2024-2025 and North Face

 

3^rd January 2025

 

This one is going to be a short missive! Our sleep was disturbed by a Houthi missile, yes one of those big ones that travelled a vast distance. It was shot down somewhere near Modi’in but the entire area was woken up at 04:45 which is later than the usual sirens and included our Jerusalem area. The problem with 04:45 is that when you leave the safe room it’s hard to decide whether to go back to sleep or to start your day early! We chose to tuck up and grab a couple of hours, but of course we overslept and instead of my usual writing time of 06:30 it’s now after 9 and I have a meeting at 11. | hadn’t intended bothering you with my morning diary but, never mind. Here goes with the missive!!

 

Shabbat Shalom and a peaceful 10^th day of Christmas, The Twelve Days are 25 December to 5 January, counting first and last. The Octave, or Eighth Day, is New Year's Day and the Feast of the Circumcision, the day Jesus was circumcised according to the Jewish faith. The evening of the last day is Twelfth Night or Epiphany Eve, the next morning being Epiphany. I hope that I got all that right, but whatever happens I wish you a peaceful, blessed day.

 

Naomi Goldstein Yalin posted this excellent breakdown of War Summary, Day 454*

 

100 still held captive in Gaza.

37 hostages confirmed murdered, bodies held in Gaza.

117 living hostages rescued.

38 hostage bodies rescued.

1,794 Israelis killed.

397 fallen soldiers and police in the battle in Gaza.

87 fallen soldiers in Northern Israel.

14 fallen soldiers and police in Judea & Samaria.

30,675 estimated projectiles fired at Israel.

88,000 Israelis displaced from their homes.

1 Jewish nation united in prayer, charity, and good deeds.

 

The last statement, arguably the most important one, is what I intended writing about today, to give understanding of our life during this war.

 

For starters, after yet another missile attack from the far-off Houthis, using an advanced Iranian missile in an attempt to disrupt our lives, everyone went back to their daily routine this morning!

 

Israelis, or the vast majority of Israelis, are volunteers, be it IDF, picking crops in the South, crops that would that otherwise rot on the trees since the growers are either on Miluim or their workers are non-existent; cooking barbecues for soldiers when they come out of the war zone exhausted and traumatised or ensuring that they are warm and protected in very cold and wet conditions.

 

Starting 2025 with a wonderful act of kindness and care is very special. 

My grandson Yosef, went up north several times to visit friends who are in an active unit of the IDF, raising their morale and bringing them felafel. They were high up on the Golan heights in freezing cold conditions and even though their uniform was supposed to be sufficient, the unusually cold weather meant that they were really freezing. These young soldiers had to keep going in the damp, made worse by heavy rain and freezing temperatures.  On his return Yosef immediately spoke to his mother, my daughter Rachel, and they went about finding suitable jackets that could fit under the official uniform coats. 

 

Thanks to the kindness of many friends, we went and bought 25 of the 32 coats promised. The shopkeeper of the North Face store in the Mamilla Mall gave us a 30% discount and as soon as Rafael's "pluga" comes out for a break, Yosef and Rachel will travel to wherever they are to give the coats to them.

We can only pray that this kindness, this way of showing gratitude, will keep them safe and they can bring the hostages home.

 

While we were counting out the various sizes of the coats, a gentleman next to us, an American tourist, was buying a warm coat for himself. “What are you going to do with all those jackets” he asked. “They are for soldiers to keep them warm,” said Rachel. Then cheekily, after all she is my daughter, Rachel said “Do you want to buy one?” The gentleman jumped at the chance and immediately did so! We were so moved and forgot to get his name! If you hear that story from a delightful gentleman who was visiting Israel, please let us know because we want to thank him! Now we have to wait until Rafael, Yosef’s friend and his plugah come out for a break so that Rachel and Yosef can travel to give them their warm North Face coats.

 

I just heard from Harold and Rebecca Finger from Sydney who are here in Israel, volunteering in whatever way they are needed. Today they have been making food for a very special unit and then travelling down to the Gaza border so that the young soldiers have good food for Shabbat. This is Israel. This is Israel for the last 454 days.

 

There are some people who are more effective than others and then there are exceptional people who save the Jewish people, sometimes from themselves. One of those people, the exceptional ones, is Dr. Malcolm Hoenlein. On the 7^th of January, Malcolm will receive the Presidential Medal of Honour, never has there been one more worthy. Some of my best adventures over the last twenty five years were with Malcolm who gave me the honour of including me in some of his exceptional groups. We went to places no-one is allowed to go, including Jenin – meeting the then PM of the PA; we went down into the place with the tightest security in Israel, called “the bor”, the underground warren of Israeli intelligence, and many other places that he knew I wouldn’t ever tell you! I remember the groups brought to Israel, knowing full well that this was just the public face of a man who worked behind the scenes, often in the White House, the King of the American Jews with his heart in Israel. Thank you, Malcolm, we look forward to the ceremony.

