180831 Twito and the Lord

180831

31^st August 2018

Shabbat Shalom! How are you? Yes I am back from my various travels and do not intend leaving Israel for 6 months at least!!!

Our last trip was to the Greek Island of Kos, 6 adults and 6 children ranging from 6 months to 12 years and we found the locals incredibly friendly. Walking around town every building and every sidewalk showed the effects of the last earthquake in July last year, even the antiquities were further destroyed – however – we found the synagogue of Kos. The sign outside proclaimed that it was founded in the 16th Century and closed its doors in 1944. Why 1944? Because the entire community, like Greece and other Greek Islands, was taken on a one way ticket to Auschwitz.

The world is spinning faster, or so it seems, and just when we think that extremes have reached their limit we discover that it has barely started! It happens on every side of the political spectrum and throughout all continents. The West has not been spared. Extremes of Left and Right have taken the word Liberal and changed its once beautiful meaning and taken the words National Pride from love of country to xenophobia. So it has become within the Jewish community, between Israel and the Diaspora and Christian communities worldwide. It's almost Rosh Hashana – let's make a new start! Instead of concentrating on our differences let's remember and celebrate our similarities. We have to stop putting people into boxes, to think outside that same box and see………. People!

I want you to meet two Brits who will never become sheep and bleat about Jewish power. One is J K Rowling, author of Harry Potter https://www.timesofisrael.com/j-k-rowling-takes-on-anti-semite-fellow-author-in-twitter-spat-over-corbyn/

The other is Maajid Nawaz a Moslem and a brilliant broadcaster and defender of Israel, the Jews and human rights in general through Quilliam. Please listen to his put-down of a defender of Jeremy Corbyn https://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/maajid-nawaz/ends-row-with-caller-after-anti-semitic-comment/

So, rather than talking about politics today I want to tell you, again, about my friend Israel Twito.

Through a great deal of persuasion and emotional extortion I convinced my childhood friend, Andrew Stone (aka Lord Stone of Blackheath) a true believer in human rights and the good in every person, to come with me to see a factory in an Industrial Zone in a settlement. Andrew sat beside me throughout the long drive convincing himself that he would listen to the owner, hear his story and try to keep his mouth shut on what he feels about settlements. Understand, Andrew does not think with his eyes closed, his work for Israel is constant and as a Labour Peer he determinedly puts Israel's point forward, but he feels that it is wrong to build on potential Palestinian land.

WAZE took us a tortuous route through highly suspicious roads to the Barkan Industrial Estate, just outside Ariel, which in fact gave us time to observe our surroundings and to talk – strangely enough not of Cabbages and Kings but of really serious issues as set out above. I have known Andrew almost since my birth so knew better than to argue, I simply kept saying "Wait and see" you will love Israel Twito (the initiator of the project).

We were met by Moshe Lev Ran, the International Sales Director of Twitoplast and sat in his office as he explained that he deeply believes in what Israel Twito is doing and drives every morning from his kibbutz on the Gaza border to Ariel to work. Moshe explained the rationale of the highly successful business which was created out of the need to give back. Israel's family fled Tunisia, were interred by the British and finally in 1948 arrived in the Land of Israel without a penny. It took the "kishkes" out of his father who never really recovered but even at the age of 4 Israel knew he had to succeed. Poverty plagued the family and Israel never finished high school. At the age of 14 he went to work for a carpenter who took a deep interest in the boy and encouraged him to forge ahead in life – for the first time Israel was told he was special. Despite a lack of funds Israel later created a plastics factory in Petah Tikva, in central Israel, but when the government asked Israel to employ Russian immigrants in his factory he took the chance and moved to the Barkan Industrial Estate, with Palestinian neighbours, and decided to employ 50% Russian immigrants and 50% Palestinians. Every move is in tandem with his wife Shoshana who is the power behind the throne. This man of no apparent education has nearly 150 international patents to his name, I feel because his mind was unfettered by the constraints of logical academia he is able to fly with ideas without the obstacles of scholarship. Why is this important? Because my incredible friend, Andrew, achieved great heights too, thinks outside the box, is always learning, has a sharp and brilliant mind and reached great heights as CEO of Marks and Spencer and an active member of the House of Lords, and also didn't finish high school!

As we walked around the factory and the innovative, eco-friendly greenhouses we met workers, understood that Israel gave the same salary to all his workers and because the Palestinians, unlike the Israeli workers, did not get Governmental medical care, pension funds, social extras, Israel decided to give those to his Palestinian workers too, out of his own pocket. Each morning he greets each and every worker and the obvious love that emanates from their faces is reward enough. Not everyone is accepted to work in the factory – any talk of politics is banned absolutely – it is through family connections or recommendation of current workers. As I told you last time, if a worker is exceptional Israel pays for his university tuition in Ramallah and he comes back to the factory in a managerial position. The Factory manager, line managers, director of research etc are all Palestinian.

There were two very funny incidents. Israel stopped to talk to each of his workers and one young Palestinian was fascinated to be standing before a Lord. Immediately he pulled out his cellphone and took selfies with all of us but especially with Andrew!!!

The other was when Israel's grandson showed fascination with talking to a Lord (especially when I translated it to Abir which made Andrew look more like Sir Galahad) and I told him that Andrew arrived on white horse following my car……. Of course he saw through my ruse even at the age of 10 but it worked for a moment!

As we were leaving for home I saw that Andrew was deep in thought. We are never quiet when together but this was different. All of a sudden he said "OK, so you've changed my mind". I said nothing but I knew what he meant. He will never approve of building settlements on disputed land but when projects like Israel Twito's Twitoplast can change the lives of Palestinians and give them security and honour it is a blessing wherever it is built.

