Sheila Raviv: Israel-THE POWER OF ONE
Shabbat Shalom everyone! So good to talk to you today.
Before I sit to write to you, I read the Israeli paper to see if there is anything that catches my eye so that I can tell you about it. I always read what Brenda Katten writes because she so often echoes my thoughts and fears. When in London recently, Brenda went to see a play at the Young Vic Theatre, “Broken Glass,” the Arthur Miller play which took its title and theme from The Night of the Broken Glass; Kristallnacht.
Arthur Miller’s Broken Glass holds today’s fears and deep emotional concern because it no longer refers only to the past. Sylvia’s paralysis becomes a deeply human reflection of what happens when people grow numb in the face of hatred and frightening world events. In the play, ordinary Jewish families ask what Nazi persecution has to do with them, even as Kristallnacht looms in the background, and there’s something quietly frightening in their distance and disbelief. Perhaps that is why the play feels so relevant. In a world of endless headlines and constant cacophony, our current threats can too easily become just another story. Broken Glass reminds us how dangerous it is when people stop seeing each other’s fear and humanity, and how important it remains to care enough, aware enough, not to look away.
I have said it before; I will say it again until my voice is heard, too. We are currently living in 1936, but this time it isn’t just Nazi Germany, it is worldwide. The carefully crafted assault on our daily lives, not just anti-Israel, not just anti-Semitism; not just attacking churches; it is an attack on our very beliefs and way of life.
I write here about the UK, because that’s what I know, but in truth, this could apply almost anywhere: north, south, east, or west. This week, the British Ambassador, Simon Walters, felt it important enough to hold a press briefing about the growing wave of antisemitism and the response to it. He spoke not only about hateful language, but about something much wider and more troubling: the overlap between extremism, intimidation, vandalism, and the steady rise of fear within Jewish communities. Over the past year, we have seen terrible incidents not only in Britain, but in Australia, America, and elsewhere, and for many Jews, there is a growing sense of unease in places where they once felt entirely at home. What struck me most was not the politics of it, but the sadness that such conversations are necessary at all. No Jew should feel anxious about wearing a kippah, entering a synagogue, or simply being visibly Jewish in the country they call home. And yet, here we are, having these conversations once again, hoping that the wider world understands that antisemitism is never just a Jewish problem — it is a warning sign for society as a whole.
Just for you to know, Belgium has declared Brit Milah illegal when not performed by a doctor. They clearly know nothing about the British Royal family, who, when the Royal Princes are circumcised, the Queen asked Rabbi Snoman, a Mohel, to perform the surgery
The conversation in Jewish families everywhere is, “Who among our friends would save us?” We are in an undeniable crisis of antisemitism, and many are asking whether they need to leave their current home countries. Many have already done so, or are planning to. Two of the people in the UK who have been publicly outspoken one is Kemi Badenoch, Leader of the Opposition, and Trevor Phillips, who has a Sunday Morning programme on Sky News, both people of colour. Trevor Phillips’ monologue sums up the situation in the UK but it could be anywhere. https://www.instagram.com/reels/DX46v6MM0ln/
The outside world is cross about the cost of petrol and the subsequent rise in the cost of living. We complain too, but never forget that for us, it isn’t only about the cost of living; it is about an existential threat from Iran and Qatar and their proxies who intend, after disposing of us, to ultimately change your way of life. This war is not about whether or not you like the leaders; it’s about survival.
Did you know that children living in the north of Israel haven’t been to school on a regular basis for 3 years? Did you know that half of the homes in the north of Israel have been destroyed or damaged? Do you know the Hezbollah name for their current campaign against Israel? “The Campaign to Occupy the Galil.” It’s so clever to convince the world that the accuser is the occupier!
As I wrote last week, the strange thing is that in sport, where there is plenty of antisemitism and unsportsmanlike shunning of Israeli sportsmen and women, we are doing very nicely, thank you!!
This week, the Israeli national team won gold in Rhythmic Gymnastics at the 2026 European Cup in Baku in the five-ball final, and Daniela Munits won gold in the clubs title and another gold in the Cross Battle event. In Ice Hockey, Israel’s men’s team won against Taiwan 6-1, remaining undefeated at the IIHF World Championship in Sofia, Bulgaria. Finally, Congratulations to Israeli judoka Melissa Safronsky for winning two gold medals at the Budapest Cup, and she is only 12 years old.
We are undefeatable because we are indefatigable!
Talk about indefatigable, that is IMPACT-se. After years of painstaking research exposing incitement and extremism within UNRWA schools, the organisation has helped drive a dramatic shift in international attitudes. In 2025 alone, UNRWA funding fell by more than $500 million, with major donors, including Arab States, withdrawing or significantly reducing support. Time and again, IMPACT-se presented governments with compelling evidence that children were being educated not for peace, but for hatred, a reality the world could no longer ignore. Don’t even get me started on the leadership of António Guterres, the Secretary General of the UN.
