150612
12th
June, 2015
Shabbat
Shalom from London!! Yes I am in Blighty, land of my birth, to see my gorgeous
grandchildren, children siblings and cousins with a dose of friends thrown in.
No I don’t go to shows or do the tourist
things, I just immerse myself in the grandchildren.
We are all
agree that BDS is idiotic, self-destructive and causes unemployment in the
Palestinian Authority and the disputed territories but this week the sheer
idiocy of those involved in BDS came to a high point, acme, apex, peak all
together in one enormous act of stupidity!!! How? Well, California is in the
middle of a horrific drought and Israel has offered the technology to prevent
such droughts in the future. That’s good isn’t it? Well the California BDS
people don’t think so – they want to ban Israel’s assistance!!! Oh dear, such
ignorance, such foolish racism. \here’s the good news. http://www.israel21c.org/headlines/israeli-water-tech-flows-to-thirsty-california/
Professor Alan
Dershowitz spoke beautifully concerning BDS https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Professor
Dershowitz also spoke about the American Supreme Court decision which stated
that a child born in Jerusalem cannot claim his place of birth as Israel. Are
they insane or inane – I haven’t decided. Ignorance is not likely, insanity is
unlikely, so what is likely that any group of exerts I jurisprudence could come
to such a decision – and more importantly, why should or did they? http://www.voiceofisrael.com/dershowitz-supreme-court-decision-utterly-unnecessary/
There was a
huge Brouhaha over the statements of Orange CEO Stephane Richard in Cairo. He claimed
that what he said was that Orange, a major cell-phone company, was retracting
from its concession companies, which include Switzerland and Israel, and
everyone jumped on his words and his apparent singling out of the Israeli
subsidiary Orange/Partner. Monsieur Richard then visited Israel to sort out the
faux pas, which became a diplomatic incident causing Prime Minister Netanyahu
to demand Richards castigation by the French Prime Minister. Indeed the
positive aspect is that the unlikely alliance of Haim Saban (major shareholder
in Partner) and Sheldon Adelson came together to fight any smell of BDS. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/reuters/article-3120301/Orange-CEO-arrives-Israel-diplomatic-spat.html
Kay Wilson
is an exceptional person. She suffered a horrific machete attack, an attack in which
her walking companion was slaughtered, and lived to tell the tale with
incredible humour. Her TED talk is entitled “Step By Step: The
Idiot’s Guide To Surviving A Machete Attack” Kay endorses
Kinneret Chayas statement that she is not a victim, she is a SURVIVOR https://www.youtube.com/watch?
If you are
either confused or fuming about the case in the USA of the Belz Hassidim
banning women from driving then read
this excellent explanation (?) by my friend Jeremy Rosen. Jeremy also reminded
me of a famous quote, which he certainly got
right and I simply approximate, “ Countries don’t have loyalties,
countries have interests” It is undoubtedly true, however, (hey this is me so
there is always another hand) I cannot see how the interests of the great
United States could be enhanced by an alliance with Iran. It has been said that
the American President would prefer to
have Iran on our side than against us. What? I fail to comprehend a policy that
romances the loyalty of countries that burn ones flag and swear to ones
destruction! Surely Americans natural allies in this region are Israel, Jordan
and Egypt. Am I being unreasonable? I understand that the Allies prefer to
allow the foul and detestable President Assad to continue slaughtering his
people rather than the Islamic Rebels (as opposed to the good rebels) who, if
they defeat Assad would wreak unimaginable havoc in the region.
I cannot
forget the words of King Hussein, that if the West causes the fall of Saddam
Hussein it will open the Pandoras Box of radical Islam. At the time it was al Qaeeda,
now Al Qaeeda seems almost tractable and submissive in comparison to the
horrors of ISIS and others of that ilk. King Hussein was right and now his son
is fighting for his reign, his only ally being Israel.
I am
thrilled to tell you that Roger Waters is feeling very upset and disappointed.