We went to see Rachel on the way back to Jerusalem because he, with Stephen Isaacs, was my stand-in family at her wedding and wanted to see the children – yet another eye opener. When we stopped for a coffee and cake to go at Nehama's Bakery at the entrance to Givat Ze'ev, he saw that Israeli and Palestinian shops and businesses worked together in this particular settlement – actually right next to Jerusalem. Next I took him to the girls school, just so that he could look down the road by a few hundred metres to see that Ramallah has grown unfettered almost abutting the wall that separates it from Ramot.

Finally, that panorama I always talk about, the one from the height of Samuels Tomb, blew him away as it does me every time I go past.

I know that Andrew is speaking in the House of Lords next week about the United Nations and the need to close the doors of the organisation which has so sadly failed in its duties, a cross party debate, and I know that if not in this speech he will use things he saw and learned on Wednesday in future debates and in the current fight with anti-Semitism in the Labour Party.

What has this to do with Rosh Hashana? Everything!!  

It is about two men with pure minds trying to make this world a better place – each through his own path.

It is about not letting the past dictate the future.

It is about changing enemies into friends

It is about taking Judaism in its purest form and adapting it to every day life

It is about new beginnings

It is about forgiveness

It is about reaching out instead of shutting out

Now is the time to forgive and to ask for forgiveness. Now is the time when Jews of every colour and trend stop fighting and trying to prove who is right and just come together in a world that is becoming less and less welcoming. United we stand divided we fall

This week promises to be excruciatingly hot with temperatures going over 40 degrees!! Not my favourite situation but since the children will all be back in school at least they will be in air conditioning!!

So what music fits this week? Forgive us for we have sinned https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxRfX5WkztE

For everyone who is thinking of getting married or who wants to express love for their spouse Shlomi Shabbat who had a birthday this week https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_74zNYoQv0

Sarit Hadad sings "Borei Olam" Creator of the world. I am but a human and I have erred but forgive me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_Vz2bNBzzk

Finally……….. my website exists!! Udi Ohana has done an amazing job. We are not finished I still have to upload my original archives and to create an email facility but…………… See what you think!!! http://www.theviewfrommyveranda.info/

With love to all and every one of you. Tonight as I light the Shabbat candles I will look over the glorious view from our veranda and say thank you

Shabbat Shalom

Sheila

180817 Trump, Corbyn, Al Sisi, Erdogan and other stuff

180817

17^th August, 2018

Good Shabbes, Shabbat Shalom, we wish you a great weekend wherever you are.

Shabbat, a day of rest and contemplation which recharges ones batteries and gives us time with family, probably the greatest gift given by Judaism to the world. Sadly the importance of rest, contemplation and family have been eroded by the demand for "instant" satisfaction and too little time or importance is given to those principles. As a child in Wales there were no shops open on a Sunday, even pubs opened just at lunch time so that families could stop by after chapel and before their huge Sunday lunch. In our determination for instant satisfaction perhaps we have lost too much, Sabbath, whichever day you celebrate it, is slowly disappearing………. Or maybe not!

I try to keep away from the politics of other countries but I am breaking my rule this week. Jeremy Corbyn. Jeremy Corbyn and his cronies have taken a political party which was founded as a vessel to air and fulfil the needs of the working class, was taken over by an awful lot of "good souls" from the aristocracy in the 60's and 70's and settled into a cross-social expression of distaste with the nastier side of capitalism. It was but now it isn't. Gone are the days when Prime Minister Harold Wilson wrote The Chariot of Israel; gone are the days of Tony Blair; the Labour Party has become a mouthpiece for BDS culminating in the laying of a wreath by Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labour Party and potential candidate for Prime Minister of Great Britain, at a memorial to the perpetrators of the Munich Massacre. This preamble is to beg my British family and friends not to vote for Labour, no matter how uncharismatic Prime Minister Theresa May may be. Survival first, things will only get much worse if Corbyn gets in.

If we are talking leaders I want to weigh in on President Trump. Totally inappropriate like LBJ on speed – but the man has done just about everything he promised, for better or for worse! The USA is talking to her enemies, even her sworn enemies, through meetings and rhetoric in equal portions. One does not negotiate peace with friends, one negotiates peace with enemies so his "off the record" moments with the likes of Putin and Kim are of utmost importance. I was terribly disturbed by one friend who proudly announced "He is not my President" – he is – Donald Trump is the President of the United States. Like it or not that is how democracy works.

Prime Minister Netanyahu had a secret meeting with President Al Sisi of Egypt – a leader with whom Israel has more in common than one would think. Please understand that Egypt is the fulcrum around which the Middle East turns. Sadly it was misunderstood by the last administration when they helped depose Mubarak. Mubarak was a tyrant for sure, but he was conceivably the most important leader in the area and kept the Moslem Brotherhood and all the others in check – especially in Sinai. Sinai is of ultimate importance because with the fall of another leader, Muammar Khadaffi, and the disintegration of Libya into 700 warring tribes, the vast Libyan arsenal was transferred to Sinai. Al Sisi is following in many of Mubarak's footsteps and is a determined fighter to keep his country from descending into the depths of fanatical Islam. I didn't vote for Netanyahu, and almost certainly never would, but one must recognise the positive not just the negative and as I said – one doesn't make peace agreements with ones friends.

Recep Tayeb Erdogan is the leader of Turkey. Turkey's history is rich and terrible – from the Ottoman Empire which ruled most of the Middle East and large tracts of Europe – until the diabolical Armenian Genocide which resulted in Attaturks banning of most expressions of Islam, until today. The recent history is thus – Erdogan tried to take Turkey into Europe but was rejected by the EEC; disappointed he then chose President Assad of Syria as his ally, but that didn't work too well for him so he chose more powerful allies – Russia and Iran. Russia was uncomfortable with the Iranian alliance which left a very angry and increasingly religious Erdogan backed into a corner and like all rats he chose to go for the carotid of the West, Israel. His oppressive regime has killed and imprisoned all voices of dissent, including almost all the Turkish journalists – to the apparent unconcern of the Western media!!

