Martin First

What has occurred in the middle east is a disaster, regardless of one's political beliefs, ethnicity or religion. What is needed is peace, respect and reconciliation. Unfortunately, there is a lot of propaganda published by both sides, making it even more difficult to understand what is really happening. 

I have visited the websites that Farouk mentioned. Although Jewish owned, they may well be coming from owners who, much like my cousin Ruth, are avowed anti-Zionists; that is their right. Wikipedia may be correct about the number of Jews that left Muslim countries, but the question is whether they were expelled or whether this was voluntary migration now that they had a homeland of their own. I would imagine the latter.

This is a very emotional issue with very different points of view. All that I ask is that we show compassion and respect towards one another and stay away from personal attacks.

Farouk Dindar

Recently I have been hearing people who are thinking out of the Box.  "Two state solution is dead"

This is eloquently expressed by highly respected Gideon Levy

"Two-State Solution Is Dead Now": Senior Journalist | Israel Hamas War (youtube.com)

Martin First

Suggested reading: “A Day in the Life of Abed Salama”  by Nathan Thrall a Jewish American author based in Jerusalem (his mother immigrated from Russia).

Basil Rapoport

In order to attain peace, which we all wish for, I feel it necessary to inject a dose of realism into this discussion. 

 It would be wonderful if Farouk could sit down and have coffee with some members of my extended family in Israel.   Their parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts came to Israel from Baghdad, in fear of their lives, having lost all their possessions and with only the clothes on their back.  I would like Farouk to ask their opinion about a “one state solution” with Israel converted to an Arab majority Palestine.  Does Farouk think it realistic to advocate the peaceful remerging of India and Pakistan?  Incidentally, contrary to a prevalent view of Israeli Jews, had this family lived in apartheid SA they would not have been allowed on a slegs blanke bus. 

Being realistic means not reinforcing one’s beliefs in an echo chamber of “AsaJew” (Weiss and Blumentahl) anti-Zionist websites, and only reading fringe journalists of the ilk of Gideon Levi.   Instead, a useful book to read would be ones such as “The Dream Palace of the Arabs” by the late Fouad Ajami.   Unfortunately, the unrealistic belief that Israel can be destroyed, contributing to violence and terrorism only strengthens right wing Jewish extremism and undermines the credibility of those who believe in the possibility of a non-threatening, peaceful Palestine living alongside Israel.

Edward Gomperts

First of all, I would like to welcome Farouk back to the 'Forum'.  I hope you remain with us. Good discussion all. Farouk raises a number of important points in his most recent note and I agree with him that over the centuries, Jews and Moslems have interacted positively. Some periods of Moslem Spain, the Ottomans as well as in Central Asia over centuries has shown that Jews and Moslems can and have lived peacefully together with the advancement for both societies. However that narrow strip of land between the river and sea is our main focus at this time and there is no doubt in my mind as well as many of my co-religionists, that although emotions run high regarding the land, a true peace between Israelis and Palestinians, when viewed by the majority of Jews, Israelis and diaspora, has been a realistic possibility from early in the 20th Century through the present. Not so with the majority of Moslems (but not all) wherever they have resided.

Although I do not reside in Israel, I have visited on a number of occasions and currently there is peace between Jewish Isrealis and Moslem Israelis, with freedom to work, raise families, fight in the Army and vote across all members of that society. Unfortunately that is not the case in Moslem countries and certainly not the case in the Palestinian Territories as few Jews live there. I doubt there was a single Jew permitted to live in Gaza before the current war. Jerusalem, that eternal city, is open to all religions and Moslems pray regularly at holy sites, which was not the case when the city was under the control of the Hashemite Kingdom. Unfortunately the current Gaza conflict widens the gap between these two societies, as the hate and death-pursuit demonstrated by Gazans has caused a deep concern among life-loving Jews. As I understand my religion,Judaism views life as a gift that is precious and vigorously to be protected.The religion is focused on the individual and the improvement of his/her behavior through all stages of life. Gazans and indeed many Palestinians have not demonstrated this reverence for life, either in the past or recently. Peace is possible and has been possible between Israel and Palestine for decades, but the Palestinian leadership and people must accept the reality of Israel as the home to all Jews as it has been through the centuries since the Roman expulsion. That traumatic event however drastic, did not result in the absence of Jews in that land, but rather there has been continuity of presence via a small and at times highly religiously productive nucleus. It is a small area, with a momentous history, but there is room today and tomorrow for both Israeli and Palestinian societies to live and thrive in peace.

Farouk Dindar

I learned a new term “AsaJew”   It sounds better than "Self Hating Jew"

I presume Avi Lewis fits that description

(Avi Lewis is the grandson of former federal New Democratic Party leader David Lewis and the son of former Ontario NDP leader and diplomat Stephen Lewis and journalist Michele Landsberg.)
 

