Shabbat Shalom, wishing you a peaceful weekend.

Isaiah once envisioned a world redeemed — “And they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Isaiah 2:4). Yet he also called out, “Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of your dwellings; do not hold back, lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes” (Isaiah 54:2). Between these two visions lies the eternal struggle of our people, the yearning for peace and the command to survive. But this week, when the government advanced a motion put forward by Avi Maoz, choosing Isaiah’s second vision, expansion over reconciliation, that choice felt deeply wrong. With almost no members of the Knesset present in the plenum and the vote sliding through with ease, the act carried the sting of arrogance, not prophecy. I was furious, and I was not alone. J.D. Vance expressed his outrage, condemning the recklessness of a government that speaks in Isaiah’s language yet forgets the prophet’s dream. The motion passed with ease, but at the cost of our moral disquiet, and of that distant vision where swords are meant, at last, to become ploughshares.

To add insult to injury, Smotrich responded to the Saudi normalisation proposal, saying that if it means accepting a Palestinian State that they should keep riding camels in the desert!  I am appalled! His stupidity can create a situation of further isolation of Israel. Saudi Arabia has been a constant and powerful ally of Israel for many years, since the Olmert Prime Ministership. In fact, if you look carefully at the proposals put forward by the USA and supported by Turkey, Qatar and most of the Arab countries, it is the peace proposal put forward by Ehud Olmert all those years ago. Three wars later………..

In the meantime, rather than Egypt rebuilding Gaza, Turkey won the biggest raffle prize in recent history. A somewhat motley crew of countries will oversee the situation, keeping Israel and Hamas apart. Turkey and Qatar have long supported Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood, purveyed anti-Israel and antisemitic activities, and promoted Islamist ideologies that are anathema to Western ideals. On the other hand, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt have outlawed the Muslim Brotherhood, eschewed radical Islamism, and, at least in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, have tamped down on anti-Israelism and antisemitism accepting changes in their schoolbooks and working with Impact-se to change their children’s future..

A thought that has been bothering me. If the Palestinians consider themselves a sovereign nation, and if they believe that Israel is the cause of their dispossession, why is it that almost all of them carry Jordanian ID cards?

The last living hostages are home. Their reunions with loved ones still vivid in all our thoughts. Our relief tempered by anger at those who wrought barbaric acts on our people. As Israel begins to recover, we have to face a new dilemma, what should be done with the terrorists of October 7? Around 250 members of Hamas’s Nukhba unit, the men who murdered, burned, raped, and abducted, now sit in Israeli prisons, awaiting trial.  Can Israeli jurisprudence, faced with such brutality, provide justice or simply follow the law?

Steve Wikoff and Jared Kushner have worked miracles. Their work is between a rock and a hard place, between terrorists and a government with unrealistic demands. Steve Witkoff who visits, hugs and listens to the families of hostages and went to visit released hostages to hear their stories and Jared Kushner, the stalwart whose expressionless face hides a very determined but sympathetic character. I, in fact virtually all Israelis, are deeply grateful for the work they have done, for the Trump administration’s determination to turn a deeply complex situation into a business deal, however, while deeply grateful, it must be remembered that we are an independent Jewish State and not the 51^st state of the USA. The recent visits of J D Vance and now Mario Rubio are of great importance, expressing their support of Israel and the Trump plan, apart from halting traffic between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv to allow J D Vance’s motorcade of some 20 big black limos, safe passage. Everyone was scrambling for information as when and where the road closures were taking place since it was announced that his schedule was fluid! The Times of Israel suggested that J D Vance and Mario Rubio were sent to “Bibi-sit”

Reports suggest that there are only between 3-9 Jews left in Syria, but incredibly, Rabbi Henry Hamra, the son of the former Chief Rabbi of Syria is running for the Syrian Parliament, a Jewish Candidate after a 58 year ban. Perhaps there is hope after all.

The international Olympic committee has suspended all cooperation with Indonesia and their global sports federations will not to hold any events there after the country denied visas to all Israeli gymnasts.

Olympic gold medallist and reigning world champion Artem Dolgopyat is among the 12-member Israeli gymnastics team banned from competing at the world artistic championships in Jakarta this week because of Indonesia’s firm pro-Palestine stance.

I was thinking about the sudden desperation of some countries to hang on to the coat-tails of the Trump plan, amongst them Britain and the somewhat wishy-washy Keir Starmer. Suddenly this brilliant excerpt from “Yes Prime Minister” came to mind. Just two minutes and it sums up Europe, Canada, Australia, the US State Department and of course the Home Office policy of the UK. So clever. https://youtu.be/JdTUwtujH-g?si=46F6F8SEfD8MOxu_

Over the last two years many of the miluimnikim, the volunteer reserve soldiers who have served anything from 200 to 500 days of service in Gaza, have not only left their families, wives and young children, to fight, but have also left their businesses which in many cases have failed because they were off to war. A new website has opened urging us all to buy their goods https://www.shopgreenforsoldiers.com/

Too often the desire to welcome the newly freed hostages is overwhelming. Overwhelming for men who have been in solitary confinement in dark tunnels, ill treated and often beaten to deal with the hulabaloo, albeit well meaning, of their welcome has been difficult. So, last Sunday, all the employees in the Ayalon Mall had their phones confiscated, were sworn to secrecy, and the Mall closed its doors to the public, the employees stayed on while 18 of the 20 freed hostages had a shopping spree! Amazing!

