160623
23rd
June 2016
Shabbat
Shalom dear friends! Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem.
It
seems so long since we spoke, last week I just couldn't gather my thoughts
after a phenomenal trip to the USA and awful jet lag! More about our sojourn in
the Land of the Free later, but first, as always, we need to discuss the news.
While in
the US the diabolical shooting at a club in Orlando. 49 people lost their lives
and many many more are scarred for life, be it physically or psychologically,
or both. What made Omar Mateen go on his rampage is unknown; the
theories abound, the truth is yet unknown but while accepting that he would
have found a way to avenge his dismay at his own sexual preferences one thing
is clear to me – and I know there are many who will disagree –guns, the easy
availability of guns. This man, Mateen, was under the eye of the FBI yet he
simply walked in and bought a assault weapon, was a security guard with a weapon.
Sorry but under any law that is crazy. Growing up in a country
where even the policemen do not carry guns I find it terrifying – living in a
country where one has to go through physical and psychological testing to
obtain a gun of any nature and then, if you fire that weapon you need to go
through court to explain why and can be indicted. Guns kill but in truth with
so many guns already out there it is too late to do what Israel did which is to
declare an amnesty on any weapons or ammunition held without licence (left over
from army service) and gather them in. To paraphrase Chekhov, "If in the first act you hung a
pistol on the wall, then in the following act it will be fired." Simple.
Today it is
happening, Britain will decide whether or not to stay in the European
Union. It is well known that without Britain and Germany the rest of the EU
would collapse financially and Britain already has the advantage of keeping her
own currency rather than being dependent upon the vagaries of the Euro, but can Britain
cope with the few years of famine before the fat cows that would certainly
ensue leaving the EU? She lost her natural markets when she joined and the only
solid reason for leaving is political – or is it? Since the borders went down
the politics and open door policy of Europe have impacted Britain and British
society enormously – as has the European determination to go further and
further left. Luckily I no longer need to vote – I have enough problems voting
in Israel!!! For anyone who is interested Dame Helen Mirren is voting to stay
in Europe – but more of that later.
Yesterday
President Rivlin
stood before the European Assembly and presented Israels case on the
instability of the French "Peace Initiative". Truthfully Israel is
tired of being the only one to pay in this complex situation and most certainly
sick of being blamed for Middle East chaos when we are the only stable entity
in the entire area! President Rivlins speech was calm, eloquent and
explanatory. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4819218,00.html
The
American Presidential
race gets racier by the minute!! One candidate is so unpredictable that his mouth
runs off before his brain is in gear and the second is under threat of criminal
charges. Now rumours are running fast that her husband has a love-child! It is
so exciting that the normally boring process has us all on the edge of our
seats. Trouble is that whoever is chosen will be the leader of the free world –
and the free world is in dire peril.
Former
Egyptian President Morsi has been sentenced (yet again) to life imprisonment.
Morsi, of the Moslem Brotherhood, was ousted by President Al Sisi in a military
coup. Morsi was elected democratically but his regime wa anti-democratic and
oppressive – something important to learn from that.
100
years after the disastrous Sykes Picot Agreement https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sykes%E2%80%93Picot_Agreement
in which the Middle East was divvied up between the British and French
irrespective of ethnic or religious affiliations, the Kurdish leader suggests
that Iraq returns to being 3 separate states. Kurdistan (parts in Turkey, Iraq,
Iran and Syria) and the Sunni and Shia areas. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4816877,00.html
And
so to the good news!
The
Genesis Prize is the brainchild of Michael Fridman and his partners
with the prupose of reviving and invigorating Jewish identity worldwide and to
strengthen support for Israel. Unlike other such prizes they choose people with
great personal wealth to give their million dollars to. Sounds strange? Seems
illogical? Actually it is very wise. Their first choice was Michael
Bloomberg, not known for his Jewish commitment, who through the Genesis
Generation Challenge found 9 teams around the world who epitomised the Jewish
values of Tikkun Olam. Last years recipient was Michael Douglas, who,
through his son's determination to come closer to his Jewish roots, chose
projects which brought families of intermarriage back into the fold. So
important was that project that philanthropist Roman Abramovitch added another
million dollars to the project.
This
years laureate is a personal hero of mine – strangely not because he suffered
the ravages of polio as a child but rather because he represents everything good
about Israel to the world. A moral leader, his musical genius over-rides all
barriers. Yitzchak Perlman.
Yesterday
The Jerusalem Press Club gave a reception for Perlman and for this years presenter,
the brilliant actress Dame Helen Mirren. Seated just a couple of metres from
them I could see their faces and would have recognized politalk, Yitzchak
Perlmans love for Israel and wonderful nature shone through. When asked what
his dream is in life – it is that people would look at his face and not think
of his legs. His Genesis projects relate to raising awareness of accessibility
to public areas and ensuring that young Israelis return to classical music –
that Juilliard will again be filled with brilliant Israeli musicians.
My
favourite quote from Maestro Perlman was "This is a very Jewish Award. No
sooner do they give it to you than you have to give it back"!!!!
