110224
24th February 2011
Shabbat Shalom to all but especially to Tomer Silver, our adored young Israeli who is 13 today! Mazal tov Tomer. Tomer, with his parents Ira and Valery and little sister Sheli celebrated Tomers calling to the Torah while we were in Miami, but the photographs showed his pride. I wonder now that he is a man, will he be able to ask the 4 questions at this years Seder(Passover meal)?
New Zealand suffered a terrible earthquake of 6.5 magnitude on the Richter scale. The epicentre was in the mountains close to the town of Christchurch. The damage was terrifying and the after-shock demolished the Cathedral, commercial buildings and housing leaving many homeless and buried under rubble. Israel offered to immediately fly a team out to help but the aid was refused. We send the people of New Zealand our condolences for those who perished, a speedy recovery to the injured and a fast return to normal.
Chaos reigns in the Arab world. Some demonstrations were nipped in the bud by violent means; some are continuing despite brutality from the regimes; some appear to be resolved but without a clear outcome. Ghadaffi and his Libyan regime are killing hundreds of civilians in the streets and his bully-boys are beating people up. The latest reports tell us that Ghadaffi gave the edict that any soldiers who refuse to shoot demonstrators must be killed and the photographs of the dead soldiers is almost worse than the former pictures of dead demonstrators as they were lined up and shot publicly and their bodies burned. I chose not to give you the link to see the bodies because it is horrific beyond belief. What a mediocre response from the West, where is the outcry? The Arab revolutions are not about nor will they create democracy, as the left believes, but rather create a hiatus giving opportunities to the MB and its ilk to step in and take over. Look at the countries that revolted - Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen, Bahrain, Libya, none were radical Islamic regimes; on the contrary, they were no friends of the extremists. Mr Obama and other world leaders must watch the situation very closely because it could well lead to WW3 if not nipped in the bud. To understand the horrors that Libyans are suffering look at this report from Tom Gross, I warn you the videos are graphic. http://www.tomgrossmedia.com/mideastdispatches/archives/001173.html
Israel gave entry permits to 300 Palestinians escaping the horrors of Libya and almost simultaneously, Hamas in Gaza chose to bomb (Grad missiles) the civilians of Beersheba. We, Israel, have stood by all of our promises in the truce with Hamas. We never initiate only respond, we bring patients from Gaza for medical relief in Israel; we provide large quantities of aid to Gaza – yet they have not respected even one condition of the truce. http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Hamas+war+against+Israel/Palestinian_ceasefire_violations_since_end_Operation_Cast_Lead.htm
I was jeered at when I said that I was privvy to information which was absolute proof that nuclear materials were moved from Iraq to Syria 6 months prior to the Iraq war..... remember the denial of any WMD's in Iraq Well – they are there after all and will proliferate if someone doesn't wake up soon. ?http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703842004576163082774601552.html?mod=rss_middle_east_news In total 4 facilities are discovered http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4033407,00.html
U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron told students in Qatar University that some Middle Eastern rulers were using the Israel-Palestine conflict as a distraction from their own oppressive regimes. “In too many countries in the Middle East, rulers say to their people ‘be angry about that (Israel), don’t be angry about the fact that you live in a non-open society,’” Cameron told his audience after taking a series of questions on Israel. Good morning Mr Cameron!!! http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-02-23/cameron-says-some-middle-east-rulers-use-israel-as-distraction.html
The fact that the BBC (aka Auntie Beeb) leans so far left it is unable to tell the truth from its Guardian is well known but those inside dare not speak of it. Peter Sissons is an exception and after his retirement from that once august institution which costs the British taxpayer the economy of a small country, he decided to blow the whistle. “Left Wing Bias is in the BBC's DNA” http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1349506/Left-wing-bias-Its-written-BBCs-DNA-says-Peter-Sissons.html
A vigil of over 500 souls for Gilad Schalit, organised by www.Standwithus.org was held in Manchester, UK this week and Joy Wolfe wrote of its success. The event opened with Dudu Fishers song, “Bring Him Home” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvbx6tL8mco and Joy reports that Alistair Burt, the Middle East Minister called the ongoing detention of Gilad an outrageous crime saying “He should be released immediately and unconditionally We have repeatedly called for the International Red Cross to have access and I will continue to do so” And true to his word Alistair continuously refers to Gilad almost every time he answers a question about the Israel/Palestinian issue in the House of Commons – the British Parliament.
I am sure that American industrialists are quaking in their shoes because the PA wants to boycott the USA!!! Unfortunately they have no intention of boycotting your aid – Abbas announced that $460,000,000 does not allow the USA to dictate to them. Woulda thought it bought a little loyalty though!!!! http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/142505
Chicago, oh Chicago, most beautiful city in the entire USA and you are such slow learners! Electing Rahm Emmanuel as Mayor sounds to me a bit like the Polish policemen. 4 Polish policemen died – two in the accident and two in the reconstruction!!! Why would you take a man who admits he was a bad Presidential advisor, made crucial mistakes, and then elect him Mayor. Sorry if I am stepping on toes but... aw c'mon!!! I just hope I am proven wrong because my son studied medicine at the Pritzker School and Zvi's son studied for his MBA at UC so we really know and love that city.
I intended meeting the Chilean miners as they walked the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where they were blessed by a priest, through the Arab Shouk and ancient arches to the Kotel – the Western Wall.They expressed their respect for the Jewish Holy site by wearing skullcaps and placed their prayers and dreams on a note, carefully placed in the huge stones of the towering Wall. As we watched their miraculous release and saw them drop to their knees thanking G-d, today, walking through the steps of the Bible brought their experience to a natural spiritual conclusion. I wish I had been there but unfortunately I was on a two hour conversation with my internet provider who was trying to repair the problem with my Wifi so that I could take my laptop to the meeting! Ah well it was emotional through the television screen and I will meet them on Sunday at the Presidents house (don't worry I will watch where I walk) and travel with them to the Dead Sea and Massada......... wifi willing!!!!
You guys amuse me!!! I work so hard to bring you the news yet the words I hear time and again are “We love your descriptions of Jerusalem” .
This week the gentle winter sun came out to warm our souls and I took the opportunity to meet friends and eat the amazing Oreganetto Salad at Caffit in the Botanical Gardens. Oreganetto is without question the best salad in the world!!! Huge bowls (per person but we split it!) of cut cucumber, tomatoes, lettuce, herbs, mushrooms, laced with wonderful “Tsfatit” white cheese and topped with oven-baked strips of sweet potato, with crunchy croutons, with a beautiful fresh dressing of Israeli olive oil and a little lemon. Sitting on the veranda of Caffit beside the lake, watching the swans with women I love, catching up on our lives was just heaven!!!
The gardeners are still cutting the grass on the park opposite, as if they want the park to be ready for Shabbat too!! I am in the middle of my Shabbat cooking – the vegatable soup with all the goodness of our rich earth in it and the wonderful Moroccan mushrooms, tiny mushrooms gently sauteed with onion slices in olive oil and the magic ingredients of salt, turmeric, black pepper, ground coriander seeds, ground cumin seeds and a little garlic.... sauteed and then served on wonderful local houmous! Mmmmm, I wish it was ready!!! Shoshana is making kubeh soup – hers is with tomatoes and Shula is making kubeh soup with beetroot; Rivka makes chicken and rice and Sarit makes Hamin (Shabbat stew) with everything in it....... without the kishke (I cannot bring myself to tell you what that is but it is only Ashkenazi Jews who eat it!!!). Yossi will make a whole slew of dishes for his family.... and then take it all to his fathers home so that they can eat together. This is Israel, if we didn't need to talk politics we would talk of food, cook food, teach food and nothing else.. not quite true, the women would talk of hairdressers and the men of football (the real one) and basketball.
Now to continue with the Shabbat cooking – you took me away from my kitchen – I love cooking, love creating, love the love it expresses and of course........ love preparing for Shabbat.
Be well dear friends – enjoy a good meal – the diet will wait for tomorrow!!!!
Shabbat Shalom from a wonderfully aromatic Jerusalem, redolent with the cuisine of the dispersion brought into a wonderful cornucopia of culinary delights in Jerusalem – home.
Sheila
PS I thought you may like to read what the incredibly witty Ephraim Kishon wrote about Israel.
Ephraim Kishon was Israel's greatest humourist. Here is his explanation of Israel.
Israel is a country surrounded on all sides by enemies, but the people’s headaches are caused by the neighbours upstairs.
Israel is the only country in the world where the coffee is already so good that Starbucks went bankrupt trying to break into the local market.
Israel is one of the few places in the world where the sun sets into the Mediterranean Sea .
Israel is the only country in the world whose soldiers eat three sets of salads a day, none of which contain any lettuce (which is not really a food), and where olives ARE a food and even a main course in a meal, rather than something one tosses into a martini.
Israel is the only country in the world where one is unlikely to dig a cellar without hitting ancient archaeological artifacts.
Israel is the only country in the world where the leading writers in the country take buses.
Israel is the only country in the world where the graffiti is in Hebrew.
Israel is the only country in the world that has a National Book Week, during which almost everyone attends a book fair and buys books.
Israel is a country where the same drivers who cuss you and flip you the bird will immediately pull over and offer you all forms of help if you look like you need it.
Israel is the only country in the world with bus drivers and taxi drivers who read Spinoza and Maimonides.
Israel is the only country in the world where no one cares what rules say when an important goal can be achieved by bending them.
Israel is the only country in the world where reservists are bossed around and commanded by officers, male and female, younger than their own children.
Israel is the only country in the world where “small talk” consists of loud, angry debate over politics and religion.
Israel is the only country in the world where the ultra-Orthodox Jews beat up the police and not the other way around.
Israel is the only country in the world where inviting someone “out for a drink” means drinking cola, coffee or tea..
Israel is the only country in the world where bank robbers kiss the mezuzah as they leave with their loot.
Israel is one of the few countries in the world that truly likes and admires the United States.
Israel is the only country in the world that introduces applications of high-tech gadgets and devices, such as printers in banks that print out your statement on demand, years ahead of the United States and decades ahead of Europe .
Israel is the only country in the world where everyone on a flight gets to know one another before the plane lands. In many cases, they also get to know the pilot and all about his health or marital problems.
Israel is the only country in the world where no one has a foreign accent because everyone has a foreign accent.
Israel is the only country in the world where people cuss using dirty words in Russian, English or Arabic because Hebrew has never developed them.
Israel is the only country in the world where patients visiting physicians end up giving the doctor advice.