There is only one conclusion to be made from all of the above……

"Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time".…’Winston S Churchill, 11 November 1947

Qatar has offered to pay for the rebuilding of Gaza. Of course there is much argument as to the wisdom of allowing them control of that tiny area so close to Israel but Hamas rejected the excellent offer of Egypt to enlarge the area of Gaza and help with the rebuilding. Why? Because poverty plays into the hands of Hamas/ISIS/ISIL etc – they can feed the families and so control the minds of their children. In the same manner, Hamas had fallen off the media map for a long period so they decided it was time to launch missiles of various types at Israel to ensure their place on the front page however – we barely responded and thanks to the intervention of Al Sisi, their wish was short-lived. I loved this video "If only Israel would" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76NytvQAIs0

As you know I feel very strongly about the Nation Law in Israel – not because it is wrong in principle to create a Nation Law but rather its content and omissions. As I said last week we have a wonderful Declaration of Independence which should have been used and not changed. I have no problem calling this a Jewish State. In Mexico only a Catholic can take high office; in Britain is Anglican; the USA despite all protestations is Christian; Italy is Catholic…..however………… I am desperately disturbed by the choice of many American Jews to use the law as another excuse to distance themselves from Israel. In truth it has nothing to do with anyone else, it is an Israeli decision and mistake. Why? Now when we need to unite against the ever increasing anti-Semitism, and make no mistake anti-Israel is anti-Semitic, why would anyone choose to create factions of dissent? Don't distance yourselves, if you disagree then learn the facts, become part of the solution not part of the problem.

Not everything this week was doom and gloom – there were many glimmers of light.

Standing out from other Scandinavian countries Norway refused to allow the donation of Saudi Arabia toward the building of mosques in Norway stating that they will not allow the building of mosques in Norway until Saudi Arabia allows the building of churches. Wow!

https://defence.pk/pdf/threads/norway-refuses-millions-of-dollars-from-saudi-arabia-for-mosque-building.77280/

We started the week in Tel Aviv, having a delightful supper with Jyl Bell and Phil Levy, dear friends of the lovely Hammermans of Sydney, Australia all of whom met Zvi when he established Young Leadership for Keren Hayesod in that wonderful country. For me they were new friends and as you know I love meeting new people especially when they become new friends!! That night and the next day were spent with Amiad and Noga's children, Yonatan (4) and Ella (5). I think we succeeded in entertaining them, they are such amazing children and really good but yet again we realised that there is good reason why people do not have young children when they are over 70!!! We came back from Tel Aviv through Shoresh for the wedding of Liron Mussachi, daughter of our dear friend and choir member Itzik – what a joyous affair it was

On Tuesday we celebrated the 28^th (or according to Zvi 29^th) anniversary of our first date by having supper in "HaKatzavim" (the Butchers) restaurant next to Shouk Mahane Yehuda. The meal was amazing but enormous!! Quite apart from the vast selection of salads (and piping hot chips) we were presented with a pair of steaks, a pair of kebabs, a pair of chicken shishliks and chicken livers – in other words a heart attack waiting to happen!! We cleaned the meat platter but couldn't manage the salads. As we were munching away we heard an American couple at a nearby table asking something of the waitress, of course we weighed in and they invited us to join their table where, in response to their questions, Zvi gave them a potted history of Turkey and Jerusalem and I introduced them to "Mayim im Nana" a tisane of hot water and mint which they loved. Marcie Abramson and Jeff (I'm sorry Jeff I cannot recall your family name but I do recall that you are taller than Zvi!) from Boston were on a trip with their Temple having a wonderful time. It was Jeff's first ever visit to Israel and I have a feeling that we have new BFF's who will be back!

Lord Stone of Blackheath knew me before I was born. He was my brother Ronnie's friend and later in life became my "Madrich" – leader – in the Habonim Youth Movement, and the first one of our friends to come to Israel. Andrew is a fine advocate for Israel in the House of Lords and in the Labour Party – a great supporter of Joan Ryan and the Labour Friends of Israel. If you doubt there is opposition to Corbyn just read here http://www.lfi.org.uk/

Anyway, Andrew is a dear friend and stood by me through thick and very thin times and it was such a joy, as always, to meet him in the Jerusalem Botanical Garden Caffit for lunch. Even better Zvi joined us. Andrew has worked unremittingly to find a solution to the Israel/Palestinian problem, risking his life on occasion, talking to the leaders of our neighbouring states, never giving up on finding a way to give Israel peace and recognition simultaneously trying to find economic solutions that will give the Palestinians a normal life. We don't always talk politics when we are together we try to find our own solution for unity among the diverse and argumentative Jewish people and achieve world peace and inner contentment. In other words – I love Andrew Stone!

Aretha Franklin was a giant personality with the voice of an angel that sang of our woes and our needs with emotion and strength. Respect, arguably her greatest song, was my mantra during my lowest period. Car windows wide open and the tape blaring RESPECT, which was all I had ever wanted or needed, Rachel and I would hare up the M1 Motorway singing our heads off!!! Ms. Franklin – thank you for the joy and respect you're music brought to so many. May your sweet soul rest in peace. The song I chose is not Respect – but rather I Dreamed a Dream –for it is not just a dream -breathtaking https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4F4SbGtqL4

Jews come in all sizes and shapes…and colours, just like everyone else. The difference is that when our people are repressed and oppressed we bring them home. Nearly 900,000 from Arab countries, over 1,000,000 from Russia – and some 140,000 from Ethiopia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsLJCNhWANY&list=PL1WC0PL2DeIVjVwcYgdtTe80V-UhLomRk&t=0s&index=35

Finally – to wish you a real Good Shabbes – Shalom Aleichem – May peace be upon you angels of peace – a traditional song for the eve of Shabbat. Interestingly peace is the word most used in every Israeli song – a prayer, a greeting, an invocation, a plea…….. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szSb2abAaWU

Next week we are travelling again, yes again, this time to the Isle of Kos with Zvi's boys and families – for a rest this time!! Don't worry my orange, pomegranate, kumquat and lemon trees will be watered as will all the herbs and flowers. I wouldn't dare allow anything to die off – Stanley Roth would never forgive me!!!

