Shabbat Shalom

by Esther Korson

23 January 2014

    “Shabbat Shalom!”  That’s the refrain that you’ll hear every Friday from every nook and cranny of this little land. The Lord God of Israel gave us a wonderful gift when He said, “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.  Six days you shall labour, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.  On it you shall not do any work…” (see also Leviticus 23:3, Genesis 2:3, among others). So on the seventh day, which begins Friday night and ends Saturday night 30 minutes after the first three stars appear, the Lord basically told us—to do nothing?  To relax? To chill out? To rest, as an order from Heaven?!?

    The wonderful thing about it is that in Israel, as a nation, we celebrate Shabbat every single week.  Friday is a shortened school and work day.  On Friday morning, there is a noticeable buzz in the air as people are out and about to gather supplies for the Sabbath.  The outdoor market, Mahaneh Yehuda, in Jerusalem is packed to the gills as are the supermarkets.  The shops are brimming with freshly baked Challah, a special braided bread reserved for Shabbat.  It has a wonderful taste!  Supplies invariably include Challah, wine for the blessing and fresh flowers, with fresh flower stands gracing the streets everywhere.  It is traditional to have a special meal on Friday nights, and usually the tables are set formally with a white table cloth.  People usually dress up a bit for the Sabbath meal as well. It is a looked-forward-to time of family togetherness.

    Because Shabbat is celebrated by the nation, it truly becomes a day set apart from the rest of the week. By late afternoon on Friday, the shops are closed; the busses and trains have stop running; and the Jerusalem Light Rail has returned to its terminal. As all this happens, a hush begins to fall over the city, and by the time Shabbat begins Jerusalem is bathed in quiet, (as are all the cities and villages throughout the land).  You can see men and boys en route to the synagogues or to the Western Wall for Sabbath prayers.  The women light the Sabbath candles before sunset, and you can see the candles burning brightly in windows all over the city.  At the start of the meal, the men say the traditional prayers for the Sabbath and over the bread and the wine as family and friends have gathered at the table.  There is singing followed by a leisurely meal.  Even El Al, Israel’s national airline, does not fly on Shabbat and the shops in the airport close Friday afternoon.  Saturday morning is so quiet that you can tell in a second that it is Shabbat morning!  Soldiers are allowed off their bases to celebrate the Sabbath with their families most weekends. Because it is such a radically different day than the rest of the week, a true day of restoration, you feel ready to begin a new week on Sunday morning!  In a later blog I’ll tell more including what happens on Saturday night’s after the Sabbath.  But for now, I just want to wish you—Shabbat Shalom!

    As I shared in a previous ‘Reflections’, last week 47 year old Filipino Rose Fostanes won the inaugural “X-Factor Israel” singing competition.  It was explained, however, that she would be unable to perform in Israel because her entry visa limited her to working as a caregiver. Israel is a nation with a heart, however, and somehow people in this nation almost always find a way to work things out.  There are very legalistic countries out there—some of you may live in them—where a rule is a rule is a rule, no exceptions and no changing it.  Israel is not like that at all.  The Israeli public, huge fans of Rose and her wonderful voice, clamoured for permission to be given for her to pursue her singing career here.  As the headliner said just a few days later, “Rose Can Sing!”  And we were informed that this was the decision taken by Interior Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who announced yesterday that the X-Factor winner will indeed be allowed to pursue a singing career right here in Israel! The decision put a song in all of our hearts.

    Just a bit more on Canadian Prime Minister’s historic and heartwarming visit to Israel this week.  The former Israeli ambassador to Canada, Alan Baker, was interviewed on the IBA English TV news.  He was asked, “And to what can you attribute this love fest that’s going on between Jerusalem and Ottawa and do you expect that it will continue?” To which Baker replied, “He is an Evangelical Christian and he genuinely loves the Jewish people, he genuinely loves Israel, and he feels that Canada and Israel have a common cultural heritage and common bonds.  He genuinely believes that Israel has rights to defend itself, has got rights not to be attacked, not to be discriminated against.”