Israel is the only country in the world where everyone strikes up conversations while waiting in lines.
Israel is the only country in the world where people call an attach� case a “James Bond” and the “@” sign is called a “strudel”.
Israel is the only country in the world where there is the most mysterious and mystical calm ambience in the streets on Yom Kippur, which cannot be explained unless you have experienced it.
Sunsets in Jerusalem are gorgeous every evening.
Israel is the only country in the world where people read English, write Hebrew, and joke in Yiddish.
Friday, 25 February 2011
Friday, 18 February 2011
Shabbat Shalom letter from jerusalem
110218
18th February 2011
Shabbat shalom from Jerusalem!!!!
This has been a very busy news week so I will fill you in on the world news, the local news and then our journey home and the days since.
Our first paragraph is dedicated to the Palestinian Authority. Mr Abbas dissolved his parliament last week, dissolved and reinstated a new one without any elections – and without the media yelling "Democracy" at him! In addition Saeeb Erakat, chief negotiator with Israel, resigned his position after Wikileaks proved that he is far more pragmatic than his rhetoric suggests. Finally, despite the fact that Turkish Moslems massacred one and a half million Armenians, who then fled to Jerusalem where they found safe haven, Mr Abbas decided that the Armenian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem is Palestinian!! I have a feeling that he takes into account the many, many buildings in new Jerusalem owned by the Armenian Church as a good start on further ambitions! http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=208557
The media has said little of the massacre of Christians in the Sudan, prompting the division of that country into two- North and South – one Moslem and one Christian and other faiths. Many persecuted Sudanese fled on foot and faced a huge trek through Egypt to Israel, where they learned they could live in peace. Those who survived the trek were then heinously abused by the Bedouin of the Sinai to the almost silence of the foreign press. Egypt shot those who reached the border and now Israel must find a solution to the ever increasing numbers of refugees.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/16/world/16bedouin.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss
The Daily Mail, a British, middle class, tabloid newspaper has always been conservative with a small "c", pro-British, pro-Israel. The newspaper has often bewailed the loss of British standards with the ever growing demographic threat of Pakistani and other Moslem immigrants, This article proves their fears of a school, a Madrassa, one of many where corporal punishment is used regularly and anti-British sentiment the general leaning.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1356361/Shame-Britains-Muslim-schools-Secret-filming-shows-pupils-beaten.html
Lara Logan is an American journalist with ABC. Blonde, beautiful, clever she confidently stood among the jubilant crowd in Tahrir Square, Cairo; reporting the scene when she was surrounded by a group of men who taunted her and her crew, then grabbed her and separated her from her crew, sexually abusing and raping her, as they did so they screamed Jew Jew Jew before attacking her. The silence and lack of fury is inconceivable. http://www.nypost.com/p/news/international/cbs_reporter_cairo_nightmare_pXiUVvhwIDdCrbD95ybD5N
The Independent newspaper claims no responsibility for its blogs (!) This one goes far beyond the pale in its denigration of Israel. Please write in and respond.
http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2011/02/15/the-palestinian-non-authority/
Lt. General Benny Gantz is the 20th Chief of Staff of the IDF. He is the ultimate Jewish story – his Mother was one of the few survivors of the Bergen Belsen death camp, a survivor whose son grew up to be a fine soldier, defending his Jewish country which led ultimately to his becoming Chief of Staff. He is married and has four young Sabras (Israeli born), his children - surely the greatest revenge upon the lunacy of anti-Semitism of all. I met him last year when, as Deputy Chief of Staff, he gave a presentation to the Conf. of Presidents led by the wonderful Malcolm Hoenlein. We were deeply impressed by this highly personable gentleman and the obvious devotion shown by "his" soldiers. We wish him Mazal Tov and love from his people and success as the leader of his soldiers – our boys.
http://idfspokesperson.com/2011/02/14/lt-gen-benny-gantz-appointed-20th-idf-chief-of-the-general-staff/
I love this article. Kosher food can be gourmet, just like treif it simply depends on the chef!! I remember when Chef Shalom Tsadok brought a dozen world famous chefs to Jerusalem for the King David Feast; they cooked a totally kosher super duper gourmet meal of 12 courses (one per chef) and no one had difficulty!
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2011/0215/Orthodox-Israeli-chef-says-kosher-can-be-gourmet?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+feeds%2Fworld+%28Christian+Science+Monitor+%7C+World%29&utm_content=Google+Reader
So here we are, back in Jerusalem. Our last few days in Miami were fabulous, spending time with people we love, but I have to admit that as we climbed the Jerusalem hills my heart skipped a beat of joy!! We were collected from the airport by my daughter Rachel and amazingly the suitcases fitted in! We stopped to kiss the grandchildren in Modi'in and Givat Zev before heading for home. Walking in the front door I ran straight to raise the electric blinds to see our veranda, somewhat neglected and wind tousled, but the view, ah the view! The sun was setting and the pink light hit the white stones in the familiar glow that told me that the apartment would soon warm up and welcome our homecoming because Jerusalem lay before us. The first days flew by in a flurry of friends and tours of the Old City and new and even squeezing in a trip to Tel Aviv and another to Modi'in to see my girlfriends. We both spent time with the grandchildren who received most of their presents, about two suitcases were dedicated to them!!!!
And so to Shabbat. The apartments beneath me are producing familiar aromas of international delicacies; the shoppers are wending their weary way back home and the shopping malls closing; the buses roar their way up the hills to their weekend garage; the men sit in cafes at their parliaments, putting the world to rights and many women too. Newly washed tiled floors gleam and tables are set with white cloths to receive the families who come to eat the Friday night supper with their parents, aunts and uncles; each guest carrying a large pot of favourite dishes. Tonight, as always, we will go to Zvi's amazing mother Ala, Headmistress Ala who touched the lives of so many young people, giving them purpose, confidence and a complete education. She doesn't cook any more, I do, at 97 she is entitled to be served, and we will be joined by Zvi's boys and grand-daughters – four generations around a tiny table. Zvi will sing the Kiddush (blessing over wine) in his mellifluous bass baritone and his Mother will look at him with adoration knowing that he absorbed his Jewishness from her home with the wonderful Kalman, as Zvi's boys and little grand-daughters do from his.
Jerusalem, heart of our hearts, centre of our world. Each and every day I thank G-d for letting me live here.
Shabbat Shalom dear friends, Shabbat Shalom and much love
Sheila
18th February 2011
Shabbat shalom from Jerusalem!!!!
This has been a very busy news week so I will fill you in on the world news, the local news and then our journey home and the days since.
Our first paragraph is dedicated to the Palestinian Authority. Mr Abbas dissolved his parliament last week, dissolved and reinstated a new one without any elections – and without the media yelling "Democracy" at him! In addition Saeeb Erakat, chief negotiator with Israel, resigned his position after Wikileaks proved that he is far more pragmatic than his rhetoric suggests. Finally, despite the fact that Turkish Moslems massacred one and a half million Armenians, who then fled to Jerusalem where they found safe haven, Mr Abbas decided that the Armenian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem is Palestinian!! I have a feeling that he takes into account the many, many buildings in new Jerusalem owned by the Armenian Church as a good start on further ambitions! http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=208557
The media has said little of the massacre of Christians in the Sudan, prompting the division of that country into two- North and South – one Moslem and one Christian and other faiths. Many persecuted Sudanese fled on foot and faced a huge trek through Egypt to Israel, where they learned they could live in peace. Those who survived the trek were then heinously abused by the Bedouin of the Sinai to the almost silence of the foreign press. Egypt shot those who reached the border and now Israel must find a solution to the ever increasing numbers of refugees.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/16/world/16bedouin.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss
The Daily Mail, a British, middle class, tabloid newspaper has always been conservative with a small "c", pro-British, pro-Israel. The newspaper has often bewailed the loss of British standards with the ever growing demographic threat of Pakistani and other Moslem immigrants, This article proves their fears of a school, a Madrassa, one of many where corporal punishment is used regularly and anti-British sentiment the general leaning.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1356361/Shame-Britains-Muslim-schools-Secret-filming-shows-pupils-beaten.html
Lara Logan is an American journalist with ABC. Blonde, beautiful, clever she confidently stood among the jubilant crowd in Tahrir Square, Cairo; reporting the scene when she was surrounded by a group of men who taunted her and her crew, then grabbed her and separated her from her crew, sexually abusing and raping her, as they did so they screamed Jew Jew Jew before attacking her. The silence and lack of fury is inconceivable. http://www.nypost.com/p/news/international/cbs_reporter_cairo_nightmare_pXiUVvhwIDdCrbD95ybD5N
The Independent newspaper claims no responsibility for its blogs (!) This one goes far beyond the pale in its denigration of Israel. Please write in and respond.
http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2011/02/15/the-palestinian-non-authority/
Lt. General Benny Gantz is the 20th Chief of Staff of the IDF. He is the ultimate Jewish story – his Mother was one of the few survivors of the Bergen Belsen death camp, a survivor whose son grew up to be a fine soldier, defending his Jewish country which led ultimately to his becoming Chief of Staff. He is married and has four young Sabras (Israeli born), his children - surely the greatest revenge upon the lunacy of anti-Semitism of all. I met him last year when, as Deputy Chief of Staff, he gave a presentation to the Conf. of Presidents led by the wonderful Malcolm Hoenlein. We were deeply impressed by this highly personable gentleman and the obvious devotion shown by "his" soldiers. We wish him Mazal Tov and love from his people and success as the leader of his soldiers – our boys.
http://idfspokesperson.com/2011/02/14/lt-gen-benny-gantz-appointed-20th-idf-chief-of-the-general-staff/
I love this article. Kosher food can be gourmet, just like treif it simply depends on the chef!! I remember when Chef Shalom Tsadok brought a dozen world famous chefs to Jerusalem for the King David Feast; they cooked a totally kosher super duper gourmet meal of 12 courses (one per chef) and no one had difficulty!
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2011/0215/Orthodox-Israeli-chef-says-kosher-can-be-gourmet?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+feeds%2Fworld+%28Christian+Science+Monitor+%7C+World%29&utm_content=Google+Reader
So here we are, back in Jerusalem. Our last few days in Miami were fabulous, spending time with people we love, but I have to admit that as we climbed the Jerusalem hills my heart skipped a beat of joy!! We were collected from the airport by my daughter Rachel and amazingly the suitcases fitted in! We stopped to kiss the grandchildren in Modi'in and Givat Zev before heading for home. Walking in the front door I ran straight to raise the electric blinds to see our veranda, somewhat neglected and wind tousled, but the view, ah the view! The sun was setting and the pink light hit the white stones in the familiar glow that told me that the apartment would soon warm up and welcome our homecoming because Jerusalem lay before us. The first days flew by in a flurry of friends and tours of the Old City and new and even squeezing in a trip to Tel Aviv and another to Modi'in to see my girlfriends. We both spent time with the grandchildren who received most of their presents, about two suitcases were dedicated to them!!!!
