Trees and Remembrance
26th January, 2024
Shabbat Shalom dear friends
Perhaps Charles Dickens was a prophet when he wrote
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”
Surely the supreme evidence that our world is upside down is that the International Court of Justice in the Hague, an outpost of the United Nations, has chosen to pass judgement on the ludicrous South African genocide accusation against Israel on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The ultimate irony is that the International Court of Justice and the UN were created to replace the League of Nations and the Permanent Court of International Justice which were disbanded because they failed to address the Holocaust
The world was silent at the slaughter of Moslems in Syria, Yemen, Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Moslems killed by Moslems, yet when Israel defended herself after the horrendous attack of October 7th, the entire world, led by Islamic activists, turned on us! Not the leaders, the people. Riots and violent demonstrations against Israel throughout the West, were more contagious than Covid and twice as deadly. The clouds of war are gathering and most of the Western world, Western society, is complacent and silent not understanding the words of their leaders. President Biden and Prime Minister Sunak took the decision to fight the piracy of the Houthis in Yemen, the Iranian armed terrorists, verbally backed by other countries, but just like the USA until Pearl Harbour, they did not wish to enter the fray in our part of the world until their ships were attacked. I know that you won’t like my last statement but it is sadly true.
The 75th anniversary of the founding of the Knesset went without ceremony, the Members of Knesset too bound up in this war that we did not want and the Cabinet too busy ejecting the families of hostages from open meetings.
The most frequent accusation against Israel is that of apartheid, so, I thought I would tell you about one or two of our heroes, of beloved soldiers who fell this week. They were Filipino (Cydric Garin), Peruvian (Yuval Lopez), Ethiopian (Daniel Zegeye), Jewish (Rabbi Elkana Vizel), Christian, Moslem, Druze and Bedouin (Ahmad Abu Latif), each and every one a hero, each and every one a proud fighter of the IDF, each and every one receiving the honour they deserved at their military burial, each and every one mourned. In fact, I want to tell you all about Cydric. Cydric Garin, age 23, came from San Mateo, just north of Manila, the Capital city of the Philippines, and came to Israel with his mother some 17 years ago. Cydric was a rebellious child but after enrolling in the IDF Givati Unit, he found his niche, was immediately accepted and loved and earned an outstanding soldier award by the Southern Command. The IDF is a true melting pot of people whose love of Israel and understanding of our threats is what binds them.
One of the most emotional ceremonies this week took place in Kibbutz Be’eri, to be exact, in the Be’eri Forest, on Tu b’Shvat, the festival of the new trees. With the help of KKL-JNF, the families of the 364 people killed at the Nova festival and the 40 members of Kibbutz Be’eri who were taken captive, participated in a tree planting ceremony, 404 trees to form a memorial forest. Giving new life, new memories to the place where their loved ones lost their lives.
What is Tu b’Shvat? Tu b’Shvat is a Jewish holiday occurring on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat. It is also called Rosh HaShanah La’Ilanot, literally “New Year of the Trees”. An Ilan is an Oak tree. In contemporary Israel, the day is celebrated as an ecological awareness day; trees are planted in celebration and we all eat fruits and nuts each of which has a specific blessing.
The Red Cross came to the Israel Government demanding to check on the conditions of the Hamas prisoners in Israel. The senior members of the IDF said yes and the government almost agreed, but Itamar Ben Gvir, with whom I have little agreement, said no “Not until the Red Cross visits and reports on the condition of the hostages in Gaza” For the first time ever I agree with him. The Red Cross not only hasn’t demanded to visit the hostages, their new Director was the shamed Director of UNWRA!!
Not all is gloom and doom, thanks to wonderful people along the way, they are beacons of light in a dark world. Imagine a senior officer in the middle of War choosing to take time off and donate a kidney to a complete stranger. A few days later he went to meet the recipient of the kidney. The epitome of the humanity of the IDF, saving lives both in and out of uniform
Rachel Heisler Sheinfeld is the Executive Director of the American friends of Soroka Hospital, a wonderful lady and dear friend. Rachel’s husband Joel is a renowned Urologist at Sloan Kettering Hospital and they have both watched and cared for the growth of Soroka Hospital, in Beer Sheva, watching it grow from a few huts to a large and very important Medical Facility. In addition to the normal day to day activities of a hospital, Soroka has borne the brunt of the injured since October 7th, over 2,600 soldiers and civilians, performing miracles along the way. Why am I telling you all this? Because on Monday Zvi and I headed off down the main highway to Beer Sheva and Soroka Hospital for the official opening of the Dr Joel Sheinfeld Urology Centre in Soroka Hospital. The centre is state of the art, with treatment rooms equipped with the very latest technology, a bright and hopeful centre. The obvious love extended to Rachel by the senior staff of the hospital was tangible; the fact that they all came to honour her and Joel when soldiers were being helicoptered in to the ICU every few minutes is a sign of deep respect for Rachel’s untiring work.