When Dame
Helen Mirren came on stage one was aware of the humility and power of this
small person with a great talent. Everyone was smiling until the Guardian
reporter asked her how it felt to be involved in a ceremony which meant she
would have to meet the much hated Israeli Prime Minister with his policies of
occupation and oppression!!!! Through the cat calls of the audience she avoided
the question elegantly, but when asked why she is such a fan of Israel her
response was "I am not a fan of Israel I BELIEVE in Israel". Her first
visit was in '67 with her then Jewish boyfriend and in recent years she has
made many films here.
Our
American sojourn ended in New York. For me it was heaven. I loved every moment
of our journey through Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota – indeed middle
America, and the glorious friends we made and renewed on our journey. New York
is different though – in New York I have my amazing eldest son Daniel and his
gorgeous family. Spending time with Daniel, Karen, Joshua and Callie brought
light into my life. My natural obsession with my family meant we had little
time to meet friends but we went upstate to visit the community of Shaarey Tefilla
Temple at Rabbi David Greenbergs home (I was so thrilled meeting old friends
there) where we both spoke, Zvi 's history and political knowledge doing us
both proud; we met with "Arlenes Buddies" again a renewal of old
friends and time to hug my beautiful Arlene; we managed to have lunch with
Joyce Claar and bump into the lovely Josephine Linden and our host with the
most Martin came up from Miami to be with us which really was the icing on the
cake.
This is
a long letter because I am making you pay for not having one last week!!!!
We came
home on the Thursday for a very important reason – on Friday morning Avi
Benalal got married. Avi is the son of Flory and our dear friend Sammy/Shmuel
Benalal z"l who was killed by terrorists in Mali just a few months ago. It
was such a wonderful wedding and Avi's youngest brother Natanel sang a song
composed by Shmuel in anticipation of the wedding. Beautiful, happy, fun – just
as Shmuel would have wanted.
This
week was crazy – for a change! Lots of time with Yosef, Talia and Ayala; lunch
with Ilana and Eddie Podolsky and their lovely children; going to Tel Aviv with
Rachel to see Rachels cousin (my niece) Debbie and Rosey Larks and their
beautiful girls; I went to a Yuri Shtern
Holistic Centre Board meeting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sbk511x4oYI
; Cooked veggie soup for Sue then Chicken soup for Danby – and happily took it
to them and spent wonderful time in each home and even managed to go shopping
yesterday so we coud have Shabbat in Jerusalem.
During
my travels there is one element missing from my diet – freshly picked fruit and
vegetables. In Israel we get all our fruit and veg the day after they are
picked. They still have the dust and mud on them and they taste phenomenal! We
eat salads of every variety morning noon and night and very few have lettuce in
them!! Aubergine salads abound – with freshly made tehina or mayo or just with
coriander and lemon, same with courgettes and the couscous salads are to die
for. Moroccan mushrooms, spicy carrot salad, Russian potato salad and bog
ordinary coleslaw……… but we make them all fresh! I am going to enjoy this weeks
Shabbat preparations!
I love
being home. I love our veranda and the spectacular view over Jerusalem. I love
the relaxed urgency of people on the streets……. Relaxed urgency I hear you ask,
must be a typo! No not a typo, people are rushing around getting to engagements
or meetings but the moment one sees a friend (which is every few paces in
Jerusalem) it is as if one has all the time in the world!!!
I love being
with all our Israeli grandchildren, watching their new games, hearing about
their studies, which friend is friends with whom, seeing their anticipation as
they try very hard not to ask what we brought them from America!! I love my
journey back to Jerusalem over the height of Samuels Tomb rounding the corner
to catch the spectacular panorama of Jerusalem set before me as a relief map of
our incredible city.
Today
is a very special day.
20 years ago we sat in the home of Bonnie and Alan Cohen together with my
cousins Jean and Stuart Lipman z"l and our Rabbi David Rosen as Zvi signed
the ketuba (the written promise of the groom) then walked through our amazing
friends from all over the world who laughed and smiled and hugged and kissed on
Yismach Melech Street. We had "borrowed" some police barriers and
closed off the street, brought in caterers and fairy lights on that magical
day. Our children and Zvi's parents surrounded us with love as we stood under
the chuppah, the Old City Walls lit for the very first time, and pledged our
love and devotion to each other and to Jerusalem. The 7 blessings were sung and
then a surprise – the amazing Re'im Duo, Benny and Yisrael, not only sang the
final blessing but gave us, and our guests a fabulous show, our wedding gift
from them. Every day has been worth it. We are a pair, a couple in every sense
of the word. I write and he speaks; he is history, I am emotion; I am utterly
loved and love him completely.
Tomorrow
is Shabbat and I loved this video of James Corden in a Jewish Deli – wonderful https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1O-JBj7ECmg
Perhaps
the most traditional of all Jewish prayers is Oseh Shalom – asking the Almighty
to bring peace to Israel. The Re'im Duo entered a competition with a new
version and won! Now so familiar - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJjUmHaC8f4&index=11&list=PLWkfrFkdyL1FoUmn58cgnEXb_fe_vDgHQ
My last
song is dedicated to my Zvi, without him I am half a person
Shabbat
Shalom dear friends
With
all my love from Jerusalem, our veranda and of course our home.
Sheila
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