Sheila Raviv: Israel – Midweek Update & THE WANDERING THOUGHTS OF AN ISRAELI UNDER FIRE
The Canary in the coal mine – an early warning; before technology, a canary was taken into the coal mine as an early warning of coal gas which would kill miners.
In case it has not yet dawned on people, this is not just our story, it is yours as well. Israel is the canary in the coal mine, the early warning too many choose to ignore. But we are not passive, not sitting ducks or any other unfortunate fowl; we are, if anything, the rare bird that fights back, fiercely, to defend herself.
I began writing this just after midnight, having managed barely an hour’s sleep, sitting with Zvi in our mamad in relative comfort while Iran once again attempts to advance its caliphate ambitions by firing at whoever happens to be in range — and let us be clear, it is not only Jews. Earlier in the day, while Rachel and Yosef were with us, the first time in a month, a missile carrying a cluster warhead was intercepted, though shrapnel fell in Abu Ghosh. Miraculously, no one was hurt. Then, soon after falling asleep came another hatra’a, that sharp warning on the phone, followed almost immediately by the siren. Another missile. Then another. Three in quick succession, all cluster warheads. One cannot help but wonder what Jeremy Bowen of the BBC or their counterparts at CNN might say if it were their own families running for shelter, crouching at the side of the road, or huddled in a safe room. What language would they use if it were London or New York under fire?
Sometime towards the early hours we were released and returned to bed, knowing it was only an interlude.
Morning brought the kind of news that lands heavily and stays. A couple in their seventies in Ramat Gan were killed by shrapnel from a cluster munition; whether they failed to close the door of their mamad or did not reach it in time is ultimately beside the point. A neighbour, realising that their building had been hit, went to check on them and found the apartment destroyed, the safe room door open.
And in the north — Nahariya, Kfar Blum, Majdal Shams — every town, village and kibbutz has been under relentless fire from Hezbollah. Jews, Christians, Druze, Bedouin, Circassians — it makes no difference. For nineteen days now, the rockets have fallen indiscriminately, and last night was among the worst. Of course, the reports in most countries only talk about the IDF fighting the poor Lebanese. Understand, we have no fight with the Lebanese, only with Hezb-Allah.
The North, the soldiers who protect us and the women, like Ora Hatan from the moshav of Shtoolah, who spend their waking hours preparing warm and loving food for the soldiers when they come out for a short break. These women epitomise our society. Ora doesn’t have a mamad and the local shelter is too far away so the morning programme on Channel 13 decided to ask for a company to volunteer to donate a “migunit” shelter for her. Diana and her company came through to the tears of gratitude from Ora. What were Ora’s first words? “The government didn’t do anything for me but private people, a private company, came to my rescue. I want everyone in your company to come and I will cook them a real Kurdish meal.”
This is what it means to live here: to move between the ordinary and the unthinkable in the space of minutes, to hold fear and resilience in the same breath, and to understand, perhaps more clearly than most, that what begins here rarely ends here.
Another missile, also a cluster, and at 07:50 found us back in the mamad. It’s over again and we will shower, dress and go about our business. This morning we are going to the local shopping mall to buy gifts for our Seder night (the first night of Passover and Jesus’ Last Supper). We are expecting a much smaller Seder night this year, only 16 diners, but I have my doubts that the family will be able to come if the missiles are still flying.
I’ll see you on Friday morning as always. With love, as always, from our veranda and the view of Jerusalem that, after 35 years, still takes my breath away
Sheila
https://www.theviewfrommyveranda.info/midweek-update/
THE WANDERING THOUGHTS OF AN ISRAELI UNDER FIRE
“In war, the Gordian Knot of diplomacy is often untied only by the steel of the sword.” The question is whether to slice it like Alexander the Great or to find a way of untying it.
In Wednesday’s midweek update, I touched on something that feels increasingly important to say clearly: it is not only Jewish Israelis who have been affected, but all Israelis regardless of faith, background, or belief. In the north of Israel, many Muslim Arab villages have suffered terribly, their communities caught in the same wave of violence. In recent days alone, terror does not distinguish between people.
Missiles fired from Iran have brought fear, trauma and uncertainty, but it is physical, identifiable; we know from whence the threat comes, we know who is shooting what and at whom. However, outside Israel, there is a terrifying rise in antisemitism. Synagogues have been targeted, and Jews are afraid to openly express their identity, whether it’s placing a mezuzah on their doorposts or wearing a kippah in public. This does not arise in isolation; it has been carefully crafted through disinformation, misunderstanding, and narratives that deepen the divide, encourage anti-Semitism and cloud the facts rather than foster clarity.
Thursday night. 22:45 until 01:28. I was busy writing to you, although it is late, and then it happened; we have been under fire of cluster missiles, in and out, in and out 4 or 5 times. Just as you think that there’s time to go and get a drink, or something to munch on, the hatra’ah, that awful tch tch tch goes off again causing one’s heart to go into one’s shoes, no matter how calm an exterior we may display or brag about, how pragmatic a personality it disturbs ones equilibrium, then the siren on our phones, then the siren in the area, then the booms, sometimes closer, sometimes further, the booms that tell us that Iron Dome or another form of interception has yet again prevented a missile reaching its target, but it is simultaneously comforting and discomforting wherever they are. I told you that we are lucky, we have a mamad in our home, I can sit comfortably and write to you, but at least 50% of Israelis if not many more than that, don’t have that luxury, don’t live in new buildings where it is compulsory. They have to go up and down, down and up every time anew.