Do you follow Nas Daily, aka Nuseir Yassin? If so, you must see this one, where he talks about the Indians of Uganda and their incredible success after being given 90 days to get out. As he says, pain is not a choice, but how you deal with it is: to be a victim or not. https://www.instagram.com/reels/DKwwQAxM2aH/
This week started with our big car deciding that it had had enough and refused to move. Luckily, it was in our outdoor car park when it died. We tried everything and after consultation with Osama, we called the tow truck. He was really sweet, but when he mentioned what he thought was wrong with the car, I really didn’t understand. I grew up with cars and know my “bits,” but this one was strange to me. He said that he thought it was the bugs. He repeated it 3 times, but still no luck until I remembered that Arabic speakers cannot pronounce the letter “P” and he was describing a problem with the PLUGS. I find it strange that a people who cannot say the letter P calls itself Palestinian. Anyway, we took the car to the workshop and thanks to Osama, it came out like new.
On Tuesday, we drove to Ra’anana to the most wonderful event. My childhood friend, Jen, Jenny, Jennifer, held her birthday party! It was an early lunch but although the food was good, the restaurant had a lovely country feel, the best part was that Jen had invited only close friends. For me, to Zvi’s concern, we were placed at a table of Ex-Cardiffians and I had a ball! It was probably difficult for our partners who had no idea of whom we spoke and about what we got excited!! Most of all my beautiful friend Jen, who I have loved from the age of 7, and her incredible husband Brian (they met at my birthday party) simply glowed! Their children, Robert and Rachel, insisted I have one of the family T-shirts which declared “I’, not really 80, I’m 18 with 62 years’ experience”!! I loved it so much I even wore it to my Mind and Movement group!!
After the party, we drove to Kfar Saba ha Yeruka to visit Rachel and Yossi, Zvi’s cousins that I absolutely adore and then on to our grandson Yonatan’s Basketball game in Tel Aviv. I became very excited, cheering both his team and the opposing team!! Yonatan is 11 by the way, but will be 12 on Sunday. Tomorrow we are going to be with the family for his party at Amiad and Noga’s.
On Wednesday, my friend Gila brought her sister Margo to visit. Margo and I were friends of Facebook without realising she was Gila’s sister. By the way, I’ve been thrown off Facebook! Can’t find out why but I have a good idea how. Their propensity to hatred of Israel is undoubtedly the cause. Anyway, our meeting was delightful and since Margo Dudkevitch is a journalist of renown, we had loads to talk about. On Thursday, Zvi performed with David De’Or at the Jerusalem theatre. Well to be exact, Zvi sang with the Zamir choir under the baton of Ronit Banit and the performance was stupendous. Yesterday, Sheli and her friend Elior came to visit and obviously, I made lunch and today we have the Azkara, the visit to the cemetery to say the prayers in memory of Alla and Kalman, Zvi’s incredible parents, about whom I have often written. Tomorrow is Yonatan’s birthday and that ends this week! I’m exhausted jut reading my own words!
Music, and this song is about as far from my usual picks as one can get, but it is number one on the Israeli charts. Iranian Rapper and anti-IRGC, 021KID with Lion Sun https://youtu.be/l5cyUblMrFo?si=pYpLI2fr1x_wPz48
David De’Or, world famous Israeli counter-tenor, has chosen to perform only Israeli songs this year, in fact at the concert he also told wonderful stories about his various gigs around the world. A long time ago he wrote the song “Shmor Al Ha’Olam Yeled” a song about a parent talking to his son and asking him to take care of the world because we did a lousy job of it. https://youtu.be/e7EV4IWgR2A?si=f30PWK7KfAhPI7nH
Noam Bettan is singing this year’s entry to the Eurovision Song Contest. As usual there is a great deal of hatred from many of the countries but we are there and this song is a strong contender, Michelle in three languages, Hebrew, French and English. https://youtu.be/xWCnWSoG8nI?si=AihWx7b6kw1fTDS5 I want you to vote! Please do! You can cast your vote by phone, SMS or at www.esc.vote, depending on where you are in the world, and you can vote up to 10 times. It is so important to prove to the haters that we stand tall and support Israel.
And so we come to Shabbat again. The aroma of delicious epicurean concoctions of so many countries and traditions wafts in the air. Food is such a central and essential part of Jewish life. It may be Chicken soup with matzo balls or kubeh soup; it may be gefilte fish or chraime, as David De’Or said on the stage this Wednesday, his songs are not defined by being Ashkenazi or Sefardi or Misrachi, in the same way as he believes that people should not be defined in that manner, we are all Jewish, we shouldn’t split, we should unite. So it is in life, to unite against evil, to unite against any enemy that would teach hatred. This is our one attempt at creating a better world for our children and grandchildren. Unity, such a short word for such an important decision. Unity, tolerance, acceptance, they work only when it is reciprocal, but if we are persistent, if we accept that with The Power of One we can change the world for the better.
I wish you a peaceful weekend, a beautiful Shabbat, and the chance to go out there and breathe in the beauty of nature. Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem, the View from Our Veranda and its spring display.
Sheila
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If the media does not inform us, we must inform the media
My Website http://www.theviewfrommyveranda.info/
Involvement http://www.impact-se.org/
IsraelSeen https://israelseen.com/sheila-raviv