And so to Shabbat. The apartments beneath me are producing familiar aromas of international delicacies; the shoppers are wending their weary way back home and the shopping malls closing; the buses roar their way up the hills to their weekend garage; the men sit in cafes at their parliaments, putting the world to rights and many women too. Newly washed tiled floors gleam and tables are set with white cloths to receive the families who come to eat the Friday night supper with their parents, aunts and uncles; each guest carrying a large pot of favourite dishes. Tonight, as always, we will go to Zvi's amazing mother Ala, Headmistress Ala who touched the lives of so many young people, giving them purpose, confidence and a complete education. She doesn't cook any more, I do, at 97 she is entitled to be served, and we will be joined by Zvi's boys and grand-daughters – four generations around a tiny table. Zvi will sing the Kiddush (blessing over wine) in his mellifluous bass baritone and his Mother will look at him with adoration knowing that he absorbed his Jewishness from her home with the wonderful Kalman, as Zvi's boys and little grand-daughters do from his.
Jerusalem, heart of our hearts, centre of our world. Each and every day I thank G-d for letting me live here.
Shabbat Shalom dear friends, Shabbat Shalom and much love
Sheila
Thursday, 10 February 2011
Shabbat Shalom letter from Jerusalem
110210
10th February 2011
Shabbat Shalom from Florida!
We are nearing the end of our Floridian sojourn and it has been phenomenal. We saw many old friends and made a new ones and life is good.
Betrayal seems to be the name of the political and diplomatic game as the USA turns on those who have been their staunchest allies in the Middle East. Hosni Mubarak is not an angel but he is so much better than any alternative. The demands for democracy from the streets do not always tell the whole truth. Mubarak fought hard and long to outlaw the mutilation of female genitalia when 96% of Egyptian women have been circumcised; he fought to prevent the killing of Egypts Coptic Christians in the name of Islam and most importantly he is a friend of the United States. Saudi Arabia tried to warn President Obama of the dangers of betraying Mubarak since they recognise the meaning of humiliation in the Arab world http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/02/09/source-saudis-tell-obama-humiliate-mubarak/ The level of betrayal means that rather than relying on their Western allies moderate (?) ME leaders turn their heads toward an alliance with Iran. King Abdullah of Jordan, conceivably our greatest ally, did so because he thought “If they betray Mubarak , Ben Ali (Tunisia) and Hariri (Lebanon) they will betray me” Rafik Hariri of Lebanon begged for support against Hezb-Allah, did not find it and found himself talking with Iran, the very leaders who had his father killed and now Hezb-Allah has control of the parliament because Walid Jumblat, the Druze leader who hold the balance in the Christian, Moslem, Druze parliament, understood which way the wind blows. The idiocy of the reportage likened Tahir Square to Woodstock.... are they insane? http://www.enquirerherald.com/2011/02/08/1445323/in-the-republic-of-tahrir-egypt.html I believe that Mubarak will remain leading Egypt for lack of a reasonable alternative. Isi Liebler has written an excellent analysis of the recent events in Egypt http://wordfromjerusalem.com/?p=2795
The only good to have come out of the Egytian protests is to give young Gazans the courage to demand release from the oppression of Hamas and “the bearded clerics” although since they dare not show their faces or be identified they use facebook to spread the word.
It is really hard to identify or quantify Jihadists, especially those not born to the Moslem Faith, but this guy was on a path that was so easy to recognise!!
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/nazi-buff-turned-jihadi-allegedly-bites-fbi-agents/story? id=12557232&tqkw=&tqshow=&nwltr=blotter_featureMore
“I told you so”, BENNY GANTZ is to be the new Israeli Commander in Chief. He is supremely suitable, very personable and an outstanding representative for Israel. Mazal Tov ! http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=207627
David Cameron, UK Prime Minster, and Angela Merkel, German Chancellor have come to the understanding that multi-culturalism does not work in its current form. Europe and the UK are tired of absorbing people who do not want to adapt to their parent society but rather to change that society to conform with the very countries they fled from. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/latest/2011/02/06/pm-rejects-multi-cultural-criticism-115875-22902285/
Alec Garrard has painstakingly worked for 30 years on an astonishing recreation of Herod's Temple. Fascinated by religion and buildings Alec built the model which measures 20ft by 12ft and is housed in a separate building in his garden. It is so impressive that some of the world's top archaeologists and experts come to view it. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1155962/Pensioner-spends-30-years-building-amazing-model-Herods-Temple---admits-wont-finish-it.html
Yet again the soldiers of the IDF show their deep humanity as they help a Palestinian woman who was giving birth, delivered then saved the life of her baby http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4025082,00.html
I am angry and frustrated by the happenings in Geneva this week. Our dear friend Yitzchak Lev has been working hard, between Jerusalem and Geneva, to create a Gala opening for the Swiss Fundraising Campaign of Keren Hayesod. President George W. Bush was following Bill Clinton and Al Gore among the high class speakers Yitzchak brought to the Swiss campaign over the years. The left wing demonstrated against George Bush's policies and the USA in general and the right wing against other US policies and both wanted him arrested for war crimes! The Swiss Government and police instead of moving the demonstrators further away from the convention hall where the President was to speak forced a situation whereby the guests would have to walk through the demonstrators creating an impossible security situation. Keren Hayesod was forced to cancel the Presidents visit, thus losing over $500,000 in fees and expenses, and the American Ambassador to Switzerland did nothing!!! This should not be a Democratic/Republican issue the- Ambassador should represent his former President and the Swiss should defend democracy! http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/02/05/2051949/bush-visit-to-geneva-canceled.html
This has been a week of friends. Since we last spoke we saw friends from Venezuela, Canada, Mexico, Cuba, Argentina and even America!!! Leila and Sheila, the Superbowl at the Haritons, Marna, Jo Ann, Jay and Lisa, David and Lauren, Kathy, Nora and Marcelo, Allen and Maida, Moises and Esther, this afternoon David, Barry and Guiora and more and more wonderful people we met through the family of Maccabi World Union and Keren Hayesod. We went to an outstanding concert at the New World Symphony in Miami with our phenomenal hosts Helene and Martin and were overjoyed to see picnickers on the lawns outside on a glorious balmy night, watching the broadcast concert for free. A most exciting advance this week was sitting with Jay and working on my proposed website. We have a name! “Shabbat Shalom News” and Jays help in setting it up and doing so much work for me has been invaluable. Real friendship is not to be taken for granted. Thanks to those who have offered to help me financially, you will get a permanent mention and thank you on the website!!
Time and again you tell me that you love the way I love Jerusalem. The golden/pink whiteness of the buildings to the walks through Mahane Yehuda, Mea Shearim, the Old City and Mamilla; the flaming red sunrise silhouetting the city before me and the sunset casting its pink glow on the Jerusalem stone; the rainbow of people and most importantly of all...............the view from my veranda.
Next week I promise to describe every special aspect of the places I love in the city that we love. People we see and the aromas of culture rising through our building on Friday as Shabbat meals are prepared in steamy kitchens; the gentle slowing down of Jerusalem as stores close, buses cease their strained roar as they climb the hills and the persistent hum of cars ends as Jerusalem falls into a gentle silence awaiting the Bride of Shabbat.
Helene and Martin do not like me to mention the fact that they are selfless and unbelievable hosts, so I won't!
Shabbat Shalom and much love from Zvi and I
Sheila
10th February 2011
Shabbat Shalom from Florida!
We are nearing the end of our Floridian sojourn and it has been phenomenal. We saw many old friends and made a new ones and life is good.
Betrayal seems to be the name of the political and diplomatic game as the USA turns on those who have been their staunchest allies in the Middle East. Hosni Mubarak is not an angel but he is so much better than any alternative. The demands for democracy from the streets do not always tell the whole truth. Mubarak fought hard and long to outlaw the mutilation of female genitalia when 96% of Egyptian women have been circumcised; he fought to prevent the killing of Egypts Coptic Christians in the name of Islam and most importantly he is a friend of the United States. Saudi Arabia tried to warn President Obama of the dangers of betraying Mubarak since they recognise the meaning of humiliation in the Arab world http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/02/09/source-saudis-tell-obama-humiliate-mubarak/ The level of betrayal means that rather than relying on their Western allies moderate (?) ME leaders turn their heads toward an alliance with Iran. King Abdullah of Jordan, conceivably our greatest ally, did so because he thought “If they betray Mubarak , Ben Ali (Tunisia) and Hariri (Lebanon) they will betray me” Rafik Hariri of Lebanon begged for support against Hezb-Allah, did not find it and found himself talking with Iran, the very leaders who had his father killed and now Hezb-Allah has control of the parliament because Walid Jumblat, the Druze leader who hold the balance in the Christian, Moslem, Druze parliament, understood which way the wind blows. The idiocy of the reportage likened Tahir Square to Woodstock.... are they insane? http://www.enquirerherald.com/2011/02/08/1445323/in-the-republic-of-tahrir-egypt.html I believe that Mubarak will remain leading Egypt for lack of a reasonable alternative. Isi Liebler has written an excellent analysis of the recent events in Egypt http://wordfromjerusalem.com/?p=2795
The only good to have come out of the Egytian protests is to give young Gazans the courage to demand release from the oppression of Hamas and “the bearded clerics” although since they dare not show their faces or be identified they use facebook to spread the word.
It is really hard to identify or quantify Jihadists, especially those not born to the Moslem Faith, but this guy was on a path that was so easy to recognise!!
