180302
2nd
March 2018
Shabbat
Shalom, Shushan Purim Sameach and happy St David's Day!!!
Yesterday
I was a panther and Zvi was a rather sinister looking Moroccan in his Djelaba
that he bought in Morocco with Barry Slawsky! It was fun doing the make up and
even more fun to see all our friends arrive looking just as crazy as we did……….that's
Purim!!! When I was a child everyone dressed as either Queen Esther or
Mordechai the Jew – nobody really wanted to be the evil Haman, or even dumb King
Ahashueras let alone Queen Vashti but today it's different, virtually anything
goes. In fact if it were today most of the characters in the story would be
accused of sexual harassment, incitement and corruption but instead as we read
the story each year on Adar 13 we remember that not only did a simple Jew and
his beautiful niece save the Jews of Persia, Hodu and the Cush from execution,
as per the edict of the King's Viceroy Haman, but Haman got just desserts and
was executed after being paraded around town on a mule - a fate he intended for
Mordechai. The celebration is for the fact that we stood up for ourselves – no Persian
dictated our fate then and certainly not now.
Yesterday
morning I drove to Givat Ze'ev to hear the Megillat Esther – the scroll of
Esther - read in the synagogue as I sat with Rachel, Talia and Ayala. Doesn't
get more special than that.
This
week Zvi and I concentrated on learning what is happening in the Jewish World
rather than the greater world as we attended the Board of Governors of the
Jewish Agency meetings in Zichron Yaakov. Zvi is a member of the Board,
representing that marvellous organisation Maccabi World Union – a job he does
with great distinction and I am a fly on the wall.
It is
such a shame that most people, especially Israelis, have no concept of the
excellent work, amazing projects, executed by the Jewish Agency, if they have
heard of the Sochnut at all. It is not just a vehicle to enable Aliya, far from
it. The projects in Israel and abroad are many and varied, for Jews, Christians
and Moslems alike. We started in the
centre of Zichron Yaakov, one of the first Jewish cities in Israel. Here the
Baron Hirsch decided to being the young Baron Rothschild to found the first
wineries and ultimately made Israeli viticulture an essential part of the
economy.
We
talked to young graduate immigrants in a wonderful Ulpan (Etzion) in Haifa, where
they learn Hebrew, apply for work in Israel and receive accommodation for their
first 6 months. We went to a Druze village where we met children in a mentoring
programme in good citizenship and self-confidence – their mentors being those
who went through the same courses in the past. The children were so happy and
fulfilled, and we all helped them make the Druze flag, each table creating a coloured
shape finally putting them all together to form the Druze flag. http://www.symbols.com/symbol/druze-flag
As we got off the bus to see the
spectacular view from the village over towards Lebanon and Syria our bus driver
Nahil told us a little about himself. He is Druze, born in Israel, served as an
officer in the IDF then in the Israeli police for nearly 20 years. After his
retirement he decided to drive tour buses. As we stood together and he realised
I spoke Hebrew he said to me "I don't know why all these people go back to
America and Berlin when here in Israel it is Gan Eden – the Garden of Eden. We
have everything! If we look over the countries around us for two minutes we can
see how amazing Israel is in comparison to anywhere in the world"
Of
course the Jewish Agency meetings are an awful lot of gas and gaiters – that is
inevitable, and not a small amount of politics among the lay leaders, but the
real heroes are the permanent staff who perform miracles, quietly.
Each
time I accompany Zvi to these events I am impressed by the strong and clever
women who ensure vital discussion on essential issues. Helena Glaser from WIZO,
Judit Liwerant, Ellen Hershkin and Marlene Post from Hadassah and so many more,
women play a huge role in preparing the ground for future generations. I am
even more impressed by the common sense suggestions so eloquently (and
vociferously) put forward by my husband and of course by Danny Lamm.
Our
wonderful friend Dr Kimball Taylor was staying with us for the Board of
Governors meetings. Kim brings a different perspective to all the discussions,
while being an integral part of the Board Kim is able to look at what is
happening and the effect it has on "the world" through fresh eyes.