Shabbat Shalom, Shalom Aleichem, Salaam Aleikem, Pax, baris seninle olsun, mir se vani, la paz sea con vostros, que la pais soit avec toi….. to each and every one of you from the view from our verandah,  Jerusalem, the most beautiful city in the world laying before us.

Sheila

  

180810 Hamas, BBC, Brenda Katten and London

180810

10^th August 2018

Shabbat Shalom dear friends. I'm back with a million sweet memories from this special trip to London, but more of that later. First to business.

I want you to imagine yourself in your home, on a kibbutz, concerned with your family, your friends and your crops, living the rural life and without warning and cause someone begins to launch rockets on your farm, burn your crops and build underground tunnels to come and kill you. Imagine sitting at dinner with your small children and the Red Alert siren goes off giving you just 15-30 seconds to reach the shelter. Furthermore, when your defence forces try to take out the very people who organise these atrocities you are blamed for existing by the foreign press.

I couldn't help thinking back to Britain in WW2. The Blitz is famous but many cities were bombed from above by the Luftwaffe, by the enemy, Coventry, Cardiff, Plymouth, Exeter, Birmingham, Bath, Bristol, Newcastle and many more. This bombardment on a huge scale resulted in the bombing of Hamburg, Essen and Dresden causing vast destruction by Allied Forces. Basically the bombing of Dresden was to pay the Germans back for bombing Coventry, a civilian target………….. and everyone thought, indeed thinks of Churchill as the hero he was for saving Britain from a vile enemy.

The South of Israel, some 12 towns and 9 kibbutzim have been hit by thousands of mortars and rockets over an extended period to say nothing of the arson attacks by kite and balloon which has destroyed crops and nature reserves. It is said that if you don't love the land you don't deserve the land – those who attack us do not deserve it.

I am sure you already know much of this but why oh why are we represented in the media as the aggressor? Most certainly it is racist but perhaps you aren't active enough in writing to them, or their editors or better still their advertisers saying that what they claim are outright lies because that's what half-truths are……….. lies. If you want to protest the BBC – be polite but stern https://www.cufi.org.uk/news/israel-lodges-formal-complaint-over-bbc-biased-headline-after-rocket-attacks/

There is a temporary cease-fire but Hamas has achieved its objective – they are back on the media map.

The Nation State Law is a disaster and an unnecessary disaster! It doesn't really affect the Diaspora, despite the reaction overseas, it has torn us apart – us meaning Israelis. We were hanging on to the ideal that we are one nation of diverse peoples, as stated in the Declaration of Independence https://www.knesset.gov.il/docs/eng/megilat_eng.htm a Jewish nation within which all creeds and races have equal rights, but that has changed even if the written word doesn't necessarily change status. One of the most idiotic clauses is that which demotes Arabic from an official language to a preferred status – why? Why on earth was that important? What difference did it make if Arabic was below Hebrew on all official documents, street signs and medication? English is there too and probably follows the same fate but that is right and proper; to demote Arabic is just wrong. Secondly, by stating what was already in the Declaration of Independence but making it law, that this is a Jewish State, without the addition of all being equal is again excluding those who have been the most loyal and dutiful of citizens – the Druze, Circassian and Northern Bedouin could have avoided the current dissonance. As always my friend Brenda Katten gets it absolutely right https://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Shooting-ourselves-in-the-foot-564551

Isaac "Bougie" Herzog has taken his place as world Chairman of the Jewish Agency. His chosen first task, too long in coming, is to bring the Diaspora Jewry back into the fold, to remind them of their importance to Israel and Israel's importance to them. We have too many enemies to fight each other! Divided we fall! I wish him great good luck in this new endeavor – I truly believe that he is the right man in the right job.

I believe we live in a world of extremes. Everything has to be "my way" and instantly solved – be it a video game or real life. The resultant violence which engulfs our everyday life is terrifying and global. However, it doesn't have to be. As you know I have just returned from London and there we had some amazing experiences quite apart from the family events.

My grandson Yosef sat in the front seat of a private hire taxi in London, beside an Iraqi driver. The driver asked Yosef what his name was and then began an extended conversation about the Bible between a 13 year old Haredi boy and a Moslem man from Iraq. The driver said that Yosef (Joseph) was his favourite person in the Bible and then they went on to discuss Iraq and Kurdistan and many other subjects and it gave me great hope. Yosef met a delightful Moslem man who he would never have met under normal circumstances and the driver learned that one can have such conversations openly and with understanding.

So, first of all the main man, the reason we all went to London – it was Sammy's Bar Mitzva. A wonderful old friend Gloria Hermer said I was blessed and I can only agree.

Sammy is complex needs; he is beautiful both in and out and although he cannot walk or speak he is able to give love as no other. Those of us present at the special needs service in the synagogue in Manor House, North London, were thrilled at the efforts of two incredible ladies who make those who are often forgotten feel thoroughly important and we all felt part of something exceptional. Words cannot describe my pride as I took my place up on the Bimah (my first time ever) beside Gideon as he read my pasuch, and Stephanie wheeled Sammy up for his part. He was so relaxed and loved being the centre of attention! His multi-coloured Tallit, chosen by Saba Zvi Raviv draped on the wheelchair and his matching kippa well and truly chewed! Sammy hit the green button and Gideons voice sang the blessing before reading the Torah then afterwards he hit the red button to say the later blessing – his hand guided by his beautiful Mummy Stephanie. The Torah reading was shared between Gideon, his Dad Philip and brother Daniel.