    “Now as Prime Minister Harper was addressing the Knesset, he said that his country admires and learns from Israel.  Combining that with what you were saying about his being an Evangelical Christian, does he look at Israel as the ‘light unto the nations’?”  “I think so, yes.”  “Is this part of his religious upbringing? How much of it is his religious viewpoint versus his political viewpoint?” “Well, it’s a mixture.  It probably started as his religious viewpoint.  He grew up and he was educated to love Israel and the Jewish people.  But he’s an astute politician and he’s worked very closely with rabbis in Calgary and with the Jewish community in general and of course with Israel’s ambassadors and Minister’s and visitors including regular conversations with Prime Minister Netanyahu on the phone.  So there is a genuine friendship here.  It’s not manufactured.  It’s not artificial.  It really is genuine.”

    “Is he a pragmatic leader or an uncompromising ideologue?”  “He is a mixture I think between the two.  He’ll bash his head against a brick wall in the UN and in the Francophone organization of French speaking countries if they want to condemn Israel.  He’ll battle it out and he won’t allow it and so from that point of view, he’s very strong.  I presume he’s also critical of Israel but he won’t go out and advertise it.  He’ll talk to Netanyahu and tell him what he thinks.”  While Harper was giving a press conference, of course the issue of settlements came up.  But this very dear, fair friend of our nation refused to comment at all.  “There are enough others who quite openly express their opinions,” was all that he would say.  What a contrast he is to almost the whole rest of the political world! Perhaps by now you can understand why he was given a hero’s welcome.  By unequivocally standing with us, to us—he truly is a hero!

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Reflections on Israeli Life: The Day of the Prime Ministers

by Esther Korson

21 January 2014

    Well, I had something completely different planned for today, but once again the news came with imperatives to SHARE.  Yesterday could be called “The Day of the Prime Ministers”. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s public comments in the six years that he has been in office are consistently more pro-Israel than any other foreign leaders have ever been, and he is considered to be the best friend that Israel has in the world.  So when he arrived in Israel yesterday for his first official visit, it was definitely a newsworthy event!

    As the IBA English TV news reported, “The Toronto Sun newspaper called it a ‘hero’s welcome’ and the Toronto Star headlined ‘A Welcome Befitting a Rock Star’. After escorting his Canadian counterpart down the red carpet during an inspection of the honour guard, Prime Minister Netanyahu greeted Harper with superlatives normally reserved for one’s best friend. Netanyahu made clear how much he appreciated the steadfast backing Israel has received from Canada on a wide spectrum of issues, ranging from anti-Semitism to the peace process to the Iranian nuclear threat. ‘And when it comes to Iran’s reported calls for Israel’s annihilation and its unrelenting development of nuclear weapons, you and Canada have stood unflinchingly on the right side of history,’ he said.

    ‘You have shown great moral leadership,’ Netanyahu continued. ‘When it comes to anti-Semitism you stood up unabashedly at the side of Israel and the entire Jewish people…’”

    Upon arriving in Jerusalem, Harper went immediately to the Mt. of Olives for a panoramic view of the city. It helped him to realize how tiny and minute the country is and how vulnerable it is. (From my house in Jerusalem, on a clear day I can look across the Jordan Valley to see the mountains of Moab.  Translated, that means that I can see the country of Jordan from my living room window! And from a different point on the western side of the city, you can see the sun shining on the Mediterranean.  From Jerusalem, Israel is small enough to see across it! As Netanyahu pointed out, there is actually a street in Toronto that is longer than the entire length of Israel!)

    Prime Minister Harper spoke to the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, and he was welcomed with open arms.  We know who our friends are, and we don’t have very many of them!  I’d like to quote first part of an article in the Jerusalem Post entitled “Harper feels no need to temper sugar with vinegar.”  The article continues, “In comparison to other world leaders, visiting Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper doesn’t feel a need to balance his praise for Israel with criticism of its policies.  Like US President Barack Obama’s keynote address during his visit here in March, Harper’s speech in the Knesset on Monday paid tribute to Israel’s values of freedom and democracy.  Like French President Francois Hollande, who addressed the Knesset in November, Harper also hailed Israel’s spirit and resilience. 
What distinguished Harper’s comment was that the ‘honey’ of his praise was not then tempered by the ‘vinegar’ of his criticism. In Obama and Hollande’s addresses, the listener knew that all the favourable comments made about Israel in the first parts of their speeches would be followed by some less favourable ones toward the end: criticisms of Jerusalem’s policies in the West Bank and the settlements.
Those lines of criticism were not uttered by Harper.  He did not feel the need to balance his praise with criticism.  His was not as ‘yes, but’ speech: his was a ‘yes, yes’ speech.

