December 12-19

I don’ t know if it’s the cold that I have, the major scandal in the financial world caused by so-called Orthodox Jews, or the distraction of thinking about the flood in Monty and Daniella’s house, but I am in a crazy mood these days. So, if things seem to be at a 45 degree angle this week, we can blame any or all of the above!

We are in full election mode; the parties have each had their primaries that present the list of candidates who will be eligible for election in the crazy Israeli election scheme. Likud has been in the lead, and in their primary they elected Moshe Feiglin and a group of his very right wing supporters. The party went into panic mode; how can they say they are a centrist party with this list? So their popularity went up from 34 to 37%. Kadima is next at 20% and Ehud Barak and Labor are in downward plummet at 11%. No one wants Barak again. Driving to Hadassah Hospital, there is a huge display on an overpass which tries to portray Barak as tough guy and a real leader. The signs say: “Not sympathetic: a leader; Not nice; a leader; Not cute: a leader” You get the drift. There is Ehud, baby-faced but trying to snarl. It does not work. So, unless there is a major upheaval, Bibi Netanyahu will get another kick at the can, so to speak. Of course, there ARE another 6 weeks to go, which is forever in politics, right?

Shabbat initiated our week with much simcha. We had Elan, Nomi and Shoshana as well as our friends the Zochers for a very spirited dinner with discussion and learning and lots of giggling by Shoshana. The celebration continued at the Shalom Zachar for a new baby boy, son of Avi and Sarah Lifshitz, friends of E and N from Toronto (Sarah) and Yeshivat Hakotel (Avi). The baby’s brit was Sunday Morning, which was also a lot of fun (even though someone fainted and I spent the brit on the floor with him) and we now have a new member of the tribe named Ezra. That’s him being consoled by his new friend Shoshanna. Monday Barbara went back to school….literally! She went to Bet Shemesh to visit Chaya Kessler and attended 2 of her classes. They were excellent; makes you want to be 18 again (or does it??). We went out to dinner in Jerusalem after class (we like feeding Yeshiva and Seminary kids). Tuesday Barbara travelled to Ranana to speak, but mixed business with pleasure by staying over at Sharon Dalfen’s and meeting our friend Mindy Bigman (ex of Cleveland). Mindy’s daughter Hadass was Daniella’s havruta and friend during her year in Israel and wants to see Daniella when she comes to visit next week! Back in Jerusalem, we had our Tuesday night dinner at Elan’s featuring Sweet Corn Soup and Tacos. Ariel has a friend from New York who comes every week for dinner; he was very disappointed to learn we are not staying all year!

The week’s climax or highlight is the arrival of the Fiter Family. This is the first visit for Ryan and Rachel but their parents Steve and Estie have not been here in over 20 years…It’s pretty exciting for all. We got to see them on Thursday, jet lag and all and had a great dinner together. This morning we all took an Old City tour, particularly of the Herodian Quarter, the Southern Wall excavation and the Tunnels. It is amazing to think that we are walking on the same ground as people did in Temple times, and can see actual proof of the laws, rituals and customs as well as the way of life that we learn about when we study classical Jewish texts like the Mishna and Talmud. It is very humbling, but it does drive home the point that the Jews are all part of a chain that has been adding links and growing for 3000 years.

With Chanukah coming, that means that there will be a bit of time for travel and parties (and as previously mentioned, endless donuts). We are planning a day trip south next week to visit the community of Netzarim, which is a transplant of the community that had been in Gaza prior to the evacuation. We will see how they are doing and get the perspective on what the people of Netzarim think of the politics of why they are no longer in Gaza. This has been organized by Willie Lieberman with one of the town’s development people.

Chanukah is the season of light and we begin to celebrate on Sunday night. The candles represent the miracle of the remnants of pure oil left in the Holy Temple following the Hasmonean victory over the Hellenistic Empire. It is a tribute to many parts of our history; the victory of a small nation over a more powerful one; the symbolism of a remnant of oil representing that which was left after destruction, to light the way for rebuilding the future. Much like our forbearers after the Inquisition, the Crusades, or our most recent horror, the Holocaust. We can take solace in the knowledge that there has always been a small flask of oil to keep the flames alive and to continue to build. Good triumphs over evil, and even one small flask of oil can light the entire world. Now let’s do our part.

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach!

Barbara and Bruce