I was so proud that my children, grand-children, siblings and niece and nephew were in the congregation and that all and sundry took part in the Israeli dancing led by the incredible band "Shir" https://www.shirmusic.co.uk/  and "bubble blowing" led by the tallest bubble man in London at the luncheon party afterwards. Jason Millan catered and Sammy especially loved the home cured salt beef which I had the honour of feeding him! Incidentally, only those who know and love Sammy were invited!

A truly magnificent and thoroughly celebratory event. Stephanie, Catherine and Chelsey I have no words to express my gratitude to you for the love and care you give to Sammy, it is not taken for granted, and of course Gideon, Olivia and Zachary too.

 
I forgot to mention that since Sammy doesn't need gifts Mummy and Daddy decided to ask for donations to buy a beach wheelchair for the use of Sammy's school.

It was an insane week of 35 degree heat, no A/C and a determined effort on behalf of their parents (and me) to keep all the children entertained. Some things worked and some didn't but in general Joshua and Callie from New York, Olivia and Zachary from London and Yoef, Talia and Ayala from Jerusalem had an absolute ball! I hate to say it but after spending fortunes of tourism their favourite activity was definitely the trampouline in Gideon and Stephanie's garden – and water play at Daniella and Justin's! I managed to see a few friends who made a special effort to see me – Jacqueline and David Sackwild who ensured that I had my "Fish and Chips", Judy and Michael Baum who had lots to tell especially since Michael is about to start another book and my friend Jill about whom you have heard so much! Rachel also got to see Jill's daughter Rebecca and met her friend Luiza before the children went hurtling down the biggest slide in the world at the Olympic Park – 175 metres long and 78 metres high!!!!  

London is an exceptionally friendly and open city, everyone talks to everyone, neighbours help neighbours, dog owners stop to exchange stories, in fact, to my surprise nothing has really changed. If I chose my favourite surprise it was the Moslem lady who was the El Al supervisor at check-in at Luton Airport!!! Yes again, the media twists and exaggerates……..

I am absolutely knackered, I'm not even going to Rachel today, but our friends Ruth and Josek are coming for supper so they can hear all about my trip. I am about to go to rest again now – night flights don't suit my need for sleep!!

Music, music music

Normally I play you songs to welcome the Sabbath but every so often I ring the change with Havdalah, the prayer at the end of the Sabbath – the time for awakening our senses as we move to a normal day. This is sung by "Shir" the amazing group that sang at Sammy's Bar Mitzva Party https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGpP-vewRHQ

Israel Sheli – My Israel, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBuxlQZuw5U

For every argument for every word of dissent there is an answer. Just remember that we are a miracle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmyKFLQDHns

With all our love, my Zvi and I, as we sit on our veranda and marvel at the view waiting for Shabbat. We wish you a peaceful Shabbat, a day of contemplation and love.

Shabbat Shalom

Sheila

180727 Tu b'Av, Day of Love?

180727

27^th of July, 2017 – Tu b'Av

Shabbat Shalom dear friends. Today I wish you a day of love, in the Jewish tradition of Tu b'Av – the fifteenth day of the month of Av when the girls of the villages would dress in white, go out into the fields and wait for the love of her life to find her!! Things have changed a bit and sadly there is very little love around.

Hatred of the other is the drive behind so many incidents, so many terror attacks, be it an insane terrorist, incited by his Imam, who goes on a wild shooting spree killing two and injuring many in Toronto, Canada, in an area known for its evening walks and coffee shops or in the sleepy suburb (aka settlement in CNN or BBC language) of Adam near Jerusalem where a young Palestinian, Mohammed Tariq Yousef aged 17,  from the Palestinian settlement of Kobar, walked into a home and stabbed those within. One of the three injured died of his wounds. A Palestinian worker in Jerusalem didn't do his job well, was fired and set fire to the small hotel where he worked leaving 3 people in critical condition from their burns. It is irrelevant which country, which continent, we are all targets. Rockets fly from Gaza and now from Syria landing in the Sea of Galilee, a site for peace not war. A Syrian aeroplane flew 2 kilometres into Israeli airspace before being downed by a woman IDF specialist. Indeed, over the last few days there has been a great deal of air activity over our skies. Understand that this is a war of attrition – attrition means wearing down and weakening your opponent by sustained attacks or pressure.

Israel is being attacked from the North, South, East and the greatest tragedy is that, as if it is not sufficient that half of the world is against us, our values are being attacked from within by our internecine fighting. As we said last week, there is little love lost between the various Jewish, Christian and Moslem denominations both of each other and within. I am more than aware that this is a worldwide phenomenon, hatred for those who do not think exactly like you, but it doesn't have to be that way.

If you ever doubted PM Theresa May's loyalties – watch this one! She absolutely destroys Corbyn!!  https://twitter.com/SussexFriends/status/1019661741263933440

I have been trying to meet up with a very special man for some time now. He was the Israeli Consul in San Francisco, the Information Officer in London, a brave soldier in the Border Guard and a very proud Bedouin from the northern village of Khawaldi.  His name is Ishmael Khaldi aka Shmulik. Ish has written a book about his experiences called A Shepherds Journey https://www.amazon.com/Shepherds-Journey-Israels-bedouin-diplomat/dp/9655554732 but that isn't why I wanted to meet him now – specifically now.

We met at the Aroma Coffee Shop opposite his workplace in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Since we only met on line, it was very exciting when he walked through the door and we greeted each other as old friends. I sensed an element of reserve about him, not totally certain of what we would discuss.