Over the last week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—who sat and nodded his head in agreement through many parts of Harper’s words—has taken aim at what he views as the world’s hypocrisy regarding Israel; specifically, at the Europeans for slamming Israel’s settlement policies while giving the Palestinian Authority both a pass when it comes to incitement against Israel and a sense that no matter what they do, they will not be held accountable.

In a line that could have been lifted from a Netanyahu speech, Harper said the world is one where ‘moral relativism runs rampant.  And in the garden of such moral relativism, the seeds of much more sinister notions can be easily planted.’ In contrast to the hypocrisy that Netanyahu bemoans, along comes a leader and shows a very different way. What a shame, Netanyahu had to be thinking to himself while listening to Harper’s words…that there are not more leaders out there like him.

 Harper’s words echoed themes Netanyahu often touches upon in his speeches: that Israel’s relations with the West are rooted in history and values; that the ties are mutually beneficial, with Israel not only on the receiving end of the stick but also giving expertise and standing up as a line of defense for Western values; that Israel is unfairly singled out for condemnation and criticism that is nothing but the most recent mutation of anti-Semitism; that Israel is not the source of instability in the Middle East; that if Israel acts to defend itself, it suffers widespread condemnation; yet if it refrains from doing so, it will lead to the country’s destruction.”

Harper received a very warm welcome in the Knesset Monday.  His speech—the first by a Canadian prime minister—was peppered with standing ovations, the enthusiastic likes of which may not have been seen since Netanyahu addressed the US Congress in 2011. The Canadian premier said he believes it is right to support Israel because, after generations of persecution, the Jewish people deserve their own homeland and deserve to live safely and peacefully in that homeland.  Statements like ‘through fire and water, Canada will stand with you…” were met with roaring rounds of applause; and though clapping is against Knesset protocol, even speaker Yuli Edelstein joined in. Harper’s visit was truly a gift to us as a nation.

Somewhat overshadowed by the love Israel has for Harper, the Prime Minister of Romania, Traian Basescu, was also in the country.  In his visit with President Peres, and in his halting English, he also had something powerful to say.  “I’m for the peace negotiations but for sure the security of Israel is the basic element to be discussed, because without that security the peace will not become a reality. For sure Israel needs to have peace but this nation cannot have its security affected and all the partners must understand that.”  Oh, if only Kerry and Obama were listening, along with all the rest of Europe!

Reflections on Israeli Life: Gaza Settlements & Cherry Tomatoes

by Esther Korson

20 January, 2014

            As the week of ‘sitting Shiva’ following the death of Ariel Sharon has ended, there is one more thing that I have to add to his legacy, and that is the tragedy of the disengagement—initiated by Sharon---from the Gush Katif settlements in  August of 2006.

            I’ll begin with a bit of history! Jewish people had actually been living in Gaza for over 1600 years until the historic Jewish community was forced to move by the British at the time of the deadly Arab riots of 1929. The village of Kfar Darom was later there on land that was purchased, before the village was evacuated following an Egyptian siege in the War of Independence in 1948. 

The nation of Israel decided to settle the area again, and building began in earnest in 1968. By the time of the disengagement in 2005, 8600 people were living there in 17 settlements—all of which were situated on the sand dunes (that separate the coastal plane from the sea along the southeastern Mediterranean).

            It’s hard to imagine that anything can grow on sand dunes!  But from that unlikely setting, beautiful communities were developed, with parks and playgrounds and schools and synagogues, community centres, office buildings and libraries. But possibly most astonishing of all was the fact that the major income from Gush Katif consisted of agricultural products!  Greenhouses had been built with a uniquely developed advanced technology that could grow insect-free herbs and leafy vegetables! In addition, the community of Atzmona had Israel’s largest plant nursery—and the Katif dairy was the second largest in the country!

