161118
18th
November 2016
Shabbat
Shalom dear friends,
I was
going to write about the incredible divisiveness of the American election,
friends arguing and name calling, cities in turmoil, but Rabbi Jonathan
Sacks says it all in his impromptu sermon and tribute to Leonard Cohen.
As
always my amazing son Gideon gave me something to think about.
"Sitting in his hotel room in New York
this morning, Rabbi Sacks suddenly had a thought about a connection between the
late Leonard Cohen's song "You Want It Darker", the current state of
the world and this week's parsha of Vayera. Apologies this is a little last
minute, but it is definitely a different kind of parsha shiur! The lyrics to
"You Want It Darker" - which is the music at the beginning and end of
this video - can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YD6fvzGIBfQ. Shabbat shalom!" https://www.facebook.com/rabbisacks/videos/1280970831954069/
I tried
not to but I have to say one thing about the United States elections. Even when
I wanted to speak out about one candidate or the other, I did my best to remain
unbiased, even handed. In general this was accepted but many became angry with
me because I wouldn't deride Donald Trump. Indeed I was told I support a sex
offender and even worse. I didn't support anyone! I don't have the right to
support anyone because as one Hillary supporter told me "you are an alien
in this country, don't try to influence USA elections!" Well thank you for
raising me to that level of influence but my words couldn't influence anyone!!
I do
not know what the future holds but I wish the President elect a successful and
elevated term of office, because without it we are lost. Charlie Chaplin wrote and
directed the movie The Great Dictator and his speech epitomises all our dreams https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibVpDhW6kDQ
Just
heard that Donald Trump has approached Mitt Romney to be Secretary of
State, if so it is a brilliant move. An honorable and graceful man, Romney
would bring honour to the position. Zvi and I visited the Governors Mansion
while in Boston and as we stood in the ante-room we admired the portraits of
former Governors of Massachusetts, each standing in glorious solitude. We
reached the portrait of Mitt Romney, who was told firmly that his wife could
not be in the portrait with him and noticed something special – he was painted
with a photograph of his wife on the desk beside him! Now that is a fine man
who honours his wife and her contribution to his success.
In
all the brouhaha
over the elections, do you know about what is happening in Turkey? Do you care?
I do because we have good friends there but also because it is a disgrace that
nothing was said by world leaders or the media to criticise Turkish President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan. He has virtually destroyed independent journalism, arrested
many, arrested clerics – indeed all who disagree with him, but what does the
Administration concentrate on in these last days? Israel building houses in disputed territories.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-security-journalists-idUSKCN1070NO
The
noise law.
In virtually every civilized country there is a law concerning noise levels,
decibels, whether it be your neighbor's party, a motorbike, indeed anything
that harms your environment, including Church bells and the Synagogue on Purim.
It also includes the Muezzins call to prayer in virtually all Moslem countries
and certainly USA, UK and Europe. Of course in Israeli it isn't that simple.
While Churches and Synagogues comply, the Muezzins claim racial discrimination
and the left support them. Since many residents of many cities in Israel have a
Mosque close by, yes even Tel Aviv, and the call to prayer begins at 04:30 for
many (actually 05:30 but it is according to Mecca time) it is most disturbing
to be woken at that hour by a very loud Muezzin from the apex of the Minaret.
Surely the law should be equal for all?
Amona. Amona is an outpost
of perhaps 20-30 families. The argument as to whether it should be removed and
the residents given new housing in one of the official residential blocks has
torn the Israeli government apart this week. It is irrelevant that it is
beautiful and on private land, and I am the last to suggest that Yehuda and
Shomron, the West Bank – however you want to call it – be Judenrein, but if a
small group of activists can bring our government to the brink and cause anger
in the White House then the balance of power has gone awry. http://www.israeltoday.co.il/NewsItem/tabid/178/nid/30527/Default.aspx
Hitorerut
– Awakening
– is the political group of young leaders who have taken the Jerusalem
Municipality by storm! It seems incredible that just a few short years ago we
met to decide whether or not to mentor this group of callow young hopefuls.
Since the elections when they won an incredible 4 seats on the Municipal
Council, they have made their mark, indeed one, Ofer Berkovitch, is a
Deputy Mayor. Hitorerut's aim was to open up the city to attract young people.
