2018
The Good, the Bad and the Really Ugly
5th June 2026 19 of Sivan, 5786 Shabbat Shalom everyone! Just for a change, let’s begin with the good people, the good news, the very good news, and the utterly thoroughly distressing news. After New York Mayor Mamdani refused to walk in the Celebrate Israel Day Parade, former mayors Eric Adams and Michael Bloomberg headed…
Read MoreSurprises, Shabbat and Songs
29th May, 2026 13th Sivan, 5786 Shabbat Shalom, a holy Eid Al-Adha, a Blessed Armenian and Orthodox Pentecost. A peaceful weekend to all whether you celebrate all of the above or not. When I planned today’s letter, missive, I was worried that I wouldn’t manage to be my usual optimistic self, then I sat down…
Read MoreThe difficulties of peace are better than the agony of war.”
21st of May 2026 5th Sivan, 5786 Good morning, Shabbat Shalom and Chag Shevuot Sameach and a Blessed Pentecost and Ascencion Day The difficulties of peace are better than the agony of war.” — Menachem Begin Shevuot celebrates our receiving of the Torah — not only faith and ritual, but the moral foundations of how…
Read MoreThe Eve of Jerusalem Day
14th May 2026 27th Iyar, 5786 Jerusalem Day Of course, I wish you Shabbat Shalom but most of all I wish Jerusalem to hold celebrations of Jerusalem Day filled with joy, fellowship, good will and safety Today is the eve of Jerusalem Day, celebrating the day Jerusalem became one again; Old City and New, heart…
Read MoreThe Power of One
THE POWER OF ONE 8th of May 2026 20th of Iyar 5786 Shabbat Shalom everyone! So good to talk to you today. Before I sit to write to you, I read the Israeli paper to see if there is anything that catches my eye so that I can tell you about it. I always read…
Read MoreParanoia, Diokophobia or plain truth
1st of May 2026 14th of Iyar 5786 Shabbat Shalom Dear Friends! Shabbat Shalom and a happy May Day. As a child I remember dancing around a May Pole, well actually it wasn’t me dancing around a May Pole but I remember film and photos of young people weaving and plaiting the ribbons which then…
Read MoreMimosa, Milei and Remembrance
23rd April 2026 6th Iyar 5786 Shabbat Shalom! A happy St. Georges Day to one and all. St George is the English patron saint who, according to the legend, fought a dragon. Today, on St Georges Day, we all need to pledge to fight the dragon of antisemitism and hatred. Until when? Until when? Until…
Read MoreProfound Contrasts
17th April 2026 29th of Nissan 5786 Shabbat Shalom to one and all Tomorrow night we welcome the month of Iyar, a time that tradition associates with both natural and spiritual healing. It is said that the generation that left Egypt found healing during this month, a quiet reminder that recovery is a slow process…
Read MoreThe Day After
10th April, 2025 Shabbat Shalom. Shabbat with a slight hope for shalom, slight but certainly more than for the last four Shabbatot. Passover and Easter have gone by and now it’s the Armenian Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter. On Tuesday Israel will have a different siren, the true wailing siren of Yom HaShoah, Holocaust…
Read MoreContemplation in the Mamad
3rd April, 2026 16th of Nisan, 5786 Shabbat Shalom! Is it really Friday today? Between the missiles from Iran and the Houthis and the rockets from Hezb-Allah and then the joys of Seder Night and matza crumbs all over the apartment I forgot completely that I owed you a newsletter!! To all my Christian friends,…
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