            Most of the agricultural products were exported to Europe. Of the total Israeli exports, the Gush Katif settlements exported the following percentages:

95% of bug-free lettuce and greens; 70% of organic vegetables; 60% of cherry tomatoes (invented by Israel, by the way); and 60% of geraniums and flowers. The total sum of exports from the greenhouses of Gush Katif, which were owned by 200 farmers, came to $200,000,000 per year! From sand dunes! (statistics from Wikipedia)

            Friends of mine lived in Kfar Darom and I’ll never forget my visits to the Gush Katif villages and to their lovely home. The sand dunes had been turned into a paradise! They proudly gave me a tour of the garden surrounding their home, and it was amazing to see the many plants and flowers that had been induced to grow out of the sand! They presented me with a handmade wreath, which was made from twigs and had on it a shell from the nearby sea and dried flowers from their amazing garden. I still have it today—a sad reminder that nothing else is left of that noble enterprise that was known collectively as “Gush Katif”.

            The disengagement, when all 8600 residents of the area were forcefully uprooted from their charming homes and villages, was totally heart wrenching and tragic.  Almost none of the residents left voluntarily and most of them did not even pack their belongings.  The army had to physically remove most of the people and it was a terribly sad time, both for the residents who were forced by government decision to leave their wonderful homes, and also for the young soldiers who had to physically remove them.  This needs a bit of history as well for you to truly understand how devastating it really was.

It was more than 3500 years ago that the Lord God of Israel made a covenant with the Jewish people and promised us this very land upon which we now dwell.  (There are many Scriptures, which you are probably familiar with, such as Genesis 17:7-8; Jeremiah 31: 35-36; Deut. 1:8; Joshua 1: 2-4, 6 etc.)  The Lord also promised that even when we were exiled from the actual land, He still would never break His covenant with us. And even more amazing—that He would bring us back home again!   “…the Lord your God will bring you back from captivity, and have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the nations where the Lord your God has scattered you. If any of you are driven out from the farthest parts under heaven, from there the Lord will gather you, and from there He will bring you.  Then the Lord your God will bring you to the land which your fathers possessed and you shall possess it.  He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers…” Deut. 30: 3-5

            Those prophecies have indeed been fulfilled in our lifetime.  We came home again to our Biblical homeland from more than 80 nations.  But can you even imagine how, after 2000 long years, we even remembered our ancient homeland?  How is it possible that century after century, scattered among the nations, we still turned 3 times daily towards our beloved Jerusalem with the prayers on our lips, with the hope and with the longing—“Next year in Jerusalem…”  It has been a Jewish refrain for a very, very long time!  Can you imagine how He even kept us as a separate people during so many hundreds of years?  None of it could have been possible except for our covenant-keeping, awesome and loving God.

            After such a long time away from home, there’s no way to describe the joy that is felt being back in Israel at last!  Therefore, when 8600 Jewish people were forced to give up their beautiful homes and villages and livelihoods and synagogues in Israel, in our very own land at last,  it caused an almost unbearable pain—for those who were uprooted, for those who had to physically remove the weeping families, and for all who witnessed the tragedy of those days.

            There was a man who on the last day of the disengagement was the last person to leave.  He lowered the Israeli flag from Gush Katif for the final time.  When Sharon’s body was lying in state at the Knesset, that very man came and draped an Israeli flag over his coffin.  And many of those who went through the removal came to the funeral nonetheless.

Another glimpse into Israeli life….

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Tu b'shevat and the Restoration of Israel

by Esther Korson

     Last evening ushered in the one day Israeli holiday of Tu Bishvat. I’m sure there are many people out there who never even heard of it!  It’s not a Biblical holiday and the name refers to the month of Shvat on the Hebrew calendar.  It’s actually called the “Holiday of Trees”!   

     Even though it falls in the middle of winter, it marks the beginning of the annual agricultural cycle here in the land.  Bad winter weather is still possible, but just now—in time for the holiday—the first of the almond trees have begun to blossom—a lovely sight when they are in full bloom in the Judean hills with their pink or white blossoms!