John King

“Chag Pesach Sameach!” to all my Jewish friends & colleagues.  May the Lord bless & keep you all!  John King 

Robert Jacobson

Hi John, thank you for the Pesach Greetings In these troubled times may we all .be blessed with good health and Peace. Robert

John King

Blessed Rosh Hashanah to all my Jewish friends & colleagues. Praying for the peace of Jerusalem and protection and success for you all and the Nation of Israel. May Hashem bless  you sll. Shalom!

Norman Silverman

For John King

   Dear John,

 I so appreciate you messages on every Holiday.

   Ty give me arnd I belive all the other to whom you are addressisng, a feelng of real comfort.

  Best wishes to you too!   

Norman SIlverman

Margaret Spitz (Berman)

Greetings.  Yes, Norman is spot on.  In this terribly divisive world, we do appreciate and should acknowledge such comforting messages from John that he sends to us on every festival.  Hope you are all doing well.

Margaret

Alan Reichman

Hi John

I echo Norman's and Margaret's comments. Thanks again John . We always appreciate your kind wishes on the Jewish holidays. 
All the best

Alan

Robert Jacobson

Dear John, Thank you for your Rosh Hashanah Greetings and message of Peace and Blessings for Jerusalem and Israel. 

Best wishes to you and your family, Robert Jacobson 

Keith Kanarek

I don't know how to post the link

I am guessing the children are from King David
Please watch on you tube    One Day-South Africans song of love.

Keith Kanarek

https://youtu.be/hw3cBwBT1s4?si=tGdbW3Eci4eeI94H
 This is the link,  I think
 

Farouk Dindar

I am deeply moved by the message in the video. It is my dream for the future.
Farouk
 

John King

Chag sameach! A great exchange is accomplished. Be blessed

John King

Yom Kippur

Edward Gomperts

I wish all colleagues, my class mates and their families an enjoyable and healthy Holiday Season. It is a special time of the year. This note is also to greet and thank John King for all his greetings with the Jewish Holidays. So, John, a VERY Merry Christmas to you and your family.

For my Jewish colleagues I wish you chag sameach ( 'enjoy the holiday' for my non-hebrew speaking colleagues) and particularly, this Channukah. It is one for the history books.

Best regards and be well.

Ed

Norman Silverman

Happy Birthday Michael Eliastam 

from Heather and Norm Silverman

John King

Chag  Pasach sameach  2025 to all my Jewish friends, classmates, colleagues.  

Also thank you  to all who have responded or sent me greetings over the years - much appreciated! You may perceive from the typing  (fonts settings) in this message .that I am not particularly able these days :{. May Adonai bless & keep you & yours as you celebrate your liberation.  With love and good wishes in Yeshua, John King xx

Alan Reichman

Thank you John and Happy Easter to you 

All the best

Alan Reichman 

Robert Jacobson

Hi John, I wish you and your family a Happy and Blessed Easter. Thank you for the Pesach greeting. 

Geraldine Auerbach

Dear Class of 66

I thought you might like to know that I finished re-editing all the class of 60 Diamond jubilee Newsletters and bios on the class of 60 website into a narrative and the Faculty of Health Sciences at Wits had designed it beautifully into an eBook. We called it 'From Wits to the World'

I want to thank those of you in the class of 66 who contributed pieces specially regarding specially the teachers that you all had

We are discussing with Wits a zoom launch in the next weeks. If you would like to be invited to the zoom launch - please send your email address to me at geraldine@chol.website.

Click this link below to see the eBook   https://issuu.com/witsalumnirelations/docs/from_wits_to_the_world_medical_class_of_1960

Geraldine Auerbach

Mary Edginton

Hello Classmates of long ago.

I,m not good at writing messages, not sure why.

First of all I was sorry to hear, some weeks ago, of the passing of John Hyde, and this week, of Roy First, He was always Roy to us, where did the Martin come in?

John was a good friend of ours. He, Eric Faerber and I sat together in the second row in the Harvean LT and struggled together to take notes as the lecturers raced on. John was usually a bit slower than Eric and me. Remember those days when it was done to write down everything (most things) they said. Before the era of online notes and lectures that avoid regurgitating facts that could be found elsewhere. John was a gentle patient chap. He was a paediatrician in England as far as my notes tell me, was surely a good dr.. Condolences to his family.

Roy was a bright and friendly guy. A nephrologist in the US. Good mate of Mike Eliastam. A year ago Roy wrote some good sense on this forum about the shame of the Palestinian Israeli war and said PEACE was important. Condolences to his family.

This year end it will be 59 years since our graduation. Wow. I guess most of us are retired, perhaps a few stalworks carrying on. If some are, I trust their memories are better than mine - for the sake of their patients or systems and themselves. For those with health issues, sorry. May you be free of constant pain. And may you be at peace with the world, enjoying family and friends.

I think Mike Eliastam is not well - long covid, although I have not heard for a while. Are we going to  any effort to meet for our 60th anniversary??? Maybe online? Travel may be a bit tough for some/most?

Greetings to you all

Mary Edginton (Hodkinson)