 

It is my need to keep up with the news from media sources that one could reasonably call enemy reports. Al Jazeera, CNN, BBC, Sky, CBC and so many more report the devastation of Gaza but none talk about the reason, the killing and October the 7^th which started this whole ghastly war. Of curse Gaza is devastated, the tunnels built by Hamas are absolutely everywhere and incidentally, the hospital that was attacked this week, when the soldiers got in there many of the patients and most of the doctors were Hamas operatives because the ordinary people had escaped as per the warnings of the IDF. Lebanon was an entirely different situation, we stopped the Hezb-Allah’s clearly laid out plans to perform an October 7^th like massacre and take over northern Israel, Metulla and Kiriat Shmona. Lebanon is a different matter because a majority of the population is against Hezb-Allah, Iran and want to get back to a normal life, or be part of Israel. Gaza is different. The PM offered the Gazans $5 million for each hostage given up to Israel and nobody took the bait!! Gaza is guerilla war. Yes there is devastation but Hamas is still active and most of all the hostages, whoever is still alive, are still in horrific captivity. Until the hostages come home we cannot be whole again

 

The war is not only Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and of course the puppet masters in Iran, threats come from all over this crazy region. Soldiers of a special unit just found a colossal underground, Iranian arms factory in Syria which, thank heaven, they planted explosives, came out and blew the entire factory up. As you can imagine, the explosion was huge!

 

I said it would be a short missive and here I am going on much longer than I intended. Today was a quiet day and If I don’t hurry I won’t get to see Rachel and the children. Yosef was 20 two days ago! Zvi went to Shalva where he watched a basketball match then to his parliament and I have to get my voice in good tune so that I can sing Happy Birthday to my lovely daughter in law Stephanie in London. So I had better get on with songs!!

 

Exodus, not only the first part of our story, our exodus from Egypt, far more than that wonderful movie, but the theme song of that movie, written by Pat Boone, has the lyrics that say it all. Andre Rieu, genius maestro and huge supporter of Israel, in concert in Maastricht https://youtu.be/RDkYUfJPjE0?si=Ktd_XhA0yPeCb9Sr

 

Hanan Ben Ari is a highly popular Israeli singer, here he sings about his country, the country he will never abandon, he sings about Israel https://youtu.be/9wYEWx1291g?si=qQ1pQcjBxCzDBWuW

 

For the last song I decided to be selfish! This is my favourite song, a love song to Israel. Lalechet Shevi Achariech. When I first went to Ulpan (Hebrew language school) in Israel, in Ramat Poleg by the sea when it was just a few lone houses, whereas today it is a whole town, as part of our learning process we sang in Hebrew. I was in the choir and this was my solo. It really says it all. https://youtu.be/FQLU1a-rnGA?si=PgJnFw0Ajr1xdFrI

  

Shabbat Shalom to all of you, a peaceful Sabbath.

With much love from our veranda and the view of Jerusalem

Sheila

 

 

Santa, Shabbat and Seleucids

 

Friday the 27^th of December 2024

 

 

This year, with all its fears and tragedies has flown by and I think that there is no-one amongst us that will not heave a sigh of relief at its passing. Too many tears in a world that is changing beyond recognition, yet is all too familiar. I promise to get into the festive mood, although it would dishonour those lost and those who suffer if I do not mention the chaos, the lawless pandemonium that has taken to our streets and our homes.

 

So let me start with wishing you Shabbat Shalom, a blessed third day of Chanuka and a holy third day of the twelve days of Christmas. Above all I wish you a peaceful fourth day and every day that follows.

 

I’m sure that your news media hasn’t mentioned it but the residents of the Tel Aviv region have been woken, every night this week, at 02:30, 02:45, 03:00, woken from their sleep by the siren that tells them that yet another hyper-sonic ballistic missile is on its way from the Yemen. Of course both the USA and British armies are fighting the horrific Houthis based in Yemen, both from air and sea, but although they managed to prevent most piracy, the missiles keep coming ensuring that nights are disturbed and children terrified, in other words a typical “Milchemet Atasha” War of Attrition. Yesterday Israel fought back.

 

So far the IDF have identified and confiscated, in addition to those  destroyed over 85,000 arms, from rifles to huge missile stores, in addition to those destroyed in Lebanon. We also found detailed plans to cut of the north eastern corner of Israel, Metulla and Kiriat Shmona, home to tens of thousands of people of all races, and massacre them in the same manner as October 7^th.  Our soldiers, youngsters in the IDF, are fighting in the freezing cold of the Golan, of Lebanon and Syria, fighting terror cells, preventing further attacks from that once Christian country. Incredibly both the Christian and Druze communities in Lebanon  are asking Israel to take them in.