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/nazi-buff-turned-jihadi-allegedly-bites-fbi-agents/story? id=12557232&tqkw=&tqshow=&nwltr=blotter_featureMore
“I told you so”, BENNY GANTZ is to be the new Israeli Commander in Chief. He is supremely suitable, very personable and an outstanding representative for Israel. Mazal Tov ! http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=207627
David Cameron, UK Prime Minster, and Angela Merkel, German Chancellor have come to the understanding that multi-culturalism does not work in its current form. Europe and the UK are tired of absorbing people who do not want to adapt to their parent society but rather to change that society to conform with the very countries they fled from. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/latest/2011/02/06/pm-rejects-multi-cultural-criticism-115875-22902285/
Alec Garrard has painstakingly worked for 30 years on an astonishing recreation of Herod's Temple. Fascinated by religion and buildings Alec built the model which measures 20ft by 12ft and is housed in a separate building in his garden. It is so impressive that some of the world's top archaeologists and experts come to view it. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1155962/Pensioner-spends-30-years-building-amazing-model-Herods-Temple---admits-wont-finish-it.html
Yet again the soldiers of the IDF show their deep humanity as they help a Palestinian woman who was giving birth, delivered then saved the life of her baby http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4025082,00.html
I am angry and frustrated by the happenings in Geneva this week. Our dear friend Yitzchak Lev has been working hard, between Jerusalem and Geneva, to create a Gala opening for the Swiss Fundraising Campaign of Keren Hayesod. President George W. Bush was following Bill Clinton and Al Gore among the high class speakers Yitzchak brought to the Swiss campaign over the years. The left wing demonstrated against George Bush's policies and the USA in general and the right wing against other US policies and both wanted him arrested for war crimes! The Swiss Government and police instead of moving the demonstrators further away from the convention hall where the President was to speak forced a situation whereby the guests would have to walk through the demonstrators creating an impossible security situation. Keren Hayesod was forced to cancel the Presidents visit, thus losing over $500,000 in fees and expenses, and the American Ambassador to Switzerland did nothing!!! This should not be a Democratic/Republican issue the- Ambassador should represent his former President and the Swiss should defend democracy! http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/02/05/2051949/bush-visit-to-geneva-canceled.html
This has been a week of friends. Since we last spoke we saw friends from Venezuela, Canada, Mexico, Cuba, Argentina and even America!!! Leila and Sheila, the Superbowl at the Haritons, Marna, Jo Ann, Jay and Lisa, David and Lauren, Kathy, Nora and Marcelo, Allen and Maida, Moises and Esther, this afternoon David, Barry and Guiora and more and more wonderful people we met through the family of Maccabi World Union and Keren Hayesod. We went to an outstanding concert at the New World Symphony in Miami with our phenomenal hosts Helene and Martin and were overjoyed to see picnickers on the lawns outside on a glorious balmy night, watching the broadcast concert for free. A most exciting advance this week was sitting with Jay and working on my proposed website. We have a name! “Shabbat Shalom News” and Jays help in setting it up and doing so much work for me has been invaluable. Real friendship is not to be taken for granted. Thanks to those who have offered to help me financially, you will get a permanent mention and thank you on the website!!
Time and again you tell me that you love the way I love Jerusalem. The golden/pink whiteness of the buildings to the walks through Mahane Yehuda, Mea Shearim, the Old City and Mamilla; the flaming red sunrise silhouetting the city before me and the sunset casting its pink glow on the Jerusalem stone; the rainbow of people and most importantly of all...............the view from my veranda.
Next week I promise to describe every special aspect of the places I love in the city that we love. People we see and the aromas of culture rising through our building on Friday as Shabbat meals are prepared in steamy kitchens; the gentle slowing down of Jerusalem as stores close, buses cease their strained roar as they climb the hills and the persistent hum of cars ends as Jerusalem falls into a gentle silence awaiting the Bride of Shabbat.
Helene and Martin do not like me to mention the fact that they are selfless and unbelievable hosts, so I won't!
Shabbat Shalom and much love from Zvi and I
Sheila
Friday, 4 February 2011
Shabbat Shalom letter from Jerusalem
110203
3rd February 2011
Shabbat Shalom, happy Chinese Year of the Rabbit and enjoy the Superbowl!!!
I am frustrated!! I don't know how you manage with the biased and fallacious news broadcasts that you have to suffer! Yes I am still in the wonderfully relaxing atmosphere of Florida but gosh it is ridiculous – do the networks thinks we are idiots? Let me give you a few examples.
”Mubaraks mobs are now attacking the freedom demonstrators” and “The Government sponsored attackers were throwing grenades and molotov cocktails at the peoples demonstration” or “Mubarak is still trying to control the people through his thugs” No information is given about El Baradei's links to Iran or the Moslem Brotherhood despite considerable proof (Dr Malcolm Hoenlein, hardly quick to judgement writes http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspxID=206048&R=R1&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter ) ,
nor do they speak of the clear links of those who back the “People Revolution” to Al Quaeeda, the MB and Iran http://www.memrijttm.org/content/en/report.htm?report=4969¶m=GJN.
Those behind the revolution are the very people who would see the downfall of the West! Of course Mubarak was not a nice man, he was a despot, benign only in the sense that he tried to keep his country free of oppressive Islam and close to the West. Dictators are not democratic yet some are capable of ensuring more freedom by eradicating the evil-doers without the consent of the people. Democratic elections do not ensure democracy.
According to PBS news the mobs in Egypt were told that the journalists were Israeli spies thus initiating the violence against them! I cannot find proof but it is feasible.
Day of Rage in Egypt was a network revolution and subsequent demonstrations were carefully planned and the call was for similar explosive demonstrations throughout the entire Arab world using the power of Twitter, Facebook and similar social networks. http://m.memri.org/14499/show/23ccbc11b6506a87770f19b5a277b55a&t=20320d97cb30b6845cb6422bedb5dfbe
This vlog was recorded on January 18th by Asma Mahfouz, the girl who started it all, shared her video on Facebook, and went viral. It was so powerful and popular, that Egyptians swarmed by the thousands into Tahrir Square causing the Egyptian government blocked Facebook to stem the danger
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgjIgMdsEuk
Sean Hannity of Fox News interviewed Imam Anjem Choudary, a London Moslem Cleric, concerning the MB and their involvedment in the Egyptian riots. He got much more than he expected – a lesson in Sharia Law! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANG9s5EoAnQ
As I write a demonstration is taking place and growing in “la-la land” in Sanborn Square, Boca Raton Florida, in support of the people of Egypt and the demonstration. Ahmed Al- Awaadi has been in the States for 10 years but wihes he was back in Egypt. Dressed in shorts and T-shirts they do not understand that what they believe to be “freedom” for Egypt would in fact deny those people the right to wear such clothes as unfitting or un-chaste.
In the melee surrounding the Egyptian events few bothered to report the increased number of rocket attacks on Southern Israel. - except the much maligned Egyptian Army. A Grad Rocket (not the smaller Kassam) narrowly missed a wedding celebration (CCTV) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkQxhwlIhKY
Australia and Canada understand the situation far better than older democracies.
Last week, Canada’s Free Thinking Film Society was scheduled to screen Iranium, a new documentary about the regime that has ruled Iran since 1979, its drive to acquire nuclear weapons, and the dangers that poses to the West. But then the Iranian embassy complained and — coincidently — threats and “suspicious letters” were received at the National Archives in Ottawa, where the event was to take place, the Archives cancelled the screening and shut the building. However Minister of Heritage James Moore delivered a Churchillian response.“This movie will be shown, the agreement will be kept,” he said. “We will not be moving it to a different facility, we’re not bending to any pressure. People need to be kept safe, but we don’t back down to people who try to censor people by threats of violence. Canada does not accept attempts from the Iranian Embassy to dictate what films will and will not be shown in Canada.” AGAIN BRAVO CANADA!!!
Of all the people in power that our work has enabled us to meet, one who stands out above them all. Congresswoman Ileana Ros Lehtinen is an exceptional woman and I am proud to say that she and Dexter are dear friends. Loved and admired by politicians on both sides of the Congress and Senate as an honest broker who is loyal to her beliefs and honest in her dealings, she has gathered respect and believability in a world almost devoid of both. This week I went to a memorial service for Ileanas mother Amanda Ros, together with Adv. David Efron and State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle. The service was exceptional on every level, held in a non-denominational church in the “Little Cuba” area of Miami, attended only by friends of the family. The clergy were Catholic, Methodist, Evangelical, a Rabbi and the Israeli Consul General in Florida. Each spoke of Amanda's Jewish roots, she became a Catholic when she married Enrique, and the Jewishness of her heritage and her good works – and the love of Israel she imbued in her children. The hymns were mostly Davids psalms and when the priest gave the final blessing he turned to the assembled clergy and the family and said “When a person passes on it is irrelevant what faith they embraced because a good person will be welcomed by the angels” May Amanda's soul rest in peace and the Ros-Lehtinen family know now more sorrow.
Marna Winter is a friend. In truth we have been friends for far longer than either of us realised but that is another story!! Marna and I went to a delightful open air mall the other night, and after walking around the grounds (OK and the shops) we sat and talked of “Cabbages and Kings”. I noted that most of the staff and the diners were immigrants – the harmony of a hundred languages is apparently common to most countries today
The Chilean miners are coming!!!! At the invitation of Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov, 31 of the 33 miners, their spouses, the Regional Governor of Atacama and Chilean journalists will come to Israel in a Pilgrimage of Thanks on the 23rd February. They will visit sites holy to Christianity, and some of Israel's leading tourism locations. including the Via Dolorosa, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Garden of Gethsemane, Room of the Last Supper, the Western Wall and King David's Tomb. They will be welcomed by President Shimon Peres for an official welcome reception in his residence. I will be there and take Zvi with me as my translator!
Yesterday I received some exciting news. Danny Seaman was the controversial Director of the Foreign Press Office of the Government Press Office in Israel. Why controversial? Because Danny is no-nonsense, doesn't suffer fools and wanted certain standards from the foreign Press who walked all over us. Danny was ousted from his position and yesterday wrote telling me he has won the position of Deputy Director General for Information at the Ministry of Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs. Basically, he will be in charge of the Ministry's Hasbara activities, and hopefully, over time, will be able to influence things to a degree that Israel's hasbara won't be "a joke" as Melanie Phillips stated so profoundly on Israel television recently! The irony is that he will be responsible for... the GPO! MAZAL TOV DANNY. Israel is lucky to have your love of Israel and ability.
Wishing you all a Shabbat Shalom and take heart our sense of humour and self-mockery will hold us in good stead – there is a great joke going around
“PLEASE DON'T DAMAGE THE PYRAMIDS BECAUSE WE ARE NOT COMING BACK FOR REPAIRS”!!!!
With much love from the warm love of our gracious hosts and their friends and our friends.... some of whom we have seen some are yet to see during the week.......
Love
Sheila
3rd February 2011
Shabbat Shalom, happy Chinese Year of the Rabbit and enjoy the Superbowl!!!
