31st October 2023 Yes, I know that tonight is All Hallows Eve, aka Halloween, but to be quite honest I’m very grateful that when my children were small “Trick or Treat” was a strange custom in a far off country, as Brits say “Across the Pond”. Since what we have known over the last 3…

30th October 2023 Dear friends, I didn’t write yesterday because, sadly there was nothing specific to say and I have no intention of writing for the sake of writing, or speaking for the sake of speaking. Perhaps after all I am not a journalist! What British journalist Julie Burchill calls the” phoney, anti-colonial cant that…

28th October 2023 Three whole weeks In Jewish tradition, immediately after Shabbat we say “Shevua Tov” Have a good week, but in the light of what is happening around us we say “Have a better week” I was asked by someone why I don’t write more about the hostages, about my concerns for them, but…

27th October 2023 Shabbat shalom dear friends, Shabbat Shalom to each and every one of you This is going to be a short missive. After all you have been so patient with my daily reports, actually you have expressed your need for true information so I kept right on going. I am fascinated by two…

20th day – is anybody listening? 26th October 2023 Things are tough everywhere, although I know and deeply appreciate that your thoughts are here with us, but I worry about you, about this insane world which has everything upside down, the moral compass has lost its north. A letter from a friend who recognises the…

The nineteenth day after the 7th 25th October 2023 Dear Friends, I know we are all exhausted, wrung out emotionally, but I want you to watch one of the bravest women I have ever seen; Rachel Polin Goldberg whose son Hersh was kidnapped, after he and his friends were blown up and he lost his…

Day 18, 24th October, 2023 Ironically, 18 – חי in Hebrew counting known as Gematria, means Chai, life. I have to give you the true story of what happened to Yocheved Lifshitz and Nurit Cooper who were released from captivity in Gaza. Last evening Yocheved’s granddaughter decided that her traumatised Safta should give a press…

Day 17 23rd of October 2023 Good evening. I admit it, I was so overwhelmed by everything that I didn’t intend writing tonight, then I saw Yosef Haddad crying on the evening news and as I listened to the reason for his tears I knew I had to write to you. Yesterday you saw him…

Day 16 22nd October 2023 Shalom. That oh so Israeli greeting, its actual meaning is peace although it can be hello, goodbye, adieu, see you, in fact just about every greeting, but its origin is peace, that oh so elusive element to a good life. I have many friends, old and young, who are either…

Day 15 21st October 2023 Shevua Tov, which means Have a good week. It took no time until the world forgot about the depraved slaughter of innocents, it took less than two weeks before the voices were raised against Israel. What does that tell you? That as long as we are dying, we elicit sympathy…