 

Yet again a Christmas market, epitome of joy and spirit, was attacked. This time in Magdeburg by a Saudi psychiatrist who hates Islam and apparently Christianity too. What a cruel and insane world we live in.

 

You have probably never heard of Hannah Katzir. Hannah was taken hostage on October 7^th, rescued but as a result of her 7 weeks of captivity she returned a sick woman. On her return she was told that Hamas had murdered her husband and her son had been taken into captivity. She never returned to her former self and this week Hannah, at the age of 78, died of a broken heart, she lost the will to live.

 

This week was the 85^th anniversary of the Kindertransport, the saving of thousands of children who were taken in by several countries but predominantly Britain. There are many stories, probably thousands but one such story is about the older boys and their experience in a school, hurriedly set up near the glorious Lake Windermere, in the Lake District. The harrowing and ultimately life-affirming story of Holocaust children who were relocated and rehabilitated in the UK after World War II. It began with uncertainty and fear in the new land, however it eventually led to the triumph of hope and goodwill and life-long friendship and happiness that they all cherish. A brilliant movie was made to tell their story. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_windermere_children

 

There were many heroes during the Holocaust, both Jews and diplomats who put their lives on the line to save children. One such hero was Nicholas Winton, who didn’t even tell his wife of his heroism, he felt it was the duty of a moral man. His story and the story of those he saved was recorded and broadcast by Esther Rantzen who succeeded in surprising Nicholas Winton at the end of the programme with a studio full of those he saved. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqqbM1B-mPY&t=2s

 

Chanuka is a story of heroes, of those who refused to accept oppression and fought back against a huge empire, the Seleucid Empire. The Seleucid army was vast with a determination to overtake Jerusalem and for that matter, Judaism. Under Seleucid King Antiochus IV internal strife and external force culminated in an attempt to suspend the Torah and to convert Jerusalem into a Hellenistic polis (renamed "Antioch in Judaea"). This led to the first religious persecutions in recorded history. Although they killed Jews, their prime aim was to take away our religious rites, to deny Brit Mila, Shabbat, Torah, the dietary laws, in fact to stop us being Jews and adopt the Greek, Hellenistic way of life (does that sound familiar?).

One family that lived near Jerusalem gathered strength and fought. The Maccabees, led by the son Yehuda (Judah Maccabee), gathered a tiny army and fought the Hellenists and ultimately succeeded in saving Judaism! So if you thought that Chanukah is just about the miracle of oil lasting eight days and sufganiyot (doughnuts) think again. Chanukah is about the battle for the right to be a Jew.

 

It reminds me of those who think that Christmas is all about twinkling lights and decorated pine trees, and both festivals are all about spending much more than you can afford on gifts for children who really don’t need them. Neither festival is about presents it is about presence, about understanding who you are and the values that both festivals encompass. When a Roman (in the first century BCE) taunted Rabbi Hillel “Teach me Judaism while standing on one foot.” Rabbi Hillel responded, “No problem” and went on to say these words “That which is hateful unto you, do not do unto your friend, the rest is commentary, go forth and learn.”

 

If you thought that the story of the Moslem Santa in Jerusalem that I told you last week, was funny, think about this one, Rick Rosenthal, a traditional Jew is a Santa in Chicago!! https://youtu.be/wG8oIPp771c?si=T6-ntwnT5KVxzZuB

 

This week was the 5^th anniversary of my son Daniel’s accident. My decision to honour the day by taking five of the most important friends who are in Israel, to visit Shalva, to eat a fabulous meal in the Shalva Restaurant ( by the way, the Food Truck on the lawn outside the building is not only highly successful but has the best pastries (made on site) and delicious coffee well worth a visit). Linda, Rachel, Abby, Poodle, my Rachel and I had a wonderful time reminiscing about their time in Carmel College with Daniel, doing exactly what he would have wanted, laughing and giggling about the antics and how the amazing Alex achieved the name Poodle! After lunch we were met by the lovely Sarah, daughter of Kalman and Malki Samuels and sister of Yossi (among others) who took us to see the video of the founding and purpose of Shalva and then we went to Dr. Dan’s Room, the studio for the performing arts that, with the help of a multitude of fabulous friends, we created for the children to have fun. After Sarah left us there we all become very emotional and the stories were very much Daniel based. Tears were shed, arms were opened to hug, and we all felt that not only was this room a suitable tribute to Daniel, that he would have loved it and that deep and lasting friendship was the balm for grief.

 

As we were leaving Shalva, after buying Kalman’s book of the journey to Shalva, we saw Kalman with two men. One, Yoav Engel who is the director of sport in Shalva, and Jon Goldberg Polin. Yoav whose son Ofir was taken hostage and rescued, now tours the world telling his story, and Jon, husband of Rachel, whose son Hersh was taken hostage and held in cruel conditions for a whole year and then executed in captivity. What can one say to a man who has been through hell with such dignity? Linda found the words, telling him that she had met Rachel, his wife and they had hugged. Unbearable tragedy.