Elon Musk was completely ignorant of the facts about the current conflagration and about Israel in general. Being South African perhaps he believed the apartheid accusations? Unlike others, Elon Musk came to Israel, visited Be’eri, talked to survivors, went to Auschwitz and finally understood. In fact, his understanding reached the point of “I’m Jewish by association” Let’s see if his words will be translated into action on “X” and all the dire anti-Semitic posts removed.
Three short video clips of huge importance.
Ben Shapiro and Piers Morgan talk about “Gas the Jews” https://youtu.be/Ji9zcj9MdOY?si=eAJIxECiUDYk_VPi
Oded Rahav, a man of peace, speaks out “Humanity is at a crossroads” https://youtu.be/u6z87_e9jPM?si=Hdin3M765f-m1fMf
Member of Knesset Boaz Bizmuth had prepared a speech to the European Parliament but instead spoke his mind. “You should be ashamed” https://youtu.be/m4uOCqv8aeU?si=VPpNRj-7Tb9h5EKS
January 24th was World Education Day. It was hate education, the inculcation of hatred from day one, that ultimately led to October 7th as the PA and UNWRA refused to remove hatred from their schoolbooks. Impact-se (https://www.impact-se.org/ could change all that, is prepared and ready to teach the next and following generations of Palestinians to respect the other; we just need the world to demand the way they teach their children.
Zvi and I returned to two very important places this week. Hostage Square, right next to the Tel Aviv Museum and the Israeli Opera, was almost empty on a Saturday morning allowing us to really look at the installations, at the faces of those at the long, long table set for those who have not returned, may not return from captivity. On Wednesday we went back to the Chabad centre in Jerusalem hoping to help with the sandwich-making again, but there was little for us to do! The place had so many volunteers that all that was left for me to do was slicing cucumbers! People from every walk of life, adults and children, special needs and just folks who want to help. As with everything in Israel, there is a story behind the simple act of making sandwiches. A child called Li’el asked his mother for extra sandwiches each day at school, not for himself, for children who couldn’t afford. He grew up to be an officer in the IDF. He was close to his soldiers and reminded them to smile because a smile lights the world. Li’el fell in battle and this project is in his name. By day sandwiches, by night barbecues for soldiers in the north and in the south https://www.jgive.com/…/usd/donation-targets/115193/about
I think I told you that as a result of the current situation people in our neighborhood have organised all sorts of social events, one of my favourites is “Yetsira” handicraft. One of the women heard me talk about the sandwich-making and told me that the children at her school are among the recipients, many with fathers away fighting in Gaza, and the delight on their faces at they receive their mid-morning sandwich.
It’s raining, it’s pouring but my old man isn’t snoring! The rain is so strong that for the first time in ages I didn’t sit out on the veranda to eat my breakfast and read the paper before doing Wordle! I missed the fresh air but there is a limit even to my resilience and British stoicism in the face of bad weather! Mount Hermon is already covered in snow, wonderful skiing snow but the usual crowds of curious visitors are kept away by the Hezb-Allah missiles. Shame really, Israelis have taken to the piste with delight.
And so to songs.
Yaron Chitiz z”l from Ra’anana fell in Gaza. Zvi went to the funeral which was attended by thousands. His father worked in Keren Hayesod in South Africa before the family came on Aliya This song was written in his honour. My thanks to Merle Friedman for sending it to me. Sim Shalom https://youtu.be/pxRb_BQ6MXs?si=S1Em_1aqTzvq6A7x
Yesh Bi Ahava by Arik Einstein, I have love within, is not a new song but so appropriate. I have love within and it will win. https://youtu.be/I1Zro9rVJ-E?si=1tHXvGzljVCJ2YnK
Katan Aleinu – No Problem. Israeli singers, a beautiful video, the story of our strength. We love, we hug, we help, we hold our heads up high. Even this untenable situation is “Katan Aleinu”. We have been in worse situations and we are still here. https://youtu.be/v10zZx3L9NQ?si=4W5Rry_hJOYDMMN3
Let’s all pray for Besorot Tovot, for good news. We must show the world that we are strong, our heads are high, Israelis, indeed all logical people, irrespective of provenance, must speak out without fear and this too will pass. Don’t forget that the Israeli national anthem is called The Hope
With much love from Jerusalem.