I am frustrated!! I don't know how you manage with the biased and fallacious news broadcasts that you have to suffer! Yes I am still in the wonderfully relaxing atmosphere of Florida but gosh it is ridiculous – do the networks thinks we are idiots? Let me give you a few examples.
”Mubaraks mobs are now attacking the freedom demonstrators” and “The Government sponsored attackers were throwing grenades and molotov cocktails at the peoples demonstration” or “Mubarak is still trying to control the people through his thugs” No information is given about El Baradei's links to Iran or the Moslem Brotherhood despite considerable proof (Dr Malcolm Hoenlein, hardly quick to judgement writes http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspxID=206048&R=R1&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter ) ,
nor do they speak of the clear links of those who back the “People Revolution” to Al Quaeeda, the MB and Iran http://www.memrijttm.org/content/en/report.htm?report=4969¶m=GJN.
Those behind the revolution are the very people who would see the downfall of the West! Of course Mubarak was not a nice man, he was a despot, benign only in the sense that he tried to keep his country free of oppressive Islam and close to the West. Dictators are not democratic yet some are capable of ensuring more freedom by eradicating the evil-doers without the consent of the people. Democratic elections do not ensure democracy.
According to PBS news the mobs in Egypt were told that the journalists were Israeli spies thus initiating the violence against them! I cannot find proof but it is feasible.
Day of Rage in Egypt was a network revolution and subsequent demonstrations were carefully planned and the call was for similar explosive demonstrations throughout the entire Arab world using the power of Twitter, Facebook and similar social networks. http://m.memri.org/14499/show/23ccbc11b6506a87770f19b5a277b55a&t=20320d97cb30b6845cb6422bedb5dfbe
This vlog was recorded on January 18th by Asma Mahfouz, the girl who started it all, shared her video on Facebook, and went viral. It was so powerful and popular, that Egyptians swarmed by the thousands into Tahrir Square causing the Egyptian government blocked Facebook to stem the danger
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgjIgMdsEuk
Sean Hannity of Fox News interviewed Imam Anjem Choudary, a London Moslem Cleric, concerning the MB and their involvedment in the Egyptian riots. He got much more than he expected – a lesson in Sharia Law! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANG9s5EoAnQ
As I write a demonstration is taking place and growing in “la-la land” in Sanborn Square, Boca Raton Florida, in support of the people of Egypt and the demonstration. Ahmed Al- Awaadi has been in the States for 10 years but wihes he was back in Egypt. Dressed in shorts and T-shirts they do not understand that what they believe to be “freedom” for Egypt would in fact deny those people the right to wear such clothes as unfitting or un-chaste.
In the melee surrounding the Egyptian events few bothered to report the increased number of rocket attacks on Southern Israel. - except the much maligned Egyptian Army. A Grad Rocket (not the smaller Kassam) narrowly missed a wedding celebration (CCTV) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkQxhwlIhKY
Australia and Canada understand the situation far better than older democracies.
Last week, Canada’s Free Thinking Film Society was scheduled to screen Iranium, a new documentary about the regime that has ruled Iran since 1979, its drive to acquire nuclear weapons, and the dangers that poses to the West. But then the Iranian embassy complained and — coincidently — threats and “suspicious letters” were received at the National Archives in Ottawa, where the event was to take place, the Archives cancelled the screening and shut the building. However Minister of Heritage James Moore delivered a Churchillian response.“This movie will be shown, the agreement will be kept,” he said. “We will not be moving it to a different facility, we’re not bending to any pressure. People need to be kept safe, but we don’t back down to people who try to censor people by threats of violence. Canada does not accept attempts from the Iranian Embassy to dictate what films will and will not be shown in Canada.” AGAIN BRAVO CANADA!!!
Of all the people in power that our work has enabled us to meet, one who stands out above them all. Congresswoman Ileana Ros Lehtinen is an exceptional woman and I am proud to say that she and Dexter are dear friends. Loved and admired by politicians on both sides of the Congress and Senate as an honest broker who is loyal to her beliefs and honest in her dealings, she has gathered respect and believability in a world almost devoid of both. This week I went to a memorial service for Ileanas mother Amanda Ros, together with Adv. David Efron and State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle. The service was exceptional on every level, held in a non-denominational church in the “Little Cuba” area of Miami, attended only by friends of the family. The clergy were Catholic, Methodist, Evangelical, a Rabbi and the Israeli Consul General in Florida. Each spoke of Amanda's Jewish roots, she became a Catholic when she married Enrique, and the Jewishness of her heritage and her good works – and the love of Israel she imbued in her children. The hymns were mostly Davids psalms and when the priest gave the final blessing he turned to the assembled clergy and the family and said “When a person passes on it is irrelevant what faith they embraced because a good person will be welcomed by the angels” May Amanda's soul rest in peace and the Ros-Lehtinen family know now more sorrow.
Marna Winter is a friend. In truth we have been friends for far longer than either of us realised but that is another story!! Marna and I went to a delightful open air mall the other night, and after walking around the grounds (OK and the shops) we sat and talked of “Cabbages and Kings”. I noted that most of the staff and the diners were immigrants – the harmony of a hundred languages is apparently common to most countries today
The Chilean miners are coming!!!! At the invitation of Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov, 31 of the 33 miners, their spouses, the Regional Governor of Atacama and Chilean journalists will come to Israel in a Pilgrimage of Thanks on the 23rd February. They will visit sites holy to Christianity, and some of Israel's leading tourism locations. including the Via Dolorosa, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Garden of Gethsemane, Room of the Last Supper, the Western Wall and King David's Tomb. They will be welcomed by President Shimon Peres for an official welcome reception in his residence. I will be there and take Zvi with me as my translator!
Yesterday I received some exciting news. Danny Seaman was the controversial Director of the Foreign Press Office of the Government Press Office in Israel. Why controversial? Because Danny is no-nonsense, doesn't suffer fools and wanted certain standards from the foreign Press who walked all over us. Danny was ousted from his position and yesterday wrote telling me he has won the position of Deputy Director General for Information at the Ministry of Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs. Basically, he will be in charge of the Ministry's Hasbara activities, and hopefully, over time, will be able to influence things to a degree that Israel's hasbara won't be "a joke" as Melanie Phillips stated so profoundly on Israel television recently! The irony is that he will be responsible for... the GPO! MAZAL TOV DANNY. Israel is lucky to have your love of Israel and ability.
Wishing you all a Shabbat Shalom and take heart our sense of humour and self-mockery will hold us in good stead – there is a great joke going around
“PLEASE DON'T DAMAGE THE PYRAMIDS BECAUSE WE ARE NOT COMING BACK FOR REPAIRS”!!!!
With much love from the warm love of our gracious hosts and their friends and our friends.... some of whom we have seen some are yet to see during the week.......
Love
Sheila
Sunday, 30 January 2011
Egypt's Revolution?
110129
Motse Shabbat 29th January 2011
Shevua Tov
I was asked an excellent question today. “What is more dangerous, an Arab dictatorship or an Arab democracy”? I believe the latter.
Jonathan Mann of CNN suggested that the situation in Egypt bears no resemblance to that of Iran during the reign of the Shah. “Egypt has an educated middle class and has known many years of freedom, even under Mubarak” and what does he think Iran was like during the time of the Shah? Iran was a dictatorship, and not necessarily a benign dictatorship, but it was not a religiously oppressive country either. Business and education thrived and relationships with the West ensured modernisation.
The greatest mistake the West makes is to assume that democracy ensures freedom; democracy cannot ensure freedom unless those elected into power honour the rights of all their subjects. Carter did it in Iran by removing the Shah (unquestionably a tyrant) and after student and popular rebellion he installed the Ayatollahs giving them the power and finances to wreak havoc in the West and control the Arab world. That mistake brought us Hezb-Allah , the demise of Christian Lebanon and Hamas, Islamic Jihad and, indeed Al Qaeeda.
We are faced with a popular revolution, with good cause, against the dictatorial regime of Hosni Mubarak. However if the West, led by the United States, does not enter the fray NOW we may see Egypt go the way of Iran. Diplomatic and economic support for Mubarak under the proviso that he hold elections within 6-8 months may just save the day. Promises of reform and extra financial aid to the poor to appease the middle class instigators could just defuse the situation. Mubarak is not a good man, but he is a leader who has kept his country from war, built a strong economy and held the fundamentalist threat at bay. Mubarak is a pragmatic leader; the tough broker for peace in the region, who growled “Chtom ya kalb” (sign you dog) when Arafat threatened to walk out of talks with Israel after days of negotiations; it is Mubarak who is acting as the go-between for the West to the Arab world.
If US influence is important and since the USA gives no less than $1.3 billion in aid to Egypt the situation presents a rare opportunity to demand protection for the Egyptian Christian community which has been decimated to the silence of the media and apathy of our leaders.
Changes have been made in government and Egypt’s former air force chief and minister for civil aviation, Ahmed Shafiq, has been designated the new prime minister by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and asked to form the next Cabinet, and Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman was appointed vice president, a position that has been vacant for the past 30 years
With 500,000 soldiers the army is very much part of Egyptian society, maybe one of the few elements which binds them; most families have someone in the Egyptian military. The police are patently absent from the crowd control situation, hated by the populace for their sheer everyday brutality.
Wisely Prime Minister Netanyahu has distanced himself and Israel from the Egyptian arena. The last thing we, or Mubarak, need is to make this about the Arab Israeli conflict.
May G-d protect them and us from extremists and death-wishers
Shevua Tov
Sheila
For those who like percentages and statistics
The Moslem Brotherhood is the strongest opposition bloc which presents greater problem since there is no charismatic leader to take over from Mubarak leaving these fundamental extremists waiting in the wings.
Recent polls of the Egyptian population suggest that-
30 % are pro Hezb-Allah
49 % are pro Hamas
20 % are pro al-Qaeeda.
82 % want stoning for those who commit adultery;
77 % want to see whipping and hands cut off for robbery or theft;
84 % favour the death penalty for any Moslem who changes his religion.
27 % support modernisation while 59 % want traditional or fundamental Islam:
That means that a popular revolution is unlikely to bring democracy -
Motse Shabbat 29th January 2011
Shevua Tov
I was asked an excellent question today. “What is more dangerous, an Arab dictatorship or an Arab democracy”? I believe the latter.
Jonathan Mann of CNN suggested that the situation in Egypt bears no resemblance to that of Iran during the reign of the Shah. “Egypt has an educated middle class and has known many years of freedom, even under Mubarak” and what does he think Iran was like during the time of the Shah? Iran was a dictatorship, and not necessarily a benign dictatorship, but it was not a religiously oppressive country either. Business and education thrived and relationships with the West ensured modernisation.