 

Last night we went to a wedding in the most glorious wedding hall I have seen in a long time. The décor was breathtaking, the view over the whole of Jerusalem phenomenal, the food delicious (no boiled chicken in sight) and best of all, the bride and groom and their wedding service under the canopy was superb. It was elegant, very Jewish, simply perfect – and the dancing was insane as it should be with all the youngsters on the dance floor! I admit to doing my best to join in, although on the sidelines. Zvi, of course was right in the middle having fun!

 

Today the sun is shining, there is a nip in the air, but it is just the weather for a walk. Admittedly I am not going far, but just walking around our project (I am not sure what the right word to describe our wonderful group of homes is in English), through the walking paths, beside the children’s play areas, the outdoor gym and the large flower beds. What a privilege to live in such a beautiful place surrounded by trees with the village hall and the village library just a couple of hundred metres along the path. I love the hellos and hugs I receive along the way, enjoying the interruptions of my determined if slow exercise. When I finish writing I will set my mind to Shabbat Dinner. Tonight the candle-lighting will be preceded by lighting the Chanuka candles. We have a collection of Chanukiot (A Menorah is just seven arms whereas a Chanukiah has nine) and I love choosing which one we use tonight. By the time I finish lighting the Chanukah Candles and then the Shabbat candles I feel that the world is lighter, that the light of the candles lights the world and if we all lit candles, gosh, we may just bring some light into this confused world.

 

Tomorrow, we celebrate the 80^th birthday of our in-law, Mechutan, Yossi Shiloach, a scientist who after his retirement established a herb farm in Sinai. Yossi, who lives on the Golan where he established a second organic herb farm, drives to Sinai to tend his farm and visit his agricultural partners, come war and Covid. An exceptional man indeed

 

The choice of songs was not easy, but choose I did. I think I gave you this one last year but it is worth repeating. Tom Jones, reading Dylan Thomas with the world famous Treorchy Male Voice Choir and a Children’s Christmas in Wales. https://youtu.be/tfDnCYN015c?si=yDeVFTm-CYiFuNOu  

 

When an Orthodox Christian Arab and a Kibbutznik orphan of October 7^th get together to sing a song in their bid to sing for Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, magic happens. Two glorious voices, two beautiful young people as Valerie Hamaty and Daniel Weiss join magical forces to sing the original words of Hurricane. I cannot listen without tears running down my face. https://youtu.be/tfDnCYN015c?si=yDeVFTm-CYiFuNOu

 

When we light the Chanuka candles, adding one each of the eight days of Chanukah, we say special prayers. The blessing over candle lighting, a blessing thanking the Almighty for helping us to defeat our enemies all those years ago and then we sing Maoz Tzur, a traditional song telling the story of Chanuka. I particularly like this rendition, simple, no frills, a man and his guitar sitting in a field next to the town of Maccabim, right where Judah and his family lived. https://youtu.be/GbpCV5MttH4?si=46zYXhF7BrTTvM9m

 

Whatever your festival I wish you blessings and joy. It is up to us to fight hatred, each in their own way. Judah Maccabee chose physical fighting but we can do it differently (we have the IDF to fight our enemies on the ground). We can stand proud, refuse to give up our traditions, speak out and most of all do not fear a cruel enemy, stand up to him with whatever you have.

 

Me? I choose teaching love, taking hatred out of the menu of possibilities in children’s schooling, but you already know of the amazing work of the Impact-se team.

 

May God bless you and keep you safe from harm.

With love from Jerusalem

Sheila

  

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas, Chanukah and a Prayer for Peace

 

20^th of December 2024

 

Shabbat Shalom! Just four days until Christmas and two day later it’s Chanukah! Days of family, hope and light. Days of celebration.

 

A friend who lives in Malta, her FB name is Cour di Rosa, posted a brilliant explanation of our days of light and I want to share it with you.

“"I saw a beautiful idea that has its roots in one of the famous arguments between Hillel and Shammai. (two great Rabbis) The question arose, “Can you use one Hanukkah candle to light another?” Shammai insisted that you could not. “How can you diminish one candle to light another?” he queried.

But Hillel looked at the situation differently. “When I use one candle to light another,” he posited, “we both benefit.” In other words, if I use the flame that burns within me to light someone else’s flame, the fire within me isn’t extinguished; in fact, it burns ever brighter. I don’t lose by lighting someone else’s candle; I benefit! In helping you, I’m the one who grows!

And in the same way that one mitzvah leads to another, so too one light leads to another, until we have a big flame, until the light of that one original candle is illuminating the whole world.

On Hanukkah let's take the light that shines within us, the light of our souls, and share it with others so that together we can be full participants in lighting up our world!"