Jerusalem has a great party scene, pubs, clubs and restaurants aplenty and is a
fun place to be. Jerusalem is spiritual and ancient but that doesn't mean we
all go to bed at 7. Watch this space, Hitorerut is going places. We had
a meeting in our home on Tuesday where Ofer outlined their achievements and
aims. It gave me great hope because these young people are Jerusalem's future. Remember
his name – Ofer Berkovitch.
A
major subject for discussion on Tuesday, was the disgraceful attack on
Jerusalem by the faux intellectuals of the TV satirical programme "Pride
of the Nation". They slandered Jerusalem as the city where the latest
courses teach one how to dig about in garbage cans for food and feed large
families on one date. It went much further. It is a national disgrace when satire
becomes slander. Eliezer Ya'ari, a highly responsible and intelligent
commentator on radio, television and press, has responded. I intend translating
his words for you after his broadcast. Jerusalemites are very angry at the injustice
and inaccuracy of a gang of irresponsible, intellectual snobs who think that
one has to leave Jerusalem by dusk or turn into a pumpkin – if they ever come here
of course!
Just
incidentally, the Israeli road safety organisation Or Yarok just put out
a report that found Tel Aviv the most dangerous city for older pedestrians………. No
comment
Before
the Hitorerut meeting, my friend David Geffen, Rabbi David Geffen, came
to visit with his new business advisor Gedaliah Gurfein, in order to show me
the amazing headway made by his organisation "Loving Classroom"
http://lovingclassroom.com/ The motto
of Loving Classroom is Head, Heart, Hand and Help, teaching children how to
interact with love instead of anger. Check out the link, it brings the ideal
world a touch closer. It works.
On
Wednesday we went to dinner with the Bloomfields. I love going out with them, arguing with Harry
and agreeing with Nancy! Their youngest son Jamie came too and he is a charming
combination of his Dad's Barrister arguments and his Mum's loving care for the
world. Jamie who studied Film is joining Standwithus to produce their
videos. I am so proud. Michael Dickson, the Director of Standwithus here
in Jerusalem, is a fantastic mentor and Standwithus a truly amazing
organisation that has taken on racism on campus, BDS and created a support
system for students worldwide. http://www.standwithus.com/
Robert
Ackerman
posted something incredible on Facebook. In the words of Rabbi Nachman "The
day you were born is the day God decided the world could not exist without
you" What an amazing philosophy. We are all worthy, we are all meant to be
here. We all have a purpose on this earth – we just need to find it and fulfil
it.
Almost
Shabbat.
It is a glorious day, crisp and autumnal, rather windy, but absolutely beautiful
blue skies. We all wondered over the so called "Supermoon" which is
actually bigger and brighter over Jerusalem – well we are the closest to the
heavens, like the joke about it being a local call. We, and all our friends,
snapped merrily and posted on Facebook, WhatsApp and emails, our contributions
to the rare phenomena. It was beautiful, less spectacular than we were led to
believe but beautiful nonetheless.
What
music to choose? Should it be Jewish or American? Maybe Jewish American? "America" by Paul Simon has been
constantly playing in my head, causing me to burst into spontaneous song all
week, but chose a fabulous rendition of the American National Anthem by a young
lady who sat at our Seder Table 18 months ago. Nadine Sierra sang for both
candidates https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTJdq4yoIkM
Two
songs now – one of spiritual Jerusalem and one of modern Jerusalem. First the
dream https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NIxqHJrL68
and then the culmination https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEVAWAcsJwA
as the dancers of Hora Jerusalem flashdance in the Mamilla Mall.
I wish
you Shabbat Shalom, it is no surprise that Zvi has gone to his Parliament,
hoping to right the world and I am on my way to see the children, collect my
challa and goodies from Rachel and get the best hugs and kisses imaginable. I
may well pop into the fishmonger to say hello to Abu Yosef and then visit my
favourite plant nursery to say hello to its Palestinian owners – all in Givat
Zeev. The steep climb up to Samuels Tomb always fills me with anticipation, you
really, but really must do it. As one passes the ancient tomb atop a hill the
magic happens, the panorama unfolds before your eyes and Jerusalem, a white
mosaic dotted with red roofs, hill after hill after hill, laying before you in its
modern entirety, the Old City lays hidden, waiting, in silence for you to
fulfil your dream.
With
much love from Jerusalem. Our prayers were never "Next Year in Tel
Aviv" eh?
Sheila
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