     There’s a lot that I’d like to tell you about this holiday, but first I need to share a bit of background information.  When Mark Twain visited Israel in 1867 he later published his impressions of the country in his book, Innocents Abroad. Believe it or not, this is what he saw and this is what he wrote:

    “A desolate country whose soil is rich enough, but is given over
wholly to weeds… A silent mournful desolation is here that not even
imagination can grace with the pomp of life and action…hardly a tree
or shrub anywhere.  Even the olive tree and the cactus, those fast friends
of a worthless soil, had almost deserted the country.”

     The land was waiting for the Jewish people to return. When we first began to arrive, in the days of the first Zionist settlements beginning around 1890, tree planting began in an effort to begin to restore the land.

     Before I continue, in order for you to fully appreciate the scope of what followed that small Zionist beginning, I have to put it in its proper perspective! You must understand that Israel is a very, very tiny country.  It is actually only 290 miles (470 km) in length and 85 miles (135 km) at its widest point. (For fun, you should look up the “Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs Israel Size Comparisons”. On the comparison maps, tiny Israel looks lost in most of the States in the US and shockingly small when compared to most of the countries of the world.  It is, however, about the size of Rhode Island in the northeastern USA, a very, very small state!)

     About a century ago, Tu Bshvat as a tree planting holiday, was adopted by the Jewish National Fund.  It began with massive planting of eucalyptus trees in an effort to drain the swamps in the fight against malaria. But by now—and this is mind-boggling considering our miniscule size—the Jewish National Fund has planted over 240 million trees since we became a nation again in 1948, and they add 12,500 acres of new forests every year! Can you imagine the transformation that this has wrought in such a small country?  It has beautified Israel beyond belief and Mark Twain would be flabbergasted if he saw us now!
Now I’d love to describe for you what this holiday is actually like here in Israel! First of all, nuts and dried fruits are on display for sale everywhere.

     The JNF holds tree-planting events in forests all over the land.  This is a country where the holidays are CELEBRATED—and about a million Israelis take part in the tree-planting events!  Most of the school children in the country also participate, and it is a day that is thoroughly enjoyed by all.  The Lord graced today with beautiful weather!  Tonight it is due to get cold again with rain forecast for tomorrow.  Of course, in Israel we love rain and consider it a true blessing from God.  (A friend in England recently wrote, “It’s amazing to see a country that loves bad weather!) So tomorrow all of the newly planted trees will be watered from the Father’s hand.

     By the way, it is possible for you to plant a tree as well—even from afar! Google “Jewish National Fund Gift Certificates”.  The trees cost $18 and you will receive a lovely certificate.  There is also a certificate available for planting trees in the children’s forest which features a patchwork quilt showing children planting trees in Israel, also for $18 per tree! They make lovely gifts.
One last fun filled fact before this tree planting celebration draws to a close: Israel at the end of the 20th century was the only country in the world that could report more forest cover and more trees at the end of the century than at the beginning!

Happy Tu Bshvat!!!!

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Reflections on Israeli Life: Ariel Sharon & X Factor Israel