So it is with all good deeds, passing the light of kindness from one to another.

 

This has not been the quiet week we prayed for. The signs, the possibility of a Chanukah miracle came close but so far, our hostages are still in dire captivity after 440 days.

 

The war with both Hamas and Hezb-Allah seem to be reaching an end, a tragic end when you look not only at the destruction in Israel but the death and destruction in both Gaza and Lebanon. A tyrant above all others has toppled and run away to Russia, taking much of his wealth with him. The vast arsenals, stores of terrifying chemical weapons, missiles and so much more, have been destroyed by our aerial attacks and far worse, beyond any rational imagination, the mass graves of over 150,000 Syrian citizens have been discovered, in addition to the understanding that an additional 120,000 Syrians are missing. Conceivably one of the cruellest and deadly regimes of modern times and not a single word from the United Nations, the Red Cross or any other international body.   Add Turkey’s attempt to overtake Syria now that they see the opportunity, especially to overtake the Kurds. Erdogan and his dreams of grandeur, or returning to Ottoman rule, has taken Turkey from a thriving country to a falling empire.

 

As we see the terrifying extent of the Syrian weaponry, I thank heaven for the Israeli Prime Minister who went against the wishes of the American President and destroyed the Syrian nuclear facility. Thank you Ehud Olmert. Equal thanks to Menachem Begin for going against a different American President and destroyed the Iraqi nuclear facility. Brave leaders who cared more for their country, this country, than keeping their seat warm. Imagine if those nuclear facilities were still functioning.

 

The Druze people on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights want to be part of Israel. “We are with those who preserve our dignity, we ask to be annexed to the Israeli Golan, we ask to join our kin in the Golan, to be free from injustice and oppression,” to which those present replied shouting: “We agree, we agree!”

 

The Houthis are cruel terrorists. Until now they are known for their piracy at sea, their attacks on British, US and various other ships, causing deaths, but they are armed with very modern and accurate long range missiles which, one at a time, they launch at Israel. Yesterday one such missile landed on a school in Ramat Gan, destroying it.

 

We all understand the effect of the tools of war, be they missiles or pistols, but when one looks back in history, about 90 years ago, and you see the preparation for war that is seen in schoolbooks, the teaching of children to hate enough to want to kill another, it comes as an even bigger surprise to know that Polish schoolbooks still contain references to Jews killing Jesus and even worse. The Impact-se team has taken a look at the schoolbooks and improvements have been made but right in the middle of Europe the blood libel continues. As I have written so many times, the world is upside down. When the Bahrainis put Israel on their maps in schoolbooks, the West is becoming increasingly anti-Semitic. Impact-se is now looking into the Syrian schoolbooks, preparing for change.

 

The Melbourne Jewish community, indeed 99.9% of Australia, is in shock at the burning of the synagogue in Melbourne. How on earth can it be? Australia? Such things don’t happen in Australia. But they do and they did and they are. This is a new phenomenon and must be dealt with firmly and the cause rooted out and the culprits publicly shamed and put into prison.

 

The question of who is a Jew, or whether one should wear a skullcap in public for fear of attack, one fascinating man stood up. The award winning actor Liev Schreiber speaks of his fascinating, multifaceted childhood, and what is means to be Jewish. Absolutely fascinating, very emotional, very worth watching. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDr93BrtLVE/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

 

Before I get to this week’s personal events, I want to address the question of Haredi “gius”, Haredi, Ulta-Orthodox, conscription into the IDF. Quite apart from the fact that our miluimnikim, our incredible reservists who have left home, family and businesses to defend this country, sometimes for the entire 440 day of this war, we need soldiers. The argument of the Haredi Rabbis, whose word is law in their communities, constantly express fear that if their young men go into the army they will come out secular is ludicrous. If their religious belief is so fragile that they would lose it by being in contact with those who are not religious, then their connection to Judaism is tenuous. The IDF is willing to go as far as necessary to make their religious life consistent with being a soldier and defending this country and more importantly, many young Haredi men want to be part of the defence of Israel.

 

It’s Christmas in Israel! Those of you who thought that we just celebrate Jewish festivals and that now we only celebrate Chanukah are very wrong! Nazareth and the Christian Quarter of the Old City are lit up with Christmas lights, and the road to Bethlehem, here in Jerusalem, is lit up with decorations. Christmas Markets in all of the above in the First Station and of course in the YMCA and the Jerusalem Municipality gives free Christmas trees to anyone who wants one. Best of all, I love the story of Issa. What greater example of the Israeli human mosaic than Issa Anis Kassissieh. Why? Because Issa is Israel's most famous Santa!!! He has created a Santa's grotto in his home and each year he welcomes children of all faiths to visit. Issa lives in Jerusalem's Old City, played basketball for the Palestinian team and isn't Christian!  I love the fact that he often arrives on a camel, obviously no Rudolph in sight!