Kim is a senior member of the LDS and an equal Israphile with Canon Andrew
White!!!!
We
drove back to Jerusalem filled with thoughts, questions and doubts, made all
the more interesting because we dropped Danny Lamm at the airport to wend his
way back to Melbourne. As we arrived our lovely family member Shelly Silver was
waiting for us. Shelley, a girl scout, came to Jerusalem with a double purpose,
to go to a Purim party and to volunteer at our local scout hut.
The
next morning Kim and I went to Shaare Zedek hospital to meet up with Varda and
Lena of the Yuri Shtern Holistic Centre to see the phenomenal work the
organisation does. Since Kim is a doctor his conversations with patients,
spouses and therapists held deep meaning. Kim also met with oncologist Ora Rosengarten,
a dear friend, who gave him the scientific, medical perspective that not only
does it alleviate nausea and trauma, but that after therapies the patients are
more receptive to treatment. It never fails to make me cry, not because I don't
want to be in the oncology department but because I am so proud to be a minute
cog in the incredible wheel that is the Yuri Shtern Centre. We never have
enough money, obviously since all the therapists are volunteers and we do not
charge anyone, patients or family, for treating them in Shaare Zedek . We
desperately need your help to continue with both therapies and courses – please
any amount will be happily accepted http://www.israelgives.org/amuta/580475085
While I
was preparing for the Choirs Purim party Zvi and Kim went to the Friends of
Zion Museum in the centre of Jerusalem. The Museum, the brainchild of Pastor
Mike Evans and created under the watchful eye of his son Michael, is a tribute
to the relationship between the Jewish State and our Christian friends. Well
worth a visit. https://www.fozmuseum.com/
From
there they went to the Ai Wei Wei exhibit at the Israel Museum – wish I had had
time to go again!!!
Kim
then left for the interminable journey back to Cardston, Alberta, and I finished
the last touches of the Purim party – and our fancy dress!!! The party went
wonderfully, loads of food, singing Israeli songs old and new and just being
together. We are a very huggy lot, my favourite kinds of people! Merav and Igal
stayed to help us put the house back in order and we managed to be in bed for
01:30. Really! Thirty people arrived and 19:30 and didn't want to leave!!!!
Incidentally nobody guessed the origin of the Welsh flag hanging on the wall in
honour of St David's Day!!!
Today
we go to Nes Ziona to see the children, then Rehovot to say goodbye to a dear
friend and finally to be home for a quiet Shabbat dinner – ALONE
During our
very busy week the world didn't work out its problems. Even more poor souls
were killed in Syria and Yemen, the lies and power struggles continue unabated,
talk of corruption is government abounds and as individuals we try to do our
best to be good people. One exceptional piece of news is that Prince William
and the Duchess of Cambridge are coming on the first ever official visit to
Israel and the PA. Prince Philip and Prince Charles have both been on private
visits but this will be with full ceremony. Excellent.
Yesterday
I was sad to hear that the exceptional Dr Malcolm Hoenlein is retiring from his
post as Executive Vice Chairman of the Conference of Major Jewish Organisations
in the USA. Malcolm is an exceptional leader, a great mentor and probably the
most effective person I have ever met. His love of Israel is unmatched and he
has the ability to present that view to the US Administration. I have a feeling
that this is not Malcolm's swan song – he has so much still to give. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_Hoenlein
Gosh,
time to get myself ready for the day! I chose special music today – this one is
called One Day and is a song of hope from just about every sector of Israeli
society https://www.youtube.com/watch?
This
song has a special meaning – One call away, the disaster relief and humanitarian
work of the IDF https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xpg6t1aCpi4
Shabbat – Lecha Dodi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWmcQpzUMHY
Today
in Jerusalem and Tsfat it is still Purim ' Shushan Purim, celebrated in walled
cities only, yes another day of happily inebriated men!!!
Shabbat
Shalom lovely people. Remember the power of one? Well Mordechai understood and
look what one man achieved.
With
love from Jerusalem
Sheila
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