30 days – our shloshim 5th November 2023 I just saw the date and realised that tonight is Guy Fawkes night. As a child that meant loads of friends in our field behind the house, great fun, toffee apples, potatoes in the bonfire and fireworks, but I never thought about why we had all of…

3rd November 2023 27 days Shabbat Shalom dear friends. I wish you a Shabbat of contemplation and of prayer that this insane world may, just may, gain a moral compass, because in this world of instant, uncensored news (free speech) too many are convinced by the lies rather than the truth. Over the last few…

1st November 2023 Three weeks and four days Even the heavens are angry today, even the heavens are crying huge tears. The unseasonal thunderstorm reflects our mood. Until now 15 IDF soldiers gave their lives during the battle in Gaza. In this tiny country, everybody knows everyone and each soldier is everyone’s child. Zvi is…

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…