 

This week has been an emotional roller coaster. Incredibly it is 5 years since my incredible, brilliant, caring, funny, adorable and loyal eldest son, Daniel Cammerman, was killed in an accident in Central Park, New York, on his way to work in Mount Sinai Hospital. Dr. Dan was loved, beloved, by everyone who came in touch with him, be they patients, parents, friends and of course us, his adoring family. I said emotional roller coaster because I am not the keening and bawling type, my pain is deep and personal, rarely shared except for those closest to me, but pain it is, deep in my soul. A pain that cannot be eased. However, I have the joy of my daughter in law Karen and my Daniel’s children, Joshua and Callie, watching them grow, seeing how loving and incredible they are. This Chanukah as we light the candles my thoughts will be with them - with him, with Gideon and Rachel and of course Daniel’s Daddy Philip. Daniel brought light into this world just by his being and that light can never be extinguished.
They say that a person doesn’t leave this world as long as his name is remembered. I can only tell you that we, his family talk about him constantly, his friends, especially Poodle and Paddy, speak of him every day and his fellow doctors and his patients do too. In fact, the head nurse of Uptown Paediatrics still has his photos on her wall. It’s all about being a good person and my son was just that, a good man.

 

I’m not going to Rachel today, we spent time together this week, just doing everyday things like going shopping and sitting down for a coffee, but I am sure that we will speak at least 6 times! Tonight I decided not to cancel Friday night dinner with family despite ongoing pain. We will be 15 including Zvi’s son Leor and family and among the diners will be the lovely Ira, whose birthday it was yesterday and Yossi and Rachel Ribak who were with Zvi and I when the phone call about Daniel arrived. Everyone is bringing something so that makes life easier. Zvi has already extended the table to accommodate everyone and most of the food is ready. Two soups made, the essential gluten free foods prepared, potatoes, sweet potato, shallots and garlic ready for roasting and the salmon defrosting. Zvi has gone to get ice cream for dessert so that I won’t have to make and the gluten free dessert is coming with Rachel. I will talk about my Daniel before we sit down to eat because only a very few knew him and it is so important to me that they learn what a fantastic mensch he was.

 

On Monday I’m taking a very few of Daniel’s closest Carmel College friends to the delightful Shalva restaurant for brunch. Linda, Poodle, Abby, Rachel F, and of course my daughter Rachel. We’ll be taken to Dr Dan’s Room by the newly wed Sarah Samuels, daughter of the founders of Shalva Kalman and Malki Samuels. We will talk about Daniel but without tears, only about his exceptional personality, his love of Gilbert and Sullivan and his devotion to his patients. If you want to give to Dr Dan’s Room, the fabulous studio for the performing arts in Shalva  https://give.shalva.org/daniel

 

And so to song.

 

This week Israel lost one of her most loved and brilliant singers songwriters. Corinne Allal. This song, co-written with Ehud Manor, expresses the love of this tiny country. Rest in peace Corinne. https://youtu.be/pyFK0m-OGNo?si=JXsKKuUUhbng5aXR

 

The next song, the next singer is a hero. A hero who lost his life in Gaza. His beautiful voice is lost, his parents broken. I just felt the need to give you his song for Eurovision, his only and last performance. Sadly there is no translation. https://youtu.be/4Pc-lep4J7g?si=0yOAlUoxWiO4WB19

 

I always loved Peter Paul and Mary but had never heard this song which fits both Christmas and Chanukah. Keep the light from the candle lighting the world. Don’t let the light go out  https://youtu.be/StB_ehpZyN4?si=XajzGA9jF1CK542t

 

My prayer this week is that the lights of the Chanukiah (also known as a Menorah) will light this world and bring the miracle of peace and tolerance to a broken and distorted society. May the wounded be healed; their nightmares fly away and the hostages come home. The goodwill of Christmas spread like snowdrops and cover the world with kindness.

 

Shabbat Shalom dear friends. Remember to invite the lonely neighbour, the elderly friend, the lost young person, to join your celebrations. You may just save a life.

 

With much love from wonderfully rainy Jerusalem where it all started.

Sheila

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Churchill, Assad and Renewal

 

13^th December 2024

 

Shabbat Shalom to you one and all.

 

“And now it has come to us to stand alone in the breach, and face the worst that the tyrant’s might and enmity can do, bearing ourselves humbly before God, but conscious that we serve an unfolding purpose, we are ready to defend our native land against the invasion by which it is threatened. We are fighting by ourselves alone, but we are not fighting for ourselves alone”. Winston Churchill

 

Slowly and painfully the wars, the missiles from many countries which have decimated homes and farms alike, are coming to an end. The missile and drone attacks from 7 countries are diminishing, almost ended, but the war cannot be won until the hostages come home. Without their return to their broken loved ones this war has no meaning and no end.

