#Subject: Fwd: A post for a shiva call

[nataliesnews]

From: Natalie Ginsburg <natanyag@gmail.com> Date: Sat, Dec 16, 2023 at 8:44 AM Subject: Fwd: A post for a shiva call, yeshiva boys should not concern themselves with the fallen or wounded, three kidnapped men killed by our soldiers..but read the two paragraphs at the end for something good

---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Natalie Ginsburg <natanyag@gmail.com> Date: Sat, Dec 16, 2023 at 8:44 AM Subject: Fwd: A post for a shiva call, yeshiva boys should not concern themselves with the fallen or wounded, three kidnapped men killed by our soldiers..but read the two paragraphs at the end for something good <

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Be careful of posts asking you to go to shiva calls for families who are sitting alone. I went today to find that this was not so at all. Yaakov and I had seen the post on facebook saying that the family of a fallen soldier were sitting alone and so we decided to go. There were so many people there and I asked a woman what she knew of the family. She said she knew me and had seen me all over. She told me that the family were Jerusalemites and the grandfather a teacher at one of our well known schools. The family did not know who had put the request on facebook. and were angry. They said at this time they just wanted to be alone with family and friends. Another woman told me that the same thing had happened with an Ethiopian family who were furious as they said that they had the whole community around them. The way to hell is paved with good intentions. I went with Yaakov and, in that case, unknown to him before the grandfather had been a teacher of one of his sons so we felt it had not been in vain.

One of the ultra-orthodox rabbis was asked if a yeshiva student should go to at least one  funeral of a soldier .....definitely not because that would interfere with his studies. The interviewer then asked him if a yeshiva student should at least visit one wounded soldier and the reply was definitely not because it would upset him  and he would not be able to concentrate on his studies. If that is Judaism ......we are definitely not one people. To them we are only cannon fodder who are there to work for them and if necessary to die for them. 

"The fact that Israeli audiences don't see images from Gaza means that journalists are not doing their jobs," she says. "They have to show the images. Hebrew-speaking Israelis watching television news are not exposed at all to what's going on in Gaza. We don't see the atrocities, the rubble, the destruction and the humanitarian crisis. The world sees something completely different.

I was invited to supper with my friend, Dario, who works with one of the human  rights groups.He had messaged that Flor was not there but I thought she was out of town. I asked where the dogs were and he told me that Flor, his wife,  had taken them and gone back to Italy. It looks as if both he and Jan will also be leaving soon and, when I said goodbye, I looked back at them and wondered if I would ever see them again. They say they will be back but it does not sound as if that will be for long. 

Last night was a terrible blow. I am not surprised and I have my own views on that. I know that there is friendly fire and it happens in every war.But in this case three hostages who somehow managed to free themselves came out of hiding.....no description is given of course and the first thing the army said was that our soldiers had thought that they were suicide bombers......maybe... but surely they would have come out calling in Hebrew and surely, as in other cases, the soldiers  could have aimed at the legs...or at the knees as the snipers proved they were so good at doing on the West Bank where they left so many young man crippled. I can only imagine the agony of the families. So near and so fatal. I wonder what the soldiers who shot feel like. I can not judge them as I do not know what it is to be in a position where your life is in danger every minute. I do not envy them what they will feel like in the  future. But I think the PDF below about the shooting of a Palestinian in his back is also a reminder of how easily soldiers shoot a Palestinian. 

This is what one grandmother did. Read about Zachi Hanegbi. His mother, who also had been in the government. is reputed to have said at the time of the captivity of Gilad Shalit, that she as a member of the government opposed it, but had it been Zachi she would have fought like a lion to have him released whatever it took. Her  son is, evidently, not on the line of thought.  And the government blocked an attempt to bring back the hostages. Also PDF

Grandmother of hostage Roni Gonen knocks on ministers’ doors during Hanukkah

Iranian-born Dvora Leshem, 87, spoke to a different politician each night of the holiday rather than lighting candles with her familyhttps://www.timesofisrael.com/grandmother-of-hostage-roni-gonen-knocks-on-ministers-doors-during-hanukkah/

Last night I heard booming but have got used to it and it was muffled. I heard some announcement here at Nofim and so went out.  I did not hear the siren though  two friends said that they saw the rocket going over.  If I were not supposed to be in charge of the shelter I would not have gone    out...Yehuda says that is probably why they made me in charge as they knew it was the only way I would bother to go out. Anyhow, everyone was already going back to their rooms. I heard it had fallen near Beit Shemesh but was not worried as they said no damage had been done or anyone hurt. Otherwise I would have phoned Devorah. 

Reservists serving in elite Israeli Air Force units say they were ordered to steer clear while Prime Minister BenjaminNetanyahu visits their base on Tuesday. The reservists in the Shaldag and 669 elite units, whose soldiers are taking part in the fighting in the Gaza Strip,alleged that the directive is intended to silence their criticism of the premier. He only meets with the regular soldiers who are 18, 19 years old and probably brainwashed or do not want to get into trouble. 

Palestinians from villages are not allowed into Israel to work? So many things are at a standstill as a result. So why are the Palestinians allowed into the settlements to work there? Because God is protecting the settlers? See the Pdf below.

Yesterday I forced myself to walk again in the wadi. I have been walking at least 4 kilometre most days but yesterday I again got up to seven ....sometimes it is just a matter of time and sometimes I find it so hard to do anything. But it seems that my cats in the last month have forgotten me as the only one to come to meet meet me was the ginger one with the cut off tail  and she got the whole tin!!

 At one of the demonstrations which is opposite an hotel which houses the evacuated people I saw this picture....washing machines have been brought into many of these hotels for the people to use and this was on the balcony. If you managed to open the picture, you will see the woman bending over. Not a good picture but if you look closely you can see her bent body. I cannot imagine what it must be like to have lost your homes and memories ....and I think of those in Gaza at the same time. How can one not?

I just saw this post on facebook: Sometimes there is a light. 

Today a particularly exciting event took place at the David Hotel in the Dead Sea. Kibbutz Bari people who have been staying at the hotel for over two months decided to pamper the hotel employees who have been doing everything for them for two months. For an hour the workers sat quietly and ate a pampering dinner served to them by Barry's friends. Barry's members wanted to honor the hotel management and their employees. Below are some of the words of the blessing written to the hotel employees: "Where will you find more dedicated and helpful employees like David in the Dead Sea? People whose smiles never left their faces. More than anything, they are wonderful people, they have always been there for us, we love them and appreciate each one of them and I wish one day we will be able to be the giving party. We are grateful from the bottom of our hearts. Members and members of Kibbutz Ari December 2023"

And this too. If this man can hold on to hope and humanity then so can the rest of us who are in despair. It does not matter whether he is realistic or not....but if he can hope for a solution we have to be there for him   And now I will force myself to dress and walk and then I have invited some new people from Nofim and others for a brunch. 

Daughter murdered by Hamas, Israeli tech-billionaire maintains hope for two-state solutio

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