160218
18th
February 2016
Shabbat
shalom dear Friends. I hope this missive finds you well.
Have
you ever felt that you fitted a month into 7 days? Well this week I was
convinced that time had run away with me. No sooner did I wake up than the
whirlwind of life passed through and it was night-time again!!!
Three
meetings of the Press Club, a kind invitation from Malcolm Hoenlein to join the
Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish American Organisations and hoping to
see friends too. My husband has been infinitely patient as food is hurriedly
thrown in his direction on my way out the door! I haven't seen my grandchildren
this week and………… it has been absolutely fascinating!!!
The
plight of our friend, former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has knocked the
wind out of our sails. The vultures in
the media and the government have swooped ominously, their determined attack on
the flesh of their prey sickening; their short term memory claiming he was not
a good Mayor/Minister/Prime Minister. As we look north to the chaos in Syria,
just imagine the threat had Ehud Olmert not blown up the Syria reactors,
despite strong opposition from the USA; as we look to the South, imagine had he
(together with Ariel Sharon) not taken the Jews out of Gaza as Hamas rose to
bloody power? Does anyone really think Hamas would have been defeated had we
not left? Look to Turkey, USA, Europe, UK whose leaders he wooed and won. One
writer even suggested that Ehud Olmert wrested power from a comatose Ariel
Sharon when those of us near him know that Ariel Sharon had taken him from his
Mayoral position and groomed him to take over the leadership in the middle of
Sharon's term. Finally, perhaps he came close to the line into a grey area, but
compared to others who got away with mild sentences he did nothing to harm
Israel's public image. Please don't write back with cruel claims – I cannot cry
any more. If you check out Facebook you will see that those of us who worked
close to him have only kind, nay loving, words for the man who led us.
The
UK has outlawed "town hall boycotting" of Israel. In a statement, UK Minister Hancock added that such
boycotts “undermine good community relations, poisoning and polarising debate.”
Hancock addressed the new guidelines while updating Israel’s Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday in Jerusalem, commenting “We believe that
discrimination is unacceptable and has to be opposed.” http://www.bicom.org.uk/news-article/28583/
Conceivably
the worst instance of boycott and tragedy took place in South Africa,
which is suffering one of the worst droughts in history. Vast areas are laid
fallow and arid and a Conference on Water was to take place to prevent further
tragedy. When they found that an Israeli expert was taking part, with the
technology that has been adopted in California, BDS demanded the Conference
cancelled. http://www.jpost.com/International/BDS-movement-claims-victory-in-canceling-S-Africa-water-confab-445130 Bravo BDS, the dead and starving will be on
your heads in the ensuing famine.
Yesterday
there was another stabbing attack. It was in Shaar Binyamin, outside the
green line, which may seem irrelevant but apparently important to the news media.
Sky News actually said an Israeli, Tuvia Yanai Weissman z"l, was killed in
a stabbing frenzy by two Palestinian youths. I want you to understand
something. "Settlements", so demonised in the press, are in fact a
fine example of living together in every way. Jews and Arabs live side by side,
work side by side and in the case of Rami Levy Supermarkets, shop side by side
- and hold more interaction than people
who live in the big towns and are able to spend a life without any contact with
"the other" – other than in the news. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4768062,00.html
I am a
very lucky person. I am invited by Dr Malcolm Hoenlein to join many of the
events for the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organisations of
America. Even that incredibly long title doesn't do justice to the work Malcolm
does on every level.
The
range of speakers and activities is incredible. From Yossi Vardi who wowed us
with a genius 15 year old who is in his 3rd year of University while
in 10th grade; a young Haredi man who became fascinated by creation
and is now saving to go to University; Dr Shiri Tenenboim, an oncologist, who
is caring for the refugees and work seekers who have no medical coverage in
Israel; Yigal Barket, VP of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange who survived a gangster,
wife-beating father to become an innovator, entrepreneur who still teaches
children in schools that the do not have to become what the world tells them
they are.