Since neither of us is into small-talk we immediately got down to the crux of the matter. Not the new and ill-timed Nation Law, but rather about the insane infighting here in Israel. As Ish said "I don't care about anywhere else, I know they are fighting as much as we are, all I care about is Israel, this is home. We have to work to increase tolerance between the sectors of society, not just between Arab and Jew, Christian and Moslem, but between Israelis." His words hit home immediately since that is the way that I think too. Ishmael's face becomes deeply intense as he expresses his distress and we try to understand the why, what and when we became a zealous people; when each sector became convinced that theirs is the only way. Perhaps it is clearest in the Jewish community where the division is such that each fervently defends their "rights" denying those of others. As I said, we know it is happening everywhere but for Ishmael and me, we cannot cure the world but we can try to cure our own little country. Neither of us know how but we will find a way I promise, and if not, it will not be for lack of trying. I would suggest an organisation encouraging talks in schools whereby one introduces people who are different to the schoolchildren to speak to the children class by class but sadly the schools that need it most may not allow it. Worth trying though! We have the rainbow, now let's make sure the colours stay bright.

I am sure you have your opinion but to quote John Galsworthy "Idealism increases in direct proportion to ones distance from the problem"

Tolerance and respect begin at home. If our children hear us demean any other person or sector then they learn that it is OK. It could be a secular person deriding religiosity, Jew about Arab, Arab about Jew, in fact anyone about anyone, it teaches them it is OK.

So now we go back to love after all, as I said at the very beginning, today is the day we forget about hatred, about division, Tu b'Av is about love for one's fellow man.

Just as Tisha b'Av commemorates the disasters that befell the Jewish people so Tu b'Av commemorates the miracles and wonders. The end of a terrible plague; the decision that not only could a woman marry a man from the tribe of Benjamin, a ban that nearly saw the extinction of that tribe, but also that marriage between the 12 tribes was finally permitted; Hosea ben Elah removed Jeraboam's guards who prevented the ordinary people from reaching the Temple Mount thus allowing access to all; the Romans finally allowed the bodies of the soldiers of Bar Kochba to be returned for burial; the end of the harvest and in olden times Tu b'Av was also a time to rethink our year and atone. Not a bad thing methinks.

I met with Avi Bieler this week. Avi is an excellent young man who, among a whole team, is working hard on the campaign to elect Hitorerut leader  Ofer Berkovitch as Mayor of Jerusalem. The campaign is getting more complex and we wanted to strategise. The English speaking community here, known as Anglos, requires a different approach to the Hebrew speaking electorate and we really need to think about it. Here are the candidates!

Ofer Berkovitch heads the party known as Hitorerut or Awakening. They are mostly young, of varied backgrounds, both observant and secular, who want to make Jerusalem a city for all her residents whatever their leaning, ensuring culture and attracting businesses, so  that young people do not leave for better jobs and all of us who are grandparents will have their grandchildren near them.  Zvi and I have been mentoring Hitorerut  for several years.

Rachel Azaria was Hitorerut, left, formed her own party, left, ran for the Knesset apparently left that and is now back and running for Mayor.

Yossi Havilio, Avi Salman both very experienced in the workings of the municipality itself and although good people, not suitable for the international role of Jerusalem Mayor.

Ze'ev Elkin, Minister for Jerusalem Affairs. A good man, highly experienced politician, the personal choice of the Prime Minister against the wishes of his party.

Moshe Lion, many contacts from his time as Director General of the Prime Minister's Office and the Jerusalem Development Agency. An experienced man, the official choice of Likud

Chaim Epstein and Yossi Deutsch are both Haredi candidates who, from past experience, work hard for their own communities, which is excellent on the municipal council but not good for a pluralistic Mayor.

How often can I say that the summer temperatures are the same in London and Jerusalem? 35 degrees celcius is hot but not that extreme for Jerusalem (and about 45 in the Dead Sea) but the last time I remember those temperatures in the UK was in 1976 when I had 3 small children to keep cool!

I felt as if I was going to melt this week especially since I spent a fair amount of time either out of the apartment at meetings or cooking! I was cooking because we are 20 for Shabbat Dinner tonight and I never ever leave things to the last minute. My fridge is so full that I took a photo of it so that my beautiful friend Arlene could have a laugh!! The menu, since I know you love to hear what we are eating is….. antipasti, roasted cauli in tehina, Tuscan sweet peppers, courgettes and aubergine and then mini burgers, spring chicken pieces and salmon baked in lemon and garlic served with roast potatoes and mini-potato cakes made in the shape of smiley faces………… all homemade!! Dessert? Rayas 7 minute Chocolate Cake with Vegan Ice cream and incredible, seedless, sweet, icy cold and juicy local watermelon! We'll sit on the veranda so that we can catch the special Jerusalem balmy breeze, while overlooking the breathtaking view and wait for the eclipse of the moon. It all looks so peaceful, indeed on so many levels it is and if the prayers of all who sit around our table came true it will be.

What songs are appropriate for today? A song of love? A song of peace? All You Need is Love is just too easy and a little too flippant.

Biglal ha Ruach – Because of the Spirit was the song chosen when the parent sof lone soldiers surprised their children on Yom Ha'Atzmaut. I dare you not to cry! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hium-xajVNc

I dedicate this song, Thank you World, to Israel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzPN7Pnj7WU

Who is better to bring us to a harmonious, melodic and thoughtful Shabbat then Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, something of a rebel in his time Shlomo Carlebach was first and foremost a Jew. His drew in young people who didn't know the beauty of their own music, so deeply into pop that they forgot their traditional songs. Likrat Shabbat – before Shabbat -- is basically Lecha Dodi but sung in his very special spiritual style. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6_Neq4C8-4

On Sunday I am flying to London with Rachel, Yosef, Talia and Ayala for an extra special reason, there we will meet up with Daniel, Karen, Joshua and Callie. Samuel George, my incredible grandson, Olivia and Zachary's big brother, is going to be bar-mitzva. Sammy, above all others in this world, taught me how to love. Sammy cannot speak or walk but he is the most feeling, amazing little boy whose judgement of goodness in people is unwavering. Sammy brings joy to all who have the privilege of being on the receiving end of his enormous grin. Gideon and Stephanie, I don't have words to tell you how I admire and love you. Sammy is a food and music connoisseur, a fine diner, but just like his Daddy his favourite song of all time is this one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpJXLNO6MF4  

I wish you a peaceful Shabbat. This Shabbat as you go about your business, whether to pray in the synagogue or simply walking in the street, smile at those you pass, greet those you have never met before, spread a little friendship. It does wonders!!

