170414
14th
April 2017
Shabbat
Shalom dear friends.
Last
evening in Jerusalem we were visiting friends when Rachel called me to switch
on the television. "The Americans have bombed ISIS in Afghanistan"
The
description of "The Mother of all Bombs" immediately suggests
that the United States was attacking in a vacuum, exhibiting her might rather
than responding to many years of ultimate tyranny, terror and oppression which
was escalating with greater and greater confidence worldwide. A response was
essential. The time has passed for negotiation, our lives depend upon it.
We
always wonder "What if Hitler had died in the Beer Hall Putsch in Munich
in 1923, had never been arrested, written Mein Kampf in Landsburg Prison and
the Holocaust had not happened" Well he wasn't and it did. The fundamentalist
groups use the same methods. Jail is a recruiting ground and university of
terror, it doesn't work. War is not pretty, war is cruel and deadly but had we
not bombed Essen the first language of Europe would be German and the remaining
Jews, homosexuals, Catholics and disabled would have disappeared. I know you
feel I am exaggerating and the comparison may be inappropriate but I repeat,
war is not pretty so don't expect ISIS, Al Qaeeda, Daish by any other name, to
disappear without bloodshed. The terror attacks may increase as a result of the
Afghanistan bombing, but it will be from a position of fearful defence rather
than from a position of power.
We
tried jaw, jaw, jaw and sadly it didn't work.
The
question is whether this was a simple strike against ISIS or whether it
constituted an implied warning to both North Korea and Iran. Speak softly and
carry a big stick?
The
Individual Intifada is not limited to Israel, has spread like a horrific
wildfire through Europe and the UK, Venezuela is fast become an Islamic State
and a direct threat to the USA. We have to root out the cause although too many
years of diplomacy have created a groundswell of fanatical youth, ready to die
for a cause that the West does not understand. It puts the Crusades into the shade.
The great sadness is that the vast majority of Moslems simply want to get on
with life, just as you and me, and their lives are embittered no less than ours
by the omnipresent threat.
That
was lengthier than I intended. I believe in tolerance and love, a child of the
'60's, but anyone who thinks this will go away without the Supreme Commander
ordering "The Mother of All Bombs" is dreaming. The bud wasn't nipped
so the root must be removed, drawn from the earth.
Sadly
the heinous crime perpetrated by Bassar Al Assad on his own people
was overshadowed by the words of Sean Spicer. He obviously referred to the use
of chemical weapons as a dreadful thing but his statement that "even
Hitler didn't use" was inappropriate at best and cruel at worst. It is
also of interest that nobody has alluded to the American use of Agent Orange in
Vietnam. http://edition.cnn.com/2017/04/11/politics/sean-spicer-hitler-assad-gas-chemical-weapons/
Fake
news
is the topic of Rabbi Jeremy Rosens article this week. His example is from the
NY Times which claims that Israel's "Wall" doesn't work. Of course it
was a dig at President Trump's intention to build a wall between the USA and
Mexico. Firstly the comparison is ludicrous, secondly the American wall is
mostly built already, much during the last administration, and of course the
Israeli defensive fence works! Simple things like car theft are down by 85%,
terror attacks by 95% (the individual attacks are from Israeli Arabs from Tsur
Bacher and such areas) and it is a fence on some 90% of the length and a wall
only in situations where sniper fire was killing Israelis! In one short article
the NYT succeeded in twisting a non-news into a criticism of the President. I
happen to disagree with the necessity of the wall with Mexico unless it goes
together with an amnesty for those "illegals" already in the USA and do
not present any security threat whatsoever.
I
have been accused of being a Trumpite. Believe you me I am not, I do not have the
right to be for or against any American leader; I refuse to criticise every
move because he is not sophisticated or diplomatic. Perhaps it is time for
crude and rude- the message is clearer.
Lucy
Aharish is a top journalist in the Israel national TV channel. Lucy is an Arab
Israeli – sorry Lucy is an Israeli Arab and a proud Moslem. Here Lucy speaks
out clearly and bravely. Kol ha Kavod Lucy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BV7WcW2H8ic
Pesach
is almost over!