 

This resilient people, the Children of Israel, north, south, Arab and Jew, have already begun to get back to some sort of normal life. Hotels and “Tzimmerim” which sounds much better than B&B’s, are opening in the north, restaurants are filling up and in the South the rebuilding has begun. As one resident of Zikin said “We are tearing down the burnt remains of the past and building ourselves and our grandchildren a new future.” They will never forget October 7^th, but as we always do, they will pick themselves up, build new homes, plant the fields, grow the crops and the children will play in safety and they will make the South beautiful again. Next spring “Darom Adom” will bring the incredible display of red anemones throughout the Southern Desert and we will learn to celebrate again.

 

They say that things change quickly in the Middle East, but the last month or two things have changed at a rate rarely seen in this insane world. The fall of tyrants and terrorists has been fast and furious, true at the cost of Israeli sons and fathers, fighting for the freedom of this country and democracy in the region.

 

The fall of Bashar Assad was swift, one could say a fallout of the war with Hezb-Allah, swift and just. The Assad regime, father and son, was vile, riddled with heinous crimes that hid behind his Western manners and quiet voice, so unlike all the other theocratic leaders. Assad was not Shia nor Sunni, he was an Alawite Moslem, a minority in Syria, he looked like a normal Western leader with his tailored suits, his beautiful wife and the newly discovered collection of wildly expensive fast cars, but he proved to be a foul and cruel leader. Prisons with four and five tiers of dungeons where the prisoners langoured in their cells until they died. Over his term of office he slaughtered 500,000 of his own people, using chemical weapons, some home made some brought overland from Iraq, the supposedly non-existent WMDs.

 

What does it say about our world, about the supposed ICC when this homicidal, inhuman leader stayed in power for 24 years without a murmur from the so-called Justices. Yet another inhuman aspect of the UN.

 

I cannot begin to describe the horrors of his regime but Tom Gross speaks from the heart as a British journalist, speaking for us all. Watch this video, but know that the scenes in the Seraya prison are distressing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bi_5qneeUc

 

Perhaps one of the most ignored aspects of the war both in Gaza and in Lebanon although predominantly in Gaza, none of the humanitarian organizations has in any way helped the hostages the victims who are Jews. They have not checked on the hostages to check their medical condition and their situation in 15 months of captivity. Like the UN the red cross is anti-Semitic and Israel and you just have to visit the headquarters in Switzerland see that wall of action. A blue line goes around the wall of their museum showing every single act humanitarian act of the Red Cross since its founding. The Holocaust is called the war with Germany and doesn't even mention Jews; 1948 is not about Israel’s War of Independence it's described as the killing of Palestinians and the stealing of their land! Why are the two largest human rights and aid organisations in the world are so against this tiny sliver of land on the Mediterranean Sea?

 

The Jews of Australia are very special. They came, predominantly, from the remnants of the European Jews after the Holocaust, and from the pogroms, coming to the beautiful land as far as possible from Europe. The community has given a great deal to Australia, loving Australia and was loved in return, until now. Synagogues are burnt, Jews are assaulted, the smell of burning taking Survivors back to their worst fears. How? How can it happen so quickly? How can the slaughter and rape of thousands of Israelis have an impact on Jews thousands of miles away, especially in Australia, Canada and the US? Why has inverse racism erupted and was it orchestrated? Melbourne is not the only synagogue burned down since

October 7: Oct 17: El Hamma, Tunisia, Oct 18: Berlin, Germany, Nov 8: Montreal, Canada, Nov 18: Yerevan, Armenia.  Nov 19: Lakewood, USA, Feb 28: Sfax, Tunisia, April 5: Oldenburg, Germany, April 10: Moscow, Russia, May 1: Warsaw, Poland, May 17: Rouen, France, May 30: Vancouver, Canada,

December 5: Melbourne, Australia.  I think about that famous quote after WW2, you know, the one about “they came for the Jews”, because like it or not, we are the canary in the coal mine and Christians are next.

 

Prime Minister Netanyahu made history this week as the first Israeli prime Minister to appear in Court as a defendant. Not a matter for pride and just another issue that has split this country.

 

My husband has a knack for predicting political situations. He has been saying for months that while the world is watching the Middle East China will surround Taiwan. Sadly he is right yet again.

 

I’m sorry, those first paragraphs were really depressing, and I know you expect me to be optimistic and full of hope but we have to face facts.

 

I promise that we now switch to my usual optimism, to which I hinted at the very beginning of this missive! The north of Israel has some of the most beautiful scenery in Israel and possibly in the world. Nature reserves, an Israeli favourite, fabulous treks and places to stay; restaurants of every nature, many “Al ha Aish” – Barbecue style, and Kosher Druze restaurants with traditional Druze dishes. The favourite is the “Tzimmerim” which welcome families for weekends in nature. This week, barely 7 days since Hezb-Allah was defeated, all of the above are already up and running and booked to their limit. It isn’t just that we are a resilient people, it isn’t even the fact that we refuse to stop living life to the full, we need this. We need to go out and have fun, to walk in the hills, to pick fruit, to visit all our old haunts and to relax, to finally relax. We don’t for one second forget the hostages or the families or those we lost, but we need time away from the 24\7 newscasts.