Of
course there were many learned speakers on the expected subjects of BDS,
Security, Iran, Syria etc, all fascinating, but I was thrilled to hear Yair
Lapid speak. It is so refreshing to listen to a politician who admits his
mistakes and learns from his experience. Luke Baker is not an easy interviewer,
asking the tough questions but Lapid certainly impressed me anew.
Another
highlight was a visit to the Friends of Zion Museum.
I have
to admit that our friend Pastor Mike Evans, creator of the museum, has been
asking me on a regular basis if I have visited the Museum and I just didn't
have time. Thanks to Malcolm Hoenlein I can now say yes. We were greeted by
Mikes charming son Michael who then led us into a wonderland of Biblical and
Modern History telling the story of those Christians who stood up to be counted
among those who did not forsake their Jewish heritage and responsibility,
especially honouring the Righteous Gentiles of the Holocaust. An exceptional
experience. Kol ha Kavod to the two Michaels. http://www.fozmuseum.com/
Inna Rogatchi is a film-maker. We met in Rome where under
the auspices of their Foreign Ministry and Vittorio Pavoncello her film based
on an interview with Simon Wiesenthal was presented to the community. It is an
important teaching tool for us all http://www.rogatchifilms.org/review/lessons-survival-primary-source-tranquility-justice/
I think
it is time to turn to lighter subjects and I chose a truly Israeli pan on life.
Kippot; Hats; Shoes; Skirts; Coats and of course hairstyles, without even going
into trousers!!!
Kippot
or yarmulkes or skullcaps or – as my son Gideon says Yid-Lids.
White
silk is clearly secular for bar mitzvas and weddings, small knitted kippot are
traditional unless worn over the left ear in which case the wearer is
proclaiming he is Bnei Akiva! Black knitted suggests a bit more religious and
large black knitted is even more so unless you wear a large white knitted,
bobbled kippa with Na Na Nachman on it, then you are Breslauer! Black velvet is already
going up to a much higher level especially if it peeps out the back of a large
black hat!
Womens
head wear
is also dependent upon religiosity. Shmattes,
tichels, cloches or headscarves; tied, placed or wound into incredibly
intricate mounds; alternatively a cloth shower cap does the job if you are very
religious; Wigs – todays wigs are so different from the old simple knot at the
back of ones head. Today they are perfectly coiffed and indistinguishable from
natural hair; finally the cute hat perty perched on the back of ones head.
Even ladies
shoes show your religious standing. If you see a long skirt with white
socks and running shoes – you know that is a religious lady, unless she wears
thick lisle stockings and black shoes then she is seriously religious!
I
haven't even gone into the pony-tailed priests, their tall, short or wide black
hats, nuns wimples and the long black robes……… the leggings and silk coats of
the various Haredi Sects and………… of course the rest of us who love looking at
the incredible theological fashion show passing by. If you check out the
garments worn by the priests and the Kohen ha Gadol in Temple times you will
see that they had even more elaborate attire! http://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/high-priest/
I am
about to go to visit the grandchildren in Givat Zeev. After being hugged within
an inch of my life we will talk about the weeks studies and who is friends and
who is not. They will show me their latest artistic efforts and then I come
back home, passing the panorama of Jerusalem, to sit on our veranda, take in
the vista and dream dreams of tolerance and true peace. Oh how I love the view
from our veranda. This time of year is spectacular, the almond blossom
(shkediot) like puff balls on the hills opposite. The train will give its las
ttoot before Shabbat in the sidings, the buses will go into their Shabbat car
park and everyone will go home for a precious day of rest.
I want
to check if you read what I say! Take this quiz on Israel and let me know your
result! http://www.playbuzz.com/
So now is the time for music, time to reflect, time to prepare. We
live in confusing times so maybe I should give you a song that although not
Israeli, takes its inspiration from the Bible, from Ecclesiastes Turn Turn Turn
http://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/high-priest/
I just found this song, never heard before and although in English
it captures the essence of Shabbat, Shabbes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm0tkU6p2Qk
With love to you and yours. Wishing you a truly beautiful Shabbat,
with time to reflect on the joys that are all around us, if we only take time
to count them.
Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem, the most beautiful city in the
world
Sheila
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