by Esther Korson

    Well, these ‘reflections’ are not always going to be about items in the news, that’s for sure!  But sometimes, things that are happening here are such a true reflection of life in this land that I simply have to share them!  And events that happened yesterday show perfectly different aspects of life in this little land.  Israelis are known to be warm-hearted, outspoken, innovative and kind.  The news I’m going to share reflects it all! Now to yesterday’s newsworthy events!
Yesterday began the seven days of “Shiva”, the week of mourning where family members and friends traditionally visit grieving families.
 (Information from IBA English News TV) “From early morning grieving Israelis began arriving at the Sharon family’s Sycamore Farm in the Negev where the 11th Israeli Prime Minister and IDF General was buried on Monday.  Sharon’s sons Gilad and Omri said it was their father’s will that his funeral and week of mourning be open to the Israeli public at large, the public that he loved so much.
    The police and security forces made special arrangements to enable this and the security deployment will continue as long as the gates on the farm remain open.” (Two rockets were fired from Gaza on Monday just after the end of the funeral ceremony aimed in the direction of the ranch but landed in open places causing no injuries or damage.  An Iron Dome rocket defense battery has been deployed in the area).
    “Sharon is considered by most Israelis to have been a military hero and a courageous leader.  Some of the visitors laid wreaths on the grave.  Others paused for a moment of silence and shed a tear or recited a prayer.  It was clear that all were very moved by the death of a man whom they considered larger than life.”
    Some of the visitors gave brief comments to the cameras. A man tearfully said, “I feel very saddened by the loss of Ariel Sharon.  I think he was a great leader…and we’ll miss him a lot.”  Also tearfully, a woman said quietly, “I agree with almost everything he did.  He was like a father to the people of Israel, in my opinion.” A man who had arrived from his home in Nes Ziona in the centre of the country said that he came to express the deep admiration that he has for Sharon.  His wife Rachel simply said, “The heart is broken…”
    A steady stream of visitors will without a doubt continue to arrive at the ranch from all around the nation during the remainder of the Shiva week.  It is a sad time for us all.
    Yesterday was also the 65th anniversary of the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament.  The Knesset opened its doors to the public and lots of activities were planned.  We’re such a new/old country!
    A 46 year old Filipino caregiver living in Israel for the past four years named Rose Fostanes loved her work in caring for the elderly, but always dreamed of being a professional singer. She had watched “X-Factor” faithfully and continued dreaming.  This year was the inaugural season for “X-Factor Israel” and so she somehow had the courage to audition.  From that very first audition, she captured the hearts of Israelis! “I used to have a very poor self-image,” she explained in an interview.  “But so many Israelis recognize me now on the streets and show such love that it has given me self-confidence!”  And last night, after having passed through many eliminations but still in the running, she sang Frank Sinatra’s iconic song “My Way”!  From her very first audition all the way through to last night, Rose received applause and standing ovations from the awed judges and the cheering audience.  She won the ‘X-Factor Israel” competition and is now heralded as the star singer in Israel!  Isn’t that fun?
    And last but least on yesterday’s news—“Real View Imaging” announced that they had successfully completed a clinical study that allows doctors to view live action 3-D holograms of, for example, their patient’s beating heart to help them  during surgery.  Experts say that this holographic technique could pave the way for a new era of intervention medicine. The technique does not require special eyeglasses and creates real images rather than illusions.  It actually recreates the image into free air so that the doctor can hold and interact with the image.  It’s not an illusion, it really reconstructs the image.  Being able to see the anatomy in real time is going to improve the way surgical procedures are done and the time it takes to perform them.  It was amazing to see it in action! The doctor was actually holding his patient’s beating heart in his hand, could turn it around, etc. Company officials say they have reached the point where science fiction has become a reality!
    For you, then, a few reflections of life…

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Reflections on Israeli Life: Ariel Sharon

by Esther Korson

   It has been a sad time in this nation these last few days following the news of the death of Ariel (it means ‘lion of God”) Sharon. As President Shimon Peres said on the day of his funeral, “The nation loved him and he loved Israel, both its people and its land. Arik (his nickname) was a man of the land.  He loved the smell; he cultivated the hills, he sowed and he reaped.  He defended this land like a lion…He was a military legend in his lifetime...May you rest in peace, our great leader.  You never rested when in service of your people, when defending your land and when making it flourish.  The land from which you came will embrace you in the warm arms of the history of our nation to which you added an unforgettable chapter…”

            Israel is truly a family, and when something like this happens the feeling of shared sorrow and togetherness is palpable.  For example, whenever something happens in this country that affects everybody, the bus drivers will turn the sound up on the hourly news and everyone on the bus stops talking and quietly listens.  It happened yesterday, of course, when I was taking public transportation in Jerusalem. It was the day of Arik’s funeral. And then on another bus on my way to Tel Aviv, a soldier was sitting next to me reading in an Israeli newspaper the articles about Sharon’s life and legacy.  When he finished, he simply handed the paper to me, and we both shed a few tears together.

            U.S. Vice President Joe Biden really grasped this special aspect of Israeli life and said the following at the funeral: “With a close- knit country like Israel, when a country that has been tested as much as Israel has, loses a man like Prime Minister Sharon, it doesn’t feel like a loss of a leader, it feels like a death in the family…”

The family of Israel has lost a true hero this week…

 

Reflections on Israeli Life: Ariel Sharon

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