The greatest mistake the West makes is to assume that democracy ensures freedom; democracy cannot ensure freedom unless those elected into power honour the rights of all their subjects. Carter did it in Iran by removing the Shah (unquestionably a tyrant) and after student and popular rebellion he installed the Ayatollahs giving them the power and finances to wreak havoc in the West and control the Arab world. That mistake brought us Hezb-Allah , the demise of Christian Lebanon and Hamas, Islamic Jihad and, indeed Al Qaeeda.
We are faced with a popular revolution, with good cause, against the dictatorial regime of Hosni Mubarak. However if the West, led by the United States, does not enter the fray NOW we may see Egypt go the way of Iran. Diplomatic and economic support for Mubarak under the proviso that he hold elections within 6-8 months may just save the day. Promises of reform and extra financial aid to the poor to appease the middle class instigators could just defuse the situation. Mubarak is not a good man, but he is a leader who has kept his country from war, built a strong economy and held the fundamentalist threat at bay. Mubarak is a pragmatic leader; the tough broker for peace in the region, who growled “Chtom ya kalb” (sign you dog) when Arafat threatened to walk out of talks with Israel after days of negotiations; it is Mubarak who is acting as the go-between for the West to the Arab world.
If US influence is important and since the USA gives no less than $1.3 billion in aid to Egypt the situation presents a rare opportunity to demand protection for the Egyptian Christian community which has been decimated to the silence of the media and apathy of our leaders.
Changes have been made in government and Egypt’s former air force chief and minister for civil aviation, Ahmed Shafiq, has been designated the new prime minister by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and asked to form the next Cabinet, and Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman was appointed vice president, a position that has been vacant for the past 30 years
With 500,000 soldiers the army is very much part of Egyptian society, maybe one of the few elements which binds them; most families have someone in the Egyptian military. The police are patently absent from the crowd control situation, hated by the populace for their sheer everyday brutality.
Wisely Prime Minister Netanyahu has distanced himself and Israel from the Egyptian arena. The last thing we, or Mubarak, need is to make this about the Arab Israeli conflict.
May G-d protect them and us from extremists and death-wishers
Shevua Tov
Sheila
For those who like percentages and statistics
The Moslem Brotherhood is the strongest opposition bloc which presents greater problem since there is no charismatic leader to take over from Mubarak leaving these fundamental extremists waiting in the wings.
Recent polls of the Egyptian population suggest that-
30 % are pro Hezb-Allah
49 % are pro Hamas
20 % are pro al-Qaeeda.
82 % want stoning for those who commit adultery;
77 % want to see whipping and hands cut off for robbery or theft;
84 % favour the death penalty for any Moslem who changes his religion.
27 % support modernisation while 59 % want traditional or fundamental Islam:
That means that a popular revolution is unlikely to bring democracy -
Thursday, 27 January 2011
110127
27th February 2011
Today is International Holocaust Day, a day to remember, a day to mourn and a day to reinforce our determination that it will never happen again. No more sheep – today we are proud Lions of Judah! As Zvi and I walked around the Florida Holocaust Memorial we knew that Israel gave us the right to stand proud and tall and never let anyone herd us to our deaths again.
Shabbat Shalom - I hope you had a happy Australia Day.
BBC, CNN, The Independent etc are casting aspersions on the credibility of the Turkel Committee into the Mavi Marmara Affair. Proof again of blind bias and blind judgment.
The Turkel Committee, in addition to five Israeli members, includes two highly respected international observers, Lord David Trimble, Canada’s former military prosecutor Brig-Gen. (ret.) Ken Watkin, both of whom endorsed the findings. Consultations were also held with prominent experts in the field of international law, Prof. Dr. Wolff Heintschel von Heinegg of Viadrina European University in Germany, and Prof. Michael Schmitt of Durham University in the United Kingdom, who agreed with the legal conclusions of the report. Also present as an advisor was Prof. Ruth Lapidot, recipient of the Israel Prize for international law.
http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Editorials/Article.aspx?id=205070&newsletter=250111&utm_source=Pulseem&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Copy_of_Jpost_Newsletter_25/01
The Report http://www.turkel-committee.gov.il/content-107.html
The MFA Report http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/About+the+Ministry/Behind+the+Headlines/Flotilla_operation_Israel_policies_Gaza_23-Jan-2011.htm
Israeli nurses, doctors and teams are still in Haiti, trying to rebuild that stricken country. To former Premier Baby Doc it was simply a bank account which he used for luxuries rather than feeding his people or building sustainable housing for them – just like Gaza but worse, much worse. http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/01/25/2034335/for-haiti-no-payback-after-duvaliers.html
Rebellion hit the streets in Egypt demanding freedom from Mubarak's oppressive regime http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=205197
Russia, reeling from the horrific homicide bombing at Moscow airport, say they should learn from Israel about airport security http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4018421,00.html
Crisis in Lebanon with a Hezb-Allah PM http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=205146
Wailing over the Palestine Papers – Prof. Benny Morris http://nationalinterest.org/commentary/the-wailing-over-the-palestine-papers-4766
Canon Andrew White's deep belief in G-d enables him to tread where lesser man fear. He called a conference in Copenhagen, far far from Baghdad, including Moslem and Christian leaders to find a way out of the carnage of Christians in Baghdad. Through talking together a new Fatwa has been called to stop the killing of Christians in Iraq. So far so good. Here is the document and agreement resulting from the conference http://www.frrme.org/latest-news
Richard Quest, the highly knowledgeable and deeply irritating CNN Economic Correspondent calls Israel “The Little Engine that Could”, the only burgeoning economy in a sea of failed endeavours in this lighthearted yet serious look at the Israeli economy, speculation and housing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPEFfPmcGe4
The Israeli Antiquities Authority completed excavations of a tunnel, a drainage canal dating back to the time of the Second Temple, 700 meters long connecting the City of David in Silwan to the Archaeological Park and Davidson Center in Jerusalem, near the Western Wall. The canal, probably Herodian, passes underneath a main road and underneath Arab homes and has elicited cries of protest claiming the excavations are a political statement. The innate problem is the fear that any historic dig will back the fact that we were here first. It is irrelevant of course since we believe there is room for everyone, but for those who MUST be right everything is political! http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4019130,00.html
Winston Churchill said that he would be viewed generously by history; “How do you know” he was asked - “History will be kind to me for I intend to write it. ” was the response! Paul and Flory Hariton took us to see the show Lansky with Flory's brother Martin. The monologue, performed by Mike Burstyn, unfolds brilliantly presenting Meir Lansky as a businessman, an American patriot and a good Jew who saved Israel's skin by “diverting” armaments bound for the Arabs to Israel and was deeply pained by Israels refusal to give him citizenship. http://forward.com/articles/103219/
“The King's Speech” has 12 Oscar nominations. The story of a painfully shy man with a severe stammer who is thrust by default, from the secure shadows of family country life to ruling a country at war. As King George 6th he never left war-torn London and as bombs fell like rain he and the Queen walked the streets talking to his people; his daughters, the Princesses drove ambulances, worked in factories and tilled the land while the men were at war. Eloquence does not prove leadership, example does. http://hubpages.com/hub/World-War-2-The-Home-Front-The-Changing-Role-of-Women
I am proud to call Tim King friend. Tim and Martha King are exceptional people who raised an exceptional daughter. Anna had a blossoming modelling career which she chose to place on hold to go into the IDF. The difference is that Anna, like her parents, is Christian. Tim, one of the Founders of the International Christian Embassy of Jerusalem imbued a love of Israel in his beautiful daughter. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4019248,00.html
The Jewish Museum of Florida is a surprise and a delight. http://www.jewishmuseum.com/ Situated in South Beach it encapsulates the Jewish presence in Florida over the last 200 plus years. Miami is a shoppers paradise, mall after mall after mall but the Aventura Mall is exceptional, the sheer immensity is mind-boggling. We met with Jacobo and Miri Eisen which was delightful as always.
The first half of our Miami stay was enhanced by David and Lauren Efron and Kathy Fernandez Rundell as David opened his home and his heart to us – despite arguments over the effectiveness of Obama and the (assumed) ineffectiveness of Bush – guess who was on which side!! Lauren is excitedly preparing herself to make Aliya in the summer – we are right with you Lauren!!!!
The other day we stopped for petrol and for some reason our credit card didn't work in the self-service machine.
Inside the gas station sat Jesus, a Hispanic immigrant.
“Can I see your ID” asked Jesus
“Of course” said Zvi “but it is Israeli not American”
“Wonderful “ responded Jesus “my son is very involved in AIPAC and I am so proud of him”
ERGO Jesus loves Israel!!!
Rain glorious rain. Ah that we could have even a tiny proportion of the life-giving essence which falls daily from the skies over Miami!! Incredible plants grow like wildfire in the garden at the Lindenfelds. I wonder at the grace and complexity of the Banyan trees, their evolution reminding me of the Jewish people who sometimes forget our past but those tenuous links, like the feathery air roots, reach out, become strong branches and and finally large supportive trunks ensuring our Jewishness and our continuity. So desperately important on this International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Mazal Tov to my nephew Paul and my niece Carly for finding their perfect matches and Refu'ah Shlema to my nephew Steve.... get stronger by the minute darling – you have to dance at your daughters wedding!
Shabbat Shalom from Florida, where my heart is still in Jerusalem.
Sheila
27th February 2011
Today is International Holocaust Day, a day to remember, a day to mourn and a day to reinforce our determination that it will never happen again. No more sheep – today we are proud Lions of Judah! As Zvi and I walked around the Florida Holocaust Memorial we knew that Israel gave us the right to stand proud and tall and never let anyone herd us to our deaths again.
Shabbat Shalom - I hope you had a happy Australia Day.
BBC, CNN, The Independent etc are casting aspersions on the credibility of the Turkel Committee into the Mavi Marmara Affair. Proof again of blind bias and blind judgment.