This week I went to a great restaurant, simple but delicious, and our server was called Milcah. Apart from the fact that she was delightful and helpful, I was fascinated by her name. Milcah was the daughter of Zelophehad, Abram’s youngest brother, who had passed away without sons. They were five sisters who stood before their leaders and simply asked for what was fair — their father’s land. They weren’t out to change the system, yet in their quiet courage, they planted the first seed of equality that would blossom generations later, the seeds of feminism.

Zvi and I went on a tour behind the scenes of the new National Library. We had already seen the exceptional architecture, but this time we not only saw the holograms of ancient books we went down into the bowels of the building and saw the robots which bring the correct containers of whatever books one needs for research. It was other worldly!! At one point the guide asked if anyone knew why the building is designed with a roof which dips in the middle.  Zvi was the only one with the answer (of course). When Ruvi Rivlin was President, he said that the shape of the Library was irrelevant but he insisted that when he stood on the balcony of the Knesset, he could to see Mount Herzl, site of the grave of Theodore Herzl, the visionary of Zionism.

It was indeed a crazy week, all good things, and next week will be even better since Gideon and Zacky arrive, albeit for a very short visit, but when one hasn’t seen one’s son and grandson for over a year even one hour is an eternity! They go back on Thursday and the lovely Dr Kim Taylor arrives so that we can spend Shabbat together. So exciting. Tonight, the Ravivs are coming for dinner, less than usual only 14 of us, but first Rachel and Talia are popping in. Tomorrow we are with the Zonszeins and so we are enjoying life to the full.

Yesh bi Ahava, should be the anthem of Israel. Yesh bi Ahava means I have love within. Just think about the words and you will know what I mean. https://youtu.be/I1Zro9rVJ-E?si=61x51sqSd-uYftlj

Talking of love, according to Yehoram Gaon, we haven’t loved enough! There’s so much more love we can and want to give if only given the chance. Od Lo Ahavti Dai, the song that everyone that loves Israeli dancing has danced to! https://youtu.be/OEki0DUmoGM?si=99RddKv96OD4UBzX

Shir Tikva is a song of hope, of a new day, turning a new leaf, this day is a new beginning, never give up hope. In the sweet voice of Miri Metsika. https://youtu.be/MifWVsMglMw?si=P7MLeChGImh_uE0V  

I was amazed to learn that Arabella Kushner, 14 year old daughter of Ivanka and Jared Kushner, handwrote a little note for each of the 20 hostages released this week. The notes were delivered personally by Jared Kushner.

As Shabbat nears, I always feel a sense of new beginnings, of hope and prayer. I understand your fears, not just the Jewish communities, churches are attacked too, but I have a feeling that the tide is turning.  

Perhaps the epitome of strength, love, survival and hope for the future is encapsulated in something that happened yesterday Eight months after returning from 505 days in Hamas captivity, Eliya Cohen proposed to Ziv Aboud who survived in a shelter that claimed sixteen lives. Eliya bought the ring before October 7, never imagining that their world would shatter before he could give it to her. Their love endured separation, fear, and loss, waiting until the last living hostages were freed. Now, at last, what began before the war has become a story of survival, faith, and love as they were carried high on the shoulders of friends in celebration!

I was sitting with Rachel and Talia and Rachel told me of the words of former US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman. He wrote what I believe about the young people of Israel. Before October 7^th we thought that they were a hedonistic generation, like young people everywhere, but they are different. They have turned out to be the most phenomenal generation equal to the original Halutzim (pioneers) who fought to ensure a land for the Jews. The young people of Israel are not only not hedonists they are strong, clever, proud of their country and ready to fight for our right to be here on our land. I am confident that they will make great future leaders understanding that the fate of Israel lies in their hands. They, the best generation we could possibly dream of are capable of making this land a light unto nations again.

Shabbat, autumn in the air, balmy evenings, sometimes a chill in the air. The fruit trees are laden with fruits, late apples, limes, oranges, lemons, kumquats, all grown in pots, and of course my amazing hibiscus. The view over Jerusalem was hazy this morning, a gentle autumnal haze, now clear in the midday sun. The table is laid for dinner, all set ready for the blessings over wine and challah….and the blessing of family, friends and all comers.

I wish you a peaceful Shabbat filled with love

Sheila