It’s now 08:45 and the hatra’a just went off on my phone, followed by a siren, perhaps I should stop writing to you. Each time I sit down to tell you about our week, we get a ******* multi-headed missile from Iran! I haven’t heard the booms yet so nothing has landed, unless it is still on its way. I’m just going to check the news on my computer. The newsreader, Eli Rachlin is in the safe room studio with a spokesman for the IDF and for Magen David Adom reporting on the situation and explaining about the diabolical missiles that have warheads that split on impact or when intercepted. The supposedly small offshoots are dangerous enough to break through walls and explode and destroy cars. A good reason why we are told, when on the road, to distance ourselves from the falling shrapnel, which is conceivably more dangerous than the missile head itself.
OK no booms, hopefully a false alarm, or we got it before it arrived. Hmmm I wonder what to eat for breakfast? My usual cottage cheese and crackers with a good cup of coffee or should I treat myself to something more interesting? I know, smoked salmon instead of cottage! What on earth is she going on about breakfast, you may ask, a second ago, she was telling us that missiles may be flying over her head. Welcome to our world. We go from the safe room to a normal, mundane life in seconds – it keeps us sane.
Sitting facing my favourite view in the world, the view from my veranda, actually of our veranda, I began to think of what to tell you. I make little notes all week and send them to myself in emails so that I won’t forget what I want to say. Well, what I want to say has nothing to do with those notes on politics, diplomacy, war and response; it has to do with what I saw while sitting, eating my crackers and smoked salmon and that essential cup o’ Joe. I saw trees, beauty, I saw apple and orange blossom, harbingers of spring and I saw exactly what we are fighting for. All those notes that I made, thinking of you all week, are irrelevant, the reason we are in shelters, safe rooms and are willing to fight back is that this view, these trees, the blue skies and the ability to sit and admire the view are what, for Israel, this is what it is all about.
Most of the news reports tell us that Americans are against this war because the price of crude oil has gone up and it affects their lifestyle, before you get defensive I know that’s not you, but the wider public doesn’t understand that a few cents on their petrol bill doesn’t compare to a constant bombardment which ultimately threatens your very existence, yes you, it means all of you, not just us.
A quick run down of news that I cannot run away from – Oh, sorry, you will have to wait. It’s now 10:38 and we have another hatra’a to break into my thoughts. Luckily, the computer is right here in the safe room.
Lebanese President Aoun has called on the EU to help with establishing a ceasefire, support for the Lebanese Army and dismantle Hezbollah. That means that Christians could get back Lebanon and Northern Israel would be safe
Princess Noor Pahlavi is calling on the world to remove the Ayatollahs regime and return Iran to the free society it once was.
My amazing friend Liz Harris sent me a spot poll of people in the streets of London and New York, asking random people how many Jews they think are in the world. Their responses were incredible, ranging from half a million to two billion! Of course, the answer is about 13 million, less than .02% of the world’s population. The presenter found a passage in the Tanach that said that although we may not be great in number, the Almighty will ensure that our name is great. I can’t decide if that’s a blessing or a curse but then I look at the contribution of Jews to the world and I understand that the curse or renown is a blessing
Stephen Fry is a brilliant actor/humourist/satirist who made this very short video called I am Stephen Fry “I am a Jew” https://youtube.com/shorts/65wE2wFR5f8?si=7w7DEa-jPk_OUpxr
We just got the all clear and then immediately another hatra’a and siren. Luckily, we hadn’t left the safe room. Just waiting for the boom and the message that we can go back about our business. No sooner had I finished the sentence when there was another siren and now a cluster of booms, not too far away. The authorities are on the spot, although we can’t say where it is, but a private house was utterly destroyed. Thank heaven the people had left the house and gone to the public shelter.
Good grief, as my favourite cartoon character Linus would say, good grief, another one. Oh well, onward.
Meanwhile the Al Quds day march didn’t happen in London this week. The annual hate march was banned and only a small number turned up for a static demonstration in support of the Iranian regime. Across the river, a counter demonstration by pro-Israelis and anti-Regime Iranians took place as planned.
My friend and mentor Rabbi Jeremy Rosen writes every week about current events and their relationship to the Torah or Talmud. This is an excerpt from today’s wisdom. “We are living through the most turbulent, challenging and frightening world that I have ever experienced. Rationally I despair. Thank goodness I have a spiritual dimension that provides me with a non-rational dose of optimism. We have survived such a continuum of alienation and isolation, finding ourselves at odds with almost every world civilization and power at some stage or another, that this present state seems more normal than exceptional.” Dear Jeremy, my thoughts precisely. He also quotes Brandolini’s law of 2013, which compares the considerable effort of debunking misinformation to the relative ease of creating it in the first place. The adage states:
“The amount of energy needed to refute bullshit is an order of magnitude bigger than that needed to produce it.”