The Turkel Committee, in addition to five Israeli members, includes two highly respected international observers, Lord David Trimble, Canada’s former military prosecutor Brig-Gen. (ret.) Ken Watkin, both of whom endorsed the findings. Consultations were also held with prominent experts in the field of international law, Prof. Dr. Wolff Heintschel von Heinegg of Viadrina European University in Germany, and Prof. Michael Schmitt of Durham University in the United Kingdom, who agreed with the legal conclusions of the report. Also present as an advisor was Prof. Ruth Lapidot, recipient of the Israel Prize for international law.
http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Editorials/Article.aspx?id=205070&newsletter=250111&utm_source=Pulseem&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Copy_of_Jpost_Newsletter_25/01
The Report http://www.turkel-committee.gov.il/content-107.html
The MFA Report http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/About+the+Ministry/Behind+the+Headlines/Flotilla_operation_Israel_policies_Gaza_23-Jan-2011.htm
Israeli nurses, doctors and teams are still in Haiti, trying to rebuild that stricken country. To former Premier Baby Doc it was simply a bank account which he used for luxuries rather than feeding his people or building sustainable housing for them – just like Gaza but worse, much worse. http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/01/25/2034335/for-haiti-no-payback-after-duvaliers.html
Rebellion hit the streets in Egypt demanding freedom from Mubarak's oppressive regime http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=205197
Russia, reeling from the horrific homicide bombing at Moscow airport, say they should learn from Israel about airport security http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4018421,00.html
Crisis in Lebanon with a Hezb-Allah PM http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=205146
Wailing over the Palestine Papers – Prof. Benny Morris http://nationalinterest.org/commentary/the-wailing-over-the-palestine-papers-4766
Canon Andrew White's deep belief in G-d enables him to tread where lesser man fear. He called a conference in Copenhagen, far far from Baghdad, including Moslem and Christian leaders to find a way out of the carnage of Christians in Baghdad. Through talking together a new Fatwa has been called to stop the killing of Christians in Iraq. So far so good. Here is the document and agreement resulting from the conference http://www.frrme.org/latest-news
Richard Quest, the highly knowledgeable and deeply irritating CNN Economic Correspondent calls Israel “The Little Engine that Could”, the only burgeoning economy in a sea of failed endeavours in this lighthearted yet serious look at the Israeli economy, speculation and housing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPEFfPmcGe4
The Israeli Antiquities Authority completed excavations of a tunnel, a drainage canal dating back to the time of the Second Temple, 700 meters long connecting the City of David in Silwan to the Archaeological Park and Davidson Center in Jerusalem, near the Western Wall. The canal, probably Herodian, passes underneath a main road and underneath Arab homes and has elicited cries of protest claiming the excavations are a political statement. The innate problem is the fear that any historic dig will back the fact that we were here first. It is irrelevant of course since we believe there is room for everyone, but for those who MUST be right everything is political! http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4019130,00.html
Winston Churchill said that he would be viewed generously by history; “How do you know” he was asked - “History will be kind to me for I intend to write it. ” was the response! Paul and Flory Hariton took us to see the show Lansky with Flory's brother Martin. The monologue, performed by Mike Burstyn, unfolds brilliantly presenting Meir Lansky as a businessman, an American patriot and a good Jew who saved Israel's skin by “diverting” armaments bound for the Arabs to Israel and was deeply pained by Israels refusal to give him citizenship. http://forward.com/articles/103219/
“The King's Speech” has 12 Oscar nominations. The story of a painfully shy man with a severe stammer who is thrust by default, from the secure shadows of family country life to ruling a country at war. As King George 6th he never left war-torn London and as bombs fell like rain he and the Queen walked the streets talking to his people; his daughters, the Princesses drove ambulances, worked in factories and tilled the land while the men were at war. Eloquence does not prove leadership, example does. http://hubpages.com/hub/World-War-2-The-Home-Front-The-Changing-Role-of-Women
I am proud to call Tim King friend. Tim and Martha King are exceptional people who raised an exceptional daughter. Anna had a blossoming modelling career which she chose to place on hold to go into the IDF. The difference is that Anna, like her parents, is Christian. Tim, one of the Founders of the International Christian Embassy of Jerusalem imbued a love of Israel in his beautiful daughter. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4019248,00.html
The Jewish Museum of Florida is a surprise and a delight. http://www.jewishmuseum.com/ Situated in South Beach it encapsulates the Jewish presence in Florida over the last 200 plus years. Miami is a shoppers paradise, mall after mall after mall but the Aventura Mall is exceptional, the sheer immensity is mind-boggling. We met with Jacobo and Miri Eisen which was delightful as always.
The first half of our Miami stay was enhanced by David and Lauren Efron and Kathy Fernandez Rundell as David opened his home and his heart to us – despite arguments over the effectiveness of Obama and the (assumed) ineffectiveness of Bush – guess who was on which side!! Lauren is excitedly preparing herself to make Aliya in the summer – we are right with you Lauren!!!!
The other day we stopped for petrol and for some reason our credit card didn't work in the self-service machine.
Inside the gas station sat Jesus, a Hispanic immigrant.
“Can I see your ID” asked Jesus
“Of course” said Zvi “but it is Israeli not American”
“Wonderful “ responded Jesus “my son is very involved in AIPAC and I am so proud of him”
ERGO Jesus loves Israel!!!
Rain glorious rain. Ah that we could have even a tiny proportion of the life-giving essence which falls daily from the skies over Miami!! Incredible plants grow like wildfire in the garden at the Lindenfelds. I wonder at the grace and complexity of the Banyan trees, their evolution reminding me of the Jewish people who sometimes forget our past but those tenuous links, like the feathery air roots, reach out, become strong branches and and finally large supportive trunks ensuring our Jewishness and our continuity. So desperately important on this International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Mazal Tov to my nephew Paul and my niece Carly for finding their perfect matches and Refu'ah Shlema to my nephew Steve.... get stronger by the minute darling – you have to dance at your daughters wedding!
Shabbat Shalom from Florida, where my heart is still in Jerusalem.
Sheila
Wednesday, 19 January 2011
Mid-week from Miami
110118
January 18th 2011
Shabbat Shalom doesn't fit and it is well past Shevua Tov so I will just say Mid-week from Miami!
Zvi is concerned because as soon as we left Israel too many things started to happen in our geographical neighborhood!! At least now I understand your perspective of searching for the truth on the situation! It would appear that the feet of clay of the Arab world are crumbling in full sight.
The Tunisian street finally rebelled against the dictatorial government raising fears in many other similar regimes in the Middle East that do not take note of popular opinion. Egypt, Iran and many others are uncomfortable with this precedent. http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/01/15/arab-league-appeals-calm-tunisia/
In Lebanon, Hezb-Allah denied all knowledge of the assassination of former Lebanese Premier Rafik Hariri. Recent findings not only implicate Hezb-Allah but that the assassination was at the direct initiation of Iran with complete co-operation of Syria and Syria's President Assad. Despite the clear proof Saad Hariri , son of the assassinated Rafik Hariri, refuses to believe that Syria was involved although the UN tribunal believes differently. Thus the inconsistencies of the Middle East continue through lies and disbelief. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4013827,00.html
Ahmedinejad isn't thrilled with the revelations in Lebanon and warns us that if we (the West) continue the sedition we will have our hands cut off. http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=204318
In Israel, Ehud Barak left the Labour Party, joined the Netanyahu Government and the Labour Party left the Government. In order to form a separate faction of any party in Israel one must achieve at least a third of the original faction, which Barak obtained, and the move must be approved by The Knesset House Committee. The new Party will be called Atzma'ut or Independence. The Netanyahu Government assured ,Atzma'ut, which includes the very effective Matan Vilna'i, for whom the position of Minister responsible for Homeland Security, has been created in the Cabinet. http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=204331
It almost certainly means the demise of the Labour Party whose divisions were greater than their loyalties and over recent years has consistently moved left, those remaining are almost certain to join with either Kadima or Meretz depending on their leanings.
Barak describes “Atzma'ut” as "centralist, Zionist and democratic." http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=203946
With thanks to our host David Efron, Zvi and I went to a SPME (Scholars for Peace in the Middle East http://spme.net/index.html ) Conference in Miami. Speakers included Prof. Alan Dershowitz, Prof. Irwin Cotler and Ambassador Michael Oren. All three are outstanding proponents of the Israeli cause, all very different. What really moved me was that when Professor Dershowitz stood to make his short speech he turned to Prof. Cotler and described him as his hero. You are not alone Prof Dershowitz – Irwin Cotler holds hero status for many of us, his quiet, unassuming manner has achieved enormous results. The essence of this conference was to encourage University Professors and lecturers, indeed all involved in putting forward a message, to stand up and be counted. We cannot simply avoid the subject of Israel, we must stand before our students and make sure that they know of our beliefs. Prof. Dershowitz said that he normally get a 10 in his student assessments, being a very involved teacher who takes his students home to dinner and is involved in their problems and their joys. When he got the results of the assessments he saw that 90% approved of him utterly and 10% gave him 0% - those were the students who disagreed with his stance on Israel and refused to be involved. We have to accept such censure for the right to speak of what we believe. We must have courage, the courage of both our convictions and the subsequent results, good and bad.
The ticket to success for a 5th rate teacher at a 3rd rate university is to deprecate Israel, and they do!
We came to Miami for a very special occasion, indeed a double occasion, the Bar Miztvot of Ilan and Jeremy, the twin sons of Helene and Martin Lindenfeld. One comes prepared for something special, such is the nature of the Lindenfeld Family, but just how special it would be took my breath away.
The celebrations began on Friday night in the Chabad Synagogue in Coconut Grove, with a Shabbat service led by the Barmitzva boys. They did a phenomenal job, singing in harmony those prayers and tunes which have been handed down through the centuries, ever encouraged by their “Big Rabbino” Rabbi Yakov Fellig, a true Jew in his beliefs, attitude and inclusion of all who wish to take part in that wonderful life experience called Judaism. From the service we all went into the main body of the synagogue to have a traditional Shabbat Dinner, including “Zmirot” the traditional songs a Shabbat meal from the song-book we brought from Israel. It was a truly joyous occasion.
As I told you, any event with the Lindenfeld Family is exceptional and the festivities continued in the most Jewish of manners. Monday morning everyone assembled again with Ilan, Jeremy and the Big Rabbino at Chabad Coconut Grove for the ceremony of the Tefillin. http://www.chabad.org/generic_cdo/aid/102436/jewish/Tefillin.htm
Under instruction they built their own tefillin (phylacteries) before putting them on their arms, near their hearts, and on their foreheads, as described in the ancient prayer of Shema. The boys then conducted the service in full, without skipping a beat or missing a note. It was an incredible feat which they carried out impeccably to the intense pride of parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, brother, sisters and of course the entire congregation made up of those who love them and their family. From the synagogue we made our somewhat sodden way to their home and a party to beat all parties held on their lawn (luckily covered by a very large marquee – tent). Even the heavy Florida rain couldn't dampen the spirits or the joy.
