injured, lost two of his soldiers in his platoon. He was greeted as a hero by his fans, indeed by Israelis everywhere, but refused the titled insisting he was just one of many. His humility created this song. https://youtu.be/qQepsm0Rc0U?si=iuHujpAsW5QYtCqW

 

We are all the same. It is irrelevant from whence we came, all that matters is that we came home. Today we talk about the Houthis forgetting that they have taken over yemen, forgetting that Yemen was home to many Jews who fled “On Eagles Wings” coming home. This is a Yemeni family celebrating Shabbat. The music is different but the prayers are the same words that we, as a people have sung for 5785 years.

https://youtu.be/pfVZilLTKz8?si=OjHleFUKU0C5uP8G

 

I wish you a Shabbat shalom. A peaceful weekend from Jerusalem the golden city of our dreams and prayers.

Sheila