With much love from Jerusalem, the city that is so special it has 70 names in the Tenach.

Shabbat Shalom

Sheila

180722 Tisha b'Av

180722

Sunday the 22^nd July

Yes I know it isn't Shabbat but Dubi Gordon quite rightly pointed out that one of our biggest problems right now is not coming from our Southern neighbours, nor our Eastern or Northern neighbours, but rather from within.

It happened in the Church when Protestantism broke away from the Catholic Church because the Catholic Church became too stringent, too controlling and did not allow for flexibility. Erasmus, Luther and Swingley each led a Reform of the church. Erasmus accepted the Catholic dictate while working for change within but others chose to break away from Papal control. Sadly, Judaism is following the same route but being Jews we do so vociferously.

Until now there was a benign dictatorship from the Chief Rabbinate, both Ashkenazi and Sefardi, the rules existed but a general acceptance of those whose belief was somewhat more traditional than rigorous prevailed. It was called tolerance. It showed in the determination that unreligious Jews would never park outside the home of a religious Jew on Shabbat out of respect for the religious Jews beliefs and the religious Jew would simply avert his eyes as the unreligious Jew drove by.

As a child of a small community who also grew her children in a small community in Britain, it was irrelevant how you got to synagogue, your presence and the presence of your children was of prime importance. All the boys, no matter what their background, learned to read from the Torah, to sing their Bar Mitzva parasha and every baby, boy or girl, was blessed in the synagogue by the Rabbi. It was also irrelevant if you were Ashkenazi or Sefardi – you read in whatever accent you wished!

Today everyone wishes to dictate to the others, each level of Judaism believes they got it right. The non-religious eat pork out of spite not belief; they marry in non-religious hippy like ceremonies and reject their own heritage whereas the traditional Jew has to go through an interrogation, sometimes for days, before declared worthy of a religious ceremony!  What happened to compassion and respect, the cornerstones of Judaism, what is the cause of our rebellion?

The culmination, for me, was when the Chief Rabbinate considered annulling the conversions of Chief Rabbi Shlomo Goren of those who came on Aliyah from the FSU, served loyally in the IDF and were thus converted. The ultra-Orthodox within the Chief Rabbinate saw this as a change in Ben Gurion's famous "Status Quo" and began the shut down on all leniency. Rabbi Goren foresaw the future trials and tribulations of a divided society and tried to preempt the internecine fighting, but his wise attempts were foiled by a determination to hold on to and wield the enormous power of the upper echelons of religious control.

The pot came to a terrifying boil this week, a truly hubble, bubble, toil and trouble situation when Conservative Rabbi Dubi Hayon was taken in for questioning by the police for performing non-Orthodox weddings which apparently is against the law since Ben Gurion's days but never invoked. It does to remember that Rabbi Hayon was performing traditional ceremonies, Masorti weddings, not even non-conformist weddings!

When today one looks at the fractured church structure with so many denominations (52 just in Jerusalem) each believing the other is an aberration, we should learn a lesson. We Jews are so few and becoming fewer, we must give our children a chance to learn the beauty of Judaism, the traditions that have held us together through very tough times (and now is not easy), we have to teach our children to love who they are otherwise our grandchildren will not know who they are.

Today is Tisha b'Av the Ninth of the Hebrew month of Av. So very many of the unfathomable disasters that befell our people occurred on this day in our past – so many because of Sinat Chinam – literally free hatred – diametrically opposed to everything we believe in.

The anger is equal on both sides of the religious fence, each deriding the others beliefs or lack of them because of some illogical fear. It is true that one side appears to have control but let's sit down and talk, debate, argue – not with the like-minded but talk with those we disagree with most. NOBODY NEEDS TO MAKE PEACE WITH HIS FRIENDS.

HaRav Avraham Itzchak Kook was the first Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of the British Mandate, a tolerant and brilliant scholar he wrote -

"The pure righteous do not complain of the dark, but increase the light; they do not complain of evil, but increase justice; they do not complain of heresy, but increase faith; they do not complain of ignorance, but increase wisdom."

I wish you tolerance, justice and light on this day of deep contemplation – we do not wish for yet another reason to mourn.

With much love from our beloved Jerusalem

Sheila

180720 Israel Twito and Tisha B'Av

180720

20^th July 2018

Shalom, Salaam, hello and Shabbat Shalom to everyone.

So much has happened this week in our world. The reactions to the Trump-Putin summit have been so filled with hate that it terrifies me; the Trump visit to Britain was portrayed as if the entire island was anti Trump for one reason only – nobody showed the very large pro-Trump and certainly pro-USA rally; Gazans have been lobbing anything that terrifies Israelis and destroys farm and parkland and one rocket landed on a home injuring the residents; in fact as we come closer and closer to Tisha B'Av (the ninth of the Jewish month of Av) I see what is referred to as "sinat chinam" – hatred for no reason – that caused the destruction of the second Temple. We Jews become more and more split as we each hang on determinedly to our own opinion and sector. We are so lost in hearing our own voices that we are unable to be tolerant or liberal or see the other person's viewpoint at all. We prefer to hate.

To be tolerant and to open oneself up to finding a solution instead of fighting the problem is perhaps one of humankinds hardest tasks because we seem incapable of finding it in our hearts.