 

Richard Gere was generally known for his good looks and acting especially in Pretty Woman but this week he showed that he is much more than a pretty man, unlike most of his fellow actors who run away from any action that may harm their standing, he chose to stand with Israel and met with the families of hostages and former hostages in the USA. This act of solidarity aligns with Richard Gere’s history of advocating for human rights and peaceful resolutions to global crises.

 

I am so proud of my involvement in Impact-se and here’s another announcement. Egypt, which is led by a Moslem Brotherhood President, has changed its curriculum entirely! 80% of Egyptian schoolchildren are now included in multiyear educational reform using our suggested curriculum. Our Egypt report has found continued improvement in textbooks promoting peace, tolerance, and rejecting violence and extremism. In elementary schools Antisemitic and anti-Israel content showcased in previous reports was presented to Egyptian officials and subsequently removed or revised.  www.impact-se.org

 

This has been a glorious week, sunshine and a crispness in the air that has woken our veranda and brought the sense of late autumn. Walking to the village library the scent of log fires brought back wonderful memories of life in Reading, Berkshire, and waking early on a winter’s morning to set the log fire and warm the children’s clothes on the big fireguard. There is something special about certain scents, rather like music, the memories come flooding back.

 

In a short while I will set off to visit Rachel and family, going past some of the most spectacular panoramic views of Jerusalem from the heights of Nebe Samuel – the Tomb of the Prophet Samuel which is holy to Jews, Christians and Moslems, which lies atop one of the highest hills in Jerusalem.  The view is breathtaking as Jerusalem lies before us, stretching into the distance. The tall buildings are popping up like weeds making the landscape even more interesting and the trees, oh the trees. Quite apart from the forests of Keren Kayemet, every new road in Israel begins with the trees, mere saplings, that will line the future housing. Gosh I love it! The drive takes me through the neighborhood of Ramot and over Nebe Samuel then down to Givat Ze’ev with the ever flourishing Palestinian town of Ramallah on my right. When I say ever flourishing, I mean the brand new tower blocks, the huge buildings which house depots of imports and fruit and vegetable markets. Ramallah, a prosperous, modern town.

 

We just had a lovely surprise visit from one of my favourite people, Paul Israel, Executive Director of the Israel-Australia Chamber of Commerce. Paul popped in with a very important purpose. Vegemite!  For the uninitiated, Vegemite and Marmite are yeast based spread that one either loves or hates- vehemently! In addition, Aussies love Vegemite insisting that it is far superior to its original British counterpart Marmite. Vegemite is virtually impossible to acquire in Israel and I have a wonderful Aussie friend who is going through a tough time and “chalishes” really facies Vegemite!  In truth I love Paul but hate both of the spreads!!

 

Sagui Dekel Chen managed to save his family on that dark day but was taken to Gaza. Idan Reichel and his group sing the song the words of which ring true for Sagui’s wife. https://youtu.be/g26H13bQsuI?si=hcaq-jWx3mytYViI  

 

Music, memories flood through our minds with every note. Keren Peles is a much loved Israeli songwriter, singer and teacher who, after the 7^th of October decided to change her lifestyle and concentrate on volunteering her talent and being with her family. Here she sing a beautiful song with the children of hostages and those who lost everything. https://youtu.be/2J9KJ2lOLLE?si=xdb7Viqn4iqGor36

 

And so to something we all know and love. This week I was going through my old Beatles Albums and singles and so many of their songs rings true today, bringing with them the memories of our youth. Here Comes the Sun gave me hope coming from a time when rebelling meant growing your hair and wearing brightly coloured clothes, but one song, one glorious song, beat them all. Paul McCartney, Joe Cocker, Eric Clapton & Rod Stewart and a myriad of British stars singing All You Need Is Love. https://youtu.be/_OuYLGHkrBk?si=pRBrHQlrLMloMuul  That’s it folks, that’s all we need to wipe out hate.

 

The nights are drawing in and Shabbat comes in early. As I light the candles I feel the physical warmth of the flames, but most of all I feel the spiritual and emotional warmth of an age old tradition that represents the change from an ordinary weekday to a different, calmer, wiser, kinder day or contemplation and rest. I wish you all of the above. You don’t have to be Jewish to light a candle, just think, if we all lit a candle and said a prayer it could light the world.

 

Shabbat Shalom lovely people, Shabbat Shalom and love from our veranda where the flowers come out in abundance grateful for the glorious weather.

Sheila