What impresses me most is the deep commitment of Helene and Martin to instill a sense of tradition and Jewishness in their children which will hold them firm in their path for the rest of their lives. They also instilled in them a fabulous ability to dance as both boys gave a wonderful performance on stage at the party!!!!!!
Here is Miami we have seen old friends and made new ones – and have yet to see many others. David celebrated my 65th birthday with a cute crinoline cake which we managed to light a fewminutes before midnight! In addition to our two hosts we spent time with the Haritons, Zanzuris and Zvi found an old friend who took us to a 35th wedding anniversary held in Yiddisch reminiscent of the Catskill Mountains in the '50's, and last night we spent with our beloved friends Linda and Nikky Gandel from Melbourne and of course Lauren, David Efrons daughter who is making her final plans for Aliya in the summer.
The excitement of Miami is an extension of the joy before we left. My son Daniel and his beautiful family of wife Karen, son Joshua (oy I could eat him) and Karens Mum Ellen visited from NYNY. Zvi and I loved showing Ellen Jerusalem on this her first visit to Israel; sitting on our veranda and seeing Jerusalem before us; sensing the quiet of a Shabbat in Jerusalem; watching Joshy giggle as he played crazy Israeli style with his Israeli cousins, Yosef, Talia and Ayala; seeing Joshy's initial concern then absolute joy at being thrown in the air by his Saba Zvi....... all 6'7” of him! To see a little boys face at the achievement of touching the ceiling is sheer joy!
Jay and Lisa Massirman were amongst the first recipients of my Shabbat Shalom emails. Jay and I sat together at the Bar Mitzva and talked of my setting up a real website with my own domain so that I can reach out even further. Jay suggested that I reach out to you, my loyal friends, to help me. I earn nothing from my writings and Zvi and I have dedicated our lives to Israel and the Jewish people so we accumulated amazing friends, deep pride but no money!!! I anyone is willing to help me fund it...... please write to me and Jay will help me set it up.
To end todays update I though you would like to know some facts presented at the SPME conference.
Of 190 States, less than half are democracies
Israel is older than over half of them
Only a handful never had a coup d'etat
Israel deserves respect for her democracy, her fairness, her stance in a free world.
For the Americans amongst you -
Abraham Lincoln- The greatest dream is when the Jews return to Palestine
Woodrow Wilson – pushed the Balfour Declaration
Truman – I am Cyrus
Bill Clinton – his surrogate father told him – Never turn your back on Israel
Madison spoke fluent Hebrew
William Bradford said – Let us return to Zion and finally, did you know that you nearly had Moses leading the Jews to the Promised Land as the Seal of the United States instead of “a follically challenged bird”
I wish you a wonderful remainder of this week and a truly thoughtful Shabbat
With much love from Jerusalem through Coral Gables!
Sheila
January 18th 2011
Shabbat Shalom doesn't fit and it is well past Shevua Tov so I will just say Mid-week from Miami!
Zvi is concerned because as soon as we left Israel too many things started to happen in our geographical neighborhood!! At least now I understand your perspective of searching for the truth on the situation! It would appear that the feet of clay of the Arab world are crumbling in full sight.
The Tunisian street finally rebelled against the dictatorial government raising fears in many other similar regimes in the Middle East that do not take note of popular opinion. Egypt, Iran and many others are uncomfortable with this precedent. http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/01/15/arab-league-appeals-calm-tunisia/
In Lebanon, Hezb-Allah denied all knowledge of the assassination of former Lebanese Premier Rafik Hariri. Recent findings not only implicate Hezb-Allah but that the assassination was at the direct initiation of Iran with complete co-operation of Syria and Syria's President Assad. Despite the clear proof Saad Hariri , son of the assassinated Rafik Hariri, refuses to believe that Syria was involved although the UN tribunal believes differently. Thus the inconsistencies of the Middle East continue through lies and disbelief. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4013827,00.html
Ahmedinejad isn't thrilled with the revelations in Lebanon and warns us that if we (the West) continue the sedition we will have our hands cut off. http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=204318
In Israel, Ehud Barak left the Labour Party, joined the Netanyahu Government and the Labour Party left the Government. In order to form a separate faction of any party in Israel one must achieve at least a third of the original faction, which Barak obtained, and the move must be approved by The Knesset House Committee. The new Party will be called Atzma'ut or Independence. The Netanyahu Government assured ,Atzma'ut, which includes the very effective Matan Vilna'i, for whom the position of Minister responsible for Homeland Security, has been created in the Cabinet. http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=204331
It almost certainly means the demise of the Labour Party whose divisions were greater than their loyalties and over recent years has consistently moved left, those remaining are almost certain to join with either Kadima or Meretz depending on their leanings.
Barak describes “Atzma'ut” as "centralist, Zionist and democratic." http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=203946
With thanks to our host David Efron, Zvi and I went to a SPME (Scholars for Peace in the Middle East http://spme.net/index.html ) Conference in Miami. Speakers included Prof. Alan Dershowitz, Prof. Irwin Cotler and Ambassador Michael Oren. All three are outstanding proponents of the Israeli cause, all very different. What really moved me was that when Professor Dershowitz stood to make his short speech he turned to Prof. Cotler and described him as his hero. You are not alone Prof Dershowitz – Irwin Cotler holds hero status for many of us, his quiet, unassuming manner has achieved enormous results. The essence of this conference was to encourage University Professors and lecturers, indeed all involved in putting forward a message, to stand up and be counted. We cannot simply avoid the subject of Israel, we must stand before our students and make sure that they know of our beliefs. Prof. Dershowitz said that he normally get a 10 in his student assessments, being a very involved teacher who takes his students home to dinner and is involved in their problems and their joys. When he got the results of the assessments he saw that 90% approved of him utterly and 10% gave him 0% - those were the students who disagreed with his stance on Israel and refused to be involved. We have to accept such censure for the right to speak of what we believe. We must have courage, the courage of both our convictions and the subsequent results, good and bad.
The ticket to success for a 5th rate teacher at a 3rd rate university is to deprecate Israel, and they do!
We came to Miami for a very special occasion, indeed a double occasion, the Bar Miztvot of Ilan and Jeremy, the twin sons of Helene and Martin Lindenfeld. One comes prepared for something special, such is the nature of the Lindenfeld Family, but just how special it would be took my breath away.
The celebrations began on Friday night in the Chabad Synagogue in Coconut Grove, with a Shabbat service led by the Barmitzva boys. They did a phenomenal job, singing in harmony those prayers and tunes which have been handed down through the centuries, ever encouraged by their “Big Rabbino” Rabbi Yakov Fellig, a true Jew in his beliefs, attitude and inclusion of all who wish to take part in that wonderful life experience called Judaism. From the service we all went into the main body of the synagogue to have a traditional Shabbat Dinner, including “Zmirot” the traditional songs a Shabbat meal from the song-book we brought from Israel. It was a truly joyous occasion.
As I told you, any event with the Lindenfeld Family is exceptional and the festivities continued in the most Jewish of manners. Monday morning everyone assembled again with Ilan, Jeremy and the Big Rabbino at Chabad Coconut Grove for the ceremony of the Tefillin. http://www.chabad.org/generic_cdo/aid/102436/jewish/Tefillin.htm
Under instruction they built their own tefillin (phylacteries) before putting them on their arms, near their hearts, and on their foreheads, as described in the ancient prayer of Shema. The boys then conducted the service in full, without skipping a beat or missing a note. It was an incredible feat which they carried out impeccably to the intense pride of parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, brother, sisters and of course the entire congregation made up of those who love them and their family. From the synagogue we made our somewhat sodden way to their home and a party to beat all parties held on their lawn (luckily covered by a very large marquee – tent). Even the heavy Florida rain couldn't dampen the spirits or the joy.
What impresses me most is the deep commitment of Helene and Martin to instill a sense of tradition and Jewishness in their children which will hold them firm in their path for the rest of their lives. They also instilled in them a fabulous ability to dance as both boys gave a wonderful performance on stage at the party!!!!!!
Here is Miami we have seen old friends and made new ones – and have yet to see many others. David celebrated my 65th birthday with a cute crinoline cake which we managed to light a fewminutes before midnight! In addition to our two hosts we spent time with the Haritons, Zanzuris and Zvi found an old friend who took us to a 35th wedding anniversary held in Yiddisch reminiscent of the Catskill Mountains in the '50's, and last night we spent with our beloved friends Linda and Nikky Gandel from Melbourne and of course Lauren, David Efrons daughter who is making her final plans for Aliya in the summer.
The excitement of Miami is an extension of the joy before we left. My son Daniel and his beautiful family of wife Karen, son Joshua (oy I could eat him) and Karens Mum Ellen visited from NYNY. Zvi and I loved showing Ellen Jerusalem on this her first visit to Israel; sitting on our veranda and seeing Jerusalem before us; sensing the quiet of a Shabbat in Jerusalem; watching Joshy giggle as he played crazy Israeli style with his Israeli cousins, Yosef, Talia and Ayala; seeing Joshy's initial concern then absolute joy at being thrown in the air by his Saba Zvi....... all 6'7” of him! To see a little boys face at the achievement of touching the ceiling is sheer joy!
Jay and Lisa Massirman were amongst the first recipients of my Shabbat Shalom emails. Jay and I sat together at the Bar Mitzva and talked of my setting up a real website with my own domain so that I can reach out even further. Jay suggested that I reach out to you, my loyal friends, to help me. I earn nothing from my writings and Zvi and I have dedicated our lives to Israel and the Jewish people so we accumulated amazing friends, deep pride but no money!!! I anyone is willing to help me fund it...... please write to me and Jay will help me set it up.
To end todays update I though you would like to know some facts presented at the SPME conference.
Of 190 States, less than half are democracies
Israel is older than over half of them
Only a handful never had a coup d'etat
Israel deserves respect for her democracy, her fairness, her stance in a free world.
For the Americans amongst you -
Abraham Lincoln- The greatest dream is when the Jews return to Palestine
Woodrow Wilson – pushed the Balfour Declaration
Truman – I am Cyrus
Bill Clinton – his surrogate father told him – Never turn your back on Israel
Madison spoke fluent Hebrew
William Bradford said – Let us return to Zion and finally, did you know that you nearly had Moses leading the Jews to the Promised Land as the Seal of the United States instead of “a follically challenged bird”
I wish you a wonderful remainder of this week and a truly thoughtful Shabbat
With much love from Jerusalem through Coral Gables!
Sheila
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)