16^th January 2026

27 Tevet 5786

Shabbat Shalom. A happy Orthodox Christian New Year, Armenian Christmas, Orthodox New Year and Eid El-Khader

Winston Churchill’s 1941 declaration, “We are in the presence of a crime without a name,” referred to the systematic Nazi atrocities against Jewish people during World War II, a horror so immense it lacked a legal term; this prompted Raphael Lemkin, ironically a Jew, to coin the word “genocide” in 1944, which was formally defined in the 1948 UN Convention, finally giving a legal name and definition to this “crime of crimes”. 

So here we go again. It never ceases to astonish me that the world remains obsessively fixated on a tiny strip of land no larger than Wales, while genuinely diabolical events unfold daily across the globe. I know I return to this subject often—perhaps too often—but the double standards disturb and distress me to the point of real anger, and that is the last thing I want to carry in my life.

What do I mean? Are you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin.

In Iran, ordinary people are risking, and losing, their lives in an attempt to reclaim their country and their freedom from one of the most frightening theocracies on earth. The regime kills those who dare to protest, having oppressed its population since the Shah was driven out. At the same time, it directs its fury outward, threatening Israel relentlessly. Terrorism does not appear from nowhere; it must be cultivated, through indoctrination, hatred, and the deliberate radicalisation of the young, until they are willing to die for it. That poison has now spread far beyond Iran’s borders.

Yet the world’s most organised and persistent outrage is aimed not at these regimes, but at one of the smallest minorities on earth: the Jews, and their state, Israel with ideals allowed to metastasise while the world’s supposed moral guardian looks away, continuing their berating of Israel instead. And that guardian, the self-appointed world police, is the United Nations.

President Trump appears to be one of the few Western leaders willing to confront what many prefer to avoid. His personality leaves little room for ambiguity: he does not tolerate threats to America, nor to those he regards as its allies. One may like him or loathe him, but it is hard to deny that he identified early on a growing danger, not from Islam itself, which is a diverse religion, but from Islamism: a political ideology that exploits faith in order to pursue power, control, and confrontation. Trump recognised that this ideology does not advance openly from above, but seeps in from below, through influence networks, radicalisation, and alliances with other destabilising forces. In parts of Latin America, notably Venezuela and increasingly Mexico, Islamist elements have found common cause with extreme strands of communism. It is an unlikely partnership on the surface, yet a logical one in practice: both define themselves through opposition to the United States, which they depict as the “Great Satan”—with Israel, inevitably, cast as the “Little Satan”.

This fusion of ideologies thrives on grievance, resentment, and the rejection of liberal democratic values. It is not merely rhetorical; it manifests in organised crime, terror financing, ideological indoctrination, and the erosion of state institutions. Trump’s willingness to name and confront this convergence sets him apart from leaders who prefer softer language and diplomatic evasions. Whether one agrees with his style or not, his instincts reflect a blunt assessment of a world in which threats are no longer confined to conventional battlefields, but advance quietly through ideology, influence, and fear.

What brought this on, for me? Iran and her threats of annihilating Israel with more missiles and visits to the Mamad, but ruining my 80^th birthday with my closest, nearest and dearest. Of creating a threat to our family, friends and everyone here while the Houthis are preparing to join the party; not my party but the “Let’s eliminate Israel” party.

Dr Gabriel Barkay z|”l touched hearts as deeply as he challenged minds. Through his discoveries and his unforgettable lectures on Jerusalem, he opened windows into our past that many of us never knew existed. An archaeologist of international renown, he was also a dear friend of Zvi’s—and, through that friendship, became a dear friend of mine as well. Gabby left this troubled world quietly this week, and his absence feels profound. Yet what he leaves behind is extraordinary. Among his many achievements, perhaps the most moving was his discovery, years ago in the grounds of the Scottish Church, of the oldest known Hebrew blessing—a moment that seemed to collapse time itself and connect us directly to our ancestors’ voices. His legacy is not only in stone and text, but in the wonder he inspired, the truth he revealed, and the generosity with which he shared both. For those of us who knew him, his scholarship was remarkable; his friendship was a gift.