The stars visiting and holding concerts in Israel is increasing, escalating,
nay proliferating!!!! Art Garfunkle was there this week and every week someone
else comes and has a ball to the delight of their Israeli audience. The latest
to announce a future concert is Jon Bon Jovi, who I love http://www.timesofisrael.com/hard-rockers-bon-jovi-announce-october-3-concert/
That announcement was closely
followed by Pharrell Williams - Happy!!!! This video is the very best version – the very,
very best!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=237&v=-oszKeU7lEs
The week began with a delightful
Friday night dinner at our home with Julio and Monika Jarak and their lovely
friends. You are already familiar with our traditional Shabbat Dinners and they
loved it. By the way, Zvi did sing Eshet Chayil, gosh it is such a beautiful
prayer and blessing and since I told you I wanted him to sing it he had no
option!!! During Shabbat we had a lovely visit with Zvi’s cousin Elizabeth and
friend Sylvia who were on a Mediterranean cruise and came with an entire
shipload of passengers on a day trip to Jerusalem. I found it fascinating and
while Zvi spoke Spanish with Elizabeth and Sylvia I spoke with an Australian at
our table, originally from Germany. He knew quite a lot but had a thousand
questions which I was thrilled to answer. He understood the full horror of the
rhetoric and propaganda against Israel, perpetrated by the PA and executed by
the media, when I explained that the PA uses the methods of Goebbels. Oh yes he
understood.
Saturday night we set off with Amir,
our lovely driver, to Massada. Julio, Monika and friends, and us in a very
comfortable mini-bus. Why Massada? Because we were on our way to the annual
opera festival at the foot of Massada.This year it was Tosca, not my favourite
but somehow, sitting in that historic and exquisite site, surrounded by so many
places mentioned in the Bible, everything is wonderful
We were thrilled to see many of our
beloved Tel Aviv friends at the pre-show reception, and as we sat down in our
seats I looked up and the view took my breath away. Above the gorgeous stage
set, Massada stood, lit from underneath with an eerie wash of light, a constant
reminder that we have always been persecuted, have always fought back and all
those great empires that sought our destruction are long gone.
I then packed my bags to leave for
London. Please, do not be cross if I don’t call. I immerse myself in the
children and my family. I will see everyone I can and will try to call but –
hey – see you in Jerusalem!!!! I will go to Cardiff to see my loved ones but
other than that I just enjoy holding and loving my children. I admit to making
an exception for Yaffa Glass – my lovely Israeli friend who lives in the UK but
has her heart in Israel, and we met for a quick hug and breakfast at a great
Kosher Canteen restaurant in Brent Cross.
Rachel, my wonderful daughter, told
me a story that I love, and insisted I put it in the Shabbat Shalom letter! Her
local supermarket has a “special Tuesday” on vegetables and several basic
goods. A whole selection of fruits and veg at 1.90 shekels a kilo (that’s about
50 cents for 2.2 lbs of produce). People come from afar for this bargain, especially
from Ramallah!!! So, friends, next time you are shown pictures of bedraggled
Palestinians standing in lone to cross into Israel, remember that scene of
Palestinians from the PA merrily coming to do their shopping in Israel – not just
in Israel – in a settlement on the occupied West Bank!!!! Now that’s the
truth!!!
My wonderful daughter-in-law Stephanie
and I have finished cooking for Shabbat, the table is set and the expectation
of a beautiful Shabbat with the children is building. I can’t wait to see their
faces as they light the Shabbat candles together with their Mummy and Safta
(me). As I always say, traditions, traditions. It’s what keep us together.
For a change I want to give you two
songs from the same show, Tradition https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRdfX7ut8gw and the beautiful May the Lord Bless you
and Keep you https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=618IKgQ2wys from Fiddler on the Roof, because after
all, in the final analysis, there is no other hand.
Shabbat Shalom dear friends. With
love from sunny London
Sheila
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