That was a very pessimistic introduction because I see it more and more and it is depressing. I don't necessarily like what or who is leading our international politics, or internal politics, but I would never ever photoshop an innocent, if silly, photo of Israeli politicians taking a selfie and put them in front of a part of "the wall" with Death to Arabs graffiti on it! It made me feel sick – it is exactly what our enemies need to fulfil their propaganda dreams. So it is with the USA, and for that matter with the UK. Take a step back and breathe – does your hatred get you anywhere?

Surprisingly, all of the above came out of the most incredible visit to a factory yesterday! The factory is the result of the dream of one man who in his deep humility decided to change his world and the world of those around him. His name is Israel Twito.

Israel Twito and his family lived in Tunisia, his father was a Zionist and when life for Jews in Tunisia became very difficult he decided to take his family to the Promised Land. Since it was before 1948 his family encountered immigration laws that prevented their entry to Israel and they went to an internment camp in Cyprus. In 1948 they came to Israel and since he was never a talented student Israel Twito chose to become an air conditioning mechanic. Despite his lack of formal education Israel had, and has, an exceptional mind and he decided to build his dream alongside his wife Shoshana and children. It started small producing parts for air conditioners but then came the fruition of his dream – Israel took his factory to the Barkan Industrial Estate in the Shomron town of Ariel. The factory now employs over 100 people, Israelis and Palestinians alike all of whom have a personal relationship with Israel. Moshe explains the story better than I, and then I will continue with what we saw. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTQOK6EkCLk&feature=share

The factories produce electronics for Smart houses and parts for air conditioning, Israel Twito has registered some 160 patents,  and the Barkan Industrial zone employs 7,000 workers half of whom are Palestinians who live within a very short distance of the factory – indeed the fence that runs beside the factory is already in the PA – indeed the factory next door is in the PA but Israelis are not allowed to work there. Israel and his right hand man Moshe, arrive each morning and go from worker to worker, be they Palestinian or Russian Immigrants to wish them a good day, to ask how their family is and if they feel good. The Russians say  Sabah Alkhyr to the Russians and the Arabs say Dobroye Utro to the Russians. The warmth and security of the factory is tangible. If Israel sees a particularly bright worker he will pay for them to go to university in the PA and then promote them to responsible positions on their return; if a workers child is sick he organises health care- indeed one child had cancer and the hospital in the PA couldn't treat her so Israel organised for her to go, with her mother, to an Israeli oncology unit where she was for a whole year and she is now 3 years after her cancer and healthy; he closes the factory on one fun day a year and takes the entire factory for an overnight in Eilat – not easy since there is a law going back to Mandate period that does not allow neighboring Arabs to go to Eilat but Israel managed to overcome that and his workers flew for the first time and had a ball in Eilat.

Why am I telling you all this? Because when I looked up the barkan Industrial Park on Google I found the most damning of articles, be it Haaretz or NYT or the Guardian, suggesting that all the Industrial Parks are built because of Israel's colonial ambitions etc. Both their ilk and BDS would like nothing better than to close Israel Twito and his big heart down. Because those people – Jews, Christians, Moslems and atheists alike don't get it.  Let me give you the figures so you understand

Let us assume that 100,000 people from the PA work in factories in West Bank "settlements". Each of those 100,000 has a family of at least 10 people dependent upon their salary including wives, children and parents, which makes 1,000,000 people hungry if those factories were closed by the idiocy of Roger Waters and his ilk. The Israeli economy would be fine, it may be a small glitch, but the Palestinian workers who receive equal pay and great working conditions would suffer dreadfully. They do not get any social services from their own government! Moshe took this to the European Parliament - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My5vuF-IEg8  

So back to everyday life.

Our weekend in Tel Aviv was delightful and we managed to see many friends. I love Gloria Goldstein and we always have so much to tell each other that no matter how long we are together we have to part too soon!

On Wednesday evening Zvi and I met our lovely friends Ruth and Jozek Dodziuk-Justitz for dinner. They were thrilled to find a restaurant that we didn't know right next to Shouk Mahane Yehuda! Zvi and I parked our car up at Mount Herzl and took the light rail to Mahane Yehuda and found the restaurant at 113 Jaffa Street. I love the name "HaMotzi". We all four had absolutely incredible Middle Eastern food and got to know each other even better. Since they are coming on Aliyah very soon we can continue our conversations for a long, long time! Next time we meet I want to hear Yozek's story!

Tonight we will have a quiet Friday night. Of course I have prepared salads, much to my lovely friend Arlene's amusement, I never have enough space because I love to see it full of goodies – after all I never know who is going to turn up at the last moment!

Considering the Hebrew and Jewish significance of the date – Tisha b'Av should have been tonight and tomorrow but since it is the Sabbath it is deferred by a day and the fast will take place on Sunday after nine days of mourning for so many disasters in our history including the destruction of both the first and second Temples, the expulsion of Jews from Spain on this day. It is time to remember, as I said at the very beginning of this missive, that we almost disappeared as a people because of Sinat Chinam – a total lack of tolerance for each other – internecine fighting which looks all to familiar. https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/tisha-bav-101/

I cannot bear the thought of being without music. I can fast, I can limit my enjoyment on so many levels but I am tied to music in my very soul.

They say that the Kabbalistic song/prayer Ana b'Koach has powers beyond it's words to heal our world. I know I have given it to you before but I feel we desperately need it now. Sing it with all your heart https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kr1gyl9o3Wk

Od Yavo Shalom Aleinu ve al koolam – Peace will come to us and to everyone. Shalom – Salaam  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qunVCzxF00

Actually the answer to all of the above is something that Israel Twito already knows  "All you need is Love"  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OuYLGHkrBk

Shabbat shalom to you all wherever you may be, whatever your beliefs, I love you

Sheila