All that work and it is nearly time to return the dishes to their boxes and
schlepp them to their resting place 3 floors down on the allotted shelves in
the storage. However I found this wonderful article about a Jerusalem bus
driver, an Arab, who decided to give his Haredi passengers a lovely Passover
surprise last week. I love it – you won't believe what he did! http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4948382,00.html
Huge
cauldrons (minus witches) are the incredible pre-Passover sight in the
religious neighbourhoods. They stand on each corner ready to receive the dishes
of the local households for dipping to purify them so they can be used at
Passover. A variety of items are left beside rubbish bins in a manner that
makes the NYC street pickings fade into oblivion. Houses were cleaned, unused
items placed outside, kitchens "wrapped" in specially strong silver
foil (don't know where that came from) and cooking began.
I don't
line my kitchen with foil, I simply scrub the very existence out of every
surface and splashback!!!!
I had a
very special treat this week. We went to a lovely get-together of my family in
celebration of my cousin Judith's 70th birthday. We met at Debbie
and Zev's in Ganei Tikvah and the excitement at seeing each other was tangible.
Of course the best part is that my cousin Irene (Debbie, Judith and Joanna's
Mum) was in Israel for Pesach and at 90+ is still as quick witted and bright as
she ever was. Actually I discovered something new about her – she has a
wonderful singing voice untainted by age. Zvi sang his heart out, happy to be
seated next to Debbie whose voice delighted him. Sunita http://www.sunitaharp.com/ , an
accomplished harpist entertained us with a marvellous selection of music, from
classic to bolero, from gentle to robust, from Bach to Welsh (there's lovely
Dai bach) music. We sang, because that's
what we love to do, we grinned at each other in delight at being together and
caught up on our news. Of the cousins present 3 made Aliya and one (Ian and his
lovely wife Susan) have an apartment here. My Daddy and his big brother and
best friend Uncle Ben, would be proud. It was a change for Zvi since we spend a
lot of time with his family but we both decided that it was so lovely we must
do it more often!!!
The
veranda complied with all my dreams this week. The tiny orange tree was in full
blossom, laden with tiny fragrant blooms, their scent wafting into the apartment;
the freesias shone bright orange their heady scent joining that of the orange
blossom. I sat on the veranda each morning, sipping my morning coffee and
taking in the amazing scene before me. Gosh we are lucky! It is especially
spectacular over Shabbat and festivals because the scene is peaceful, the weekday
chaotic traffic and hustle and bustle quietens and the beauty becomes more apparent.
Amiad
and Noga stayed over after Seder Night. It seemed a shame to return home when
they were coming back for lunch with all the family. The little ones (Ella 4
and Yonatan 2) were very excited and after the long service of the Seder fell
into bed and straight to sleep. The next morning I sat out on the veranda with
my morning coffee when a little girl cameinto sight, a big grin on her face.
After the essential good morning hug she looked up at me, shaking with
excitement and asked "Safta, can we play together"? I melted! Her
little brother soon followed with the biggest grin imaginable. Yonatans
vocabulary is phenomenal – I wish half the adults knew to speak as he does!
This
has been a fantastic week for Israeli children. So many activities we are
spoiled for choice. Many Israelis go camping, simple at Pesach. The weather
hasn't really complied with their needs, torrential rains in the south and rain
in the north, but mostly fun was had by all.
We have
entertained and been entertained, enjoyed friends (thank you Hel-Ors and Alberanes) and family
and in a few minutes, when I finish talking to you, I will set off for Givat
Zeev and Rachel's home. Obviously no Challot this week! I will smile at
Rachel's kitchen which looks like it should be in NASA rather than Givat
Zeev!!! I will pass Nebe Samuel
(Samuel's Tomb); smile at the harbinger of spring at the side of the road, a
camel which comes out to graze in the finer weather; pass the busy shopping
centre and perhaps pop in to get a nice plant for friends; turn in to Givat
Zeev and pull up at Rachel's gate. I can already see them racing down the steps
to greet me………. Sheer joy.
OK that
was a little too maudlin for human consumption, but I missed them this week!
Modeh
Ani
– I Give Thanks - the morning prayer to thank the Almighty for returning our
souls after sleep. So beautiful. We must always be grateful for what we have
rather than moaning about what we haven't. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lPK6V3Y6YQ
At a
time when our biggest battle is against intolerance and hatred Lu Yehi by Nomi
Shemer is perhaps the timely song - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfMoeK6UVB0
as
is Bob Dylan's Blowin in the Wind, the ultimate cry for tolerance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G58XWF6B3AA
Shabbat
Shalom, Moadim le Simcha, Chag Sameach and a Holy Easter to my Christian
friends
With
love from Jerusalem
Sheila
No comments:
Post a Comment