My goodness, my usual tendency to digress has gone berserk this week, but I hope that you understand why. Incidentally, your response to my midweek update really warmed my heart.
Another digression but a natural progression – This week, yesterday to be exact, Zvi celebrated his 81st birthday in style. He met with friends in Café Ella and received the most beautiful bouquet of flowers; his Facebook page received over 300 messages of congratulation and we then went with our friend Sam Alberanes to our coffee shop where we celebrated with a cupcake resplendent with hundreds and thousands and a candle presented by Yisrael, whom I told you about a couple of weeks ago. The good news is that Yisrael is coping with the sirens and booms far better than we expected. This is a horrific time for people with PTSD. Anyway, back to Zvi, he received congratulatory phone calls from Canada, Mexico, the USA and the UK. Our granddaughter Talia, Rachel’s daughter, even sang happy birthday to him from Lima airport Peru where she was about to catch a plane back to Panama and the Safdie family. Sally, you are amazing, the way Talia feels so at home while on her travels so far from home is very special.
Zvi is about to leave for his parliament, again in the local mall. It never fails to amaze me, in a good way, that the mall is as bustling and lively as always. The coffee shops full and people chatting as if nothing else was happening. The supermarket is filled with shoppers buying the goods for Pesach and gifts for the family. I can’t decide if it is resilience or the fact that we are a stubborn people, we are determined to carry on our lives despite. Maybe it is inherited; an inherited history of survival. Anyway, we won’t give up on our Aroma coffee, or any of the amazing delicacies that every parliament, male or female enjoys.
I intended letting you off with a relatively short missive but my pen had wings today. I don’t apologise for the inconsistencies therein. I thought of changing it, making it more lucid, shorter, but on the other hand, nothing is lucid, nothing is dependable except our own ability to overcome all obstacles. So dear friends, please accept my digressions, my drifting excursions into confused thought which bring you into the average Israeli mind today.
And so to music, to song, the expression of emotion through sound.
Bella Ciao is a song dedicated to all women who are in a war zone but particularly the women of Iran. In Farsi, Hebrew and Arabic with English subtitles, it is a cry for togetherness, for unity. https://youtu.be/kBJoGGfNzUg?si=WIMkJiQJ4zAUiKQ2
Shalom Aleichem, Peace be with you, the song we sing before Shabbat. Have you ever thought that almost every song, every Israeli song, every Israeli greeting mentions peace, craves peace. We are not a belligerent people. We are a people who love to argue, but not to fight. Enjoy this beautiful song, maybe sing along! https://youtu.be/Y9cNstcOCIU?si=Hw2XbNyP-vVaK0sw
Many accuse me of being an optimist; actually, that isn’t an accusation, it’s a compliment! Without optimism, life becomes painful. When in doubt, I simply sing that insane song from Life of Brian. “Always Look on The Bright Side of Life” with its irreverent reverence for positivity. Go on, I dare you not to sing along with Eric Idle but don’t forget the key change in the middle! https://youtu.be/JrdEMERq8MA?si=5AXt3EGiVdYCBnQl
That’s it folks. I’m not going to Rachel today, she doesn’t want me to be out on the road without need. She is right, when friends tell me that when there is a siren and they are en route, they are alright crouching down at the side of the road but cannot get back up again, I admit that I can’t even get down let alone back up again!! So I’m going to get our supper ready, set the table for two, then open it up for the 14 or 15 for lunch tomorrow. Don’t worry most of the food is already in the fridge or freezer, I’m good but not that good that I can do it all in one go!!
I wish you Shabbat Shalom and please, be proud of who you are, of what you are, not what you are perceived to be, the real honest you. Jew, Christian, Moslem, Bahai, LDS, Druze, we should wear our identity as a badge of pride not be afraid. Accept others, accept those different to ourselves and the world would already be a better place.
Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem, the View From Our Veranda. I promise to think of you tonight as I light the Shabbat candles, will you think of us?
With much love
Sheila
As I was about to send this we had another hatra’a, another siren and I didn’t even manage to put the potatoes in the oven
–My name is Sheila Raviv and I live in Jerusalem, Israel’s beautiful Capital City. I made Aliya from Wales in 1990, fulfilling a dream from my first visit to Israel in 1963. During the Second Intifada I came to understand that Israel’s story was not being told by the international media and somehow the Israeli Government was not succeeding in their information machine, the true story was not being told. I started writing, at first to family and friends, describing the situation on the ground here and then to leaders and politicians who asked to receive my updates, when I created the motto “If the media doesn’t inform you then you must inform the media” I firmly believe in the power of one, of each and every one of us to change the world for the better and to persevere and transform the perception of what Israel stands for. I have three wonderful children and my husband Zvi has two wonderful boys. Between us we have 14 grandchildren on three continents. The work we do is for them, to ensure that their world will perceive Israel as the amazing, generous and moral country, the epitome of Tikun Olam, that she truly is.
If the media does not inform us we must inform the media
My Website http://www.theviewfrommyveranda.info/
Facebook Sheila Silver Raviv
Involvement http://www.impact-se.org/