It rained. No, that’s an understatement. The English language, usually rich in terms for precipitation, simply gave up. Drizzle, pouring, bucketing down, raining cats and dogs, none of them quite captured what happened this week, when the skies opened, thunder clapped in huge bangs, lightning flashed, and Jerusalem received a frankly biblical 100mm of rain. Our usually beautiful but small reservoir overflowed the dam and transformed itself into a roaring waterfall racing down the wadi. Spectacular waterfalls sprang up across the north, the road to the Dead Sea flooded, and even as damp patches appeared on our extension walls, it was impossible not to be grateful for the slightly inconvenient, undeniably dramatic, life giving rain.

So back to celebrating with my nearest and dearest. My friend Jill and her two daughters, Ilana and Rebecca, arrived two days ago and their wonderful personalities are filling our apartment with love and fun, and amazing discussions. Yesterday Gideon arrived to join in and I will have a small but beautiful get together on Saturday evening in my favourite place on earth, in Shalva. If you want to join in the celebrations, I would be so grateful if you chose to donate to the most amazing Studio for Performing Arts in Shalva, named for my desperately missed eldest son Daniel z”l https://give.shalva.org/daniel

Yesterday I took Ilana and Rebecca into the city, intending to get them as close as possible to Shouk Mahane Yehuda and for some, as yet, unknown reason Waze decided to take us in the opposite direction. We found ourselves in Geula, a Haredi area of Jerusalem. They were fascinated by  the manner of dress, the fact that they wandered into the road without thought and tiny children were in charge of their younger brothers and sisters, pushing much used pushchairs (buggies). Constant activity and as I saw the vast number of physically fit young men I couldn’t but think of the soldiers, those who fought and have PTSD from what they saw in Gaza and others who lost their lives defending our country including these young men who say they would prefer to die than serve in the IDF. Anyway, ultimately I turned my normally reliable Waze of and, as Rebecca said, relied on my own sense of direction and got us to our destination in a few short minutes. As I went home to put my feet up and chat to Jill, they had a ball wandering through the Shouk, buying some of the wonderful fruit teas and Halva. They then took the light rail to the Old City and went down, through the Armenian and Jewish Quarters to the Kotel, the Western Wall. I was so proud of them! They certainly used their sense of direction with confidence!

Tonight we will sit together, wonder at Zvi’s amazing rendition of the blessing over the wine, and celebrate the arrival of the bride of Shabbat. Tomorrow, together with Gideon, Jill, Ilana and Rebecca we will talk of the past and our future, of children and grandchildren, as one says in the UK and talk of “Cabbages and Kings” from Lewis Carroll’s poem “The Walrus and the Carpenter,”. In the evening we will head out for Shalva and prepare ourselves for a lovely evening with just a few friends. I’m sorry if you aren’t invited but we were very limited for space and – well I’m sure that you know what I mean. I would be thrilled to extend the celebrations and have you visit our home over the next few weeks.

So that’s about it! The sun has come out and it is definitely a day for a walk, even if it is just around the park. I am aware that I have missed many world events but I want to get to my guests and get ready for a visit from Rachel who is bringing even more food supplies and her incredible Challah.

The song Geshem (Rain) seemed to be the logical choice for my first song. I adore the song and the voice of Eli Luzon it came from the movie Afula Express. https://youtu.be/K8HlStOESOU?si=Me-ZhMVniG55GCxR

It’s a while since I gave you Koolulam so here goes with my very favourite song. Al Kol Eleh. https://youtu.be/oxzR9Z-kG6Q?si=Ntze7AXQR2YO6xSy

Finally, a lesson for us all. All your dreams, all that is within you can come true, but you have to make it happen.  A happy, clappy song to lift your spirits. https://youtu.be/gVkdtFrUb3w?si=KPxJTSPJgA0cZOEb

Shabbat Shalom dear friends. I wish you everything you wish yourselves as I step into my new decade with hope that no enemy can snuff out.

With much love from Jerusalem, the most beautiful, spiritual and beloved city in the world.

Sheila