RAYS OF LIGHT

We hadn’t realized the depressing effects of spending hours daily on ‘hasbara’ work until we escaped last month, for a week’s holiday in Crete where we did not even see a computer or newspaper for the entire time that we were there.  The daily reading of anti-Israel articles and more and more about BDS (Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions) is not good for the morale although the many positive aspects about life in Israel that we try to stress in our articles, are rays of light in an often gloomy world. 

A WEEK IN CRETE

Sometimes people can also be rays of light as were many of the Cretans we met in our hotel and in the local shops and restaurants.    They were almost all special in their genuine desire to give not only service but also pleasure to their visitors.  Exploring small mountain villages together with Norma & Leon Pinnick who joined us for the week, we met many of these kind and dignified people. One encounter especially stands out in our minds, we went in search of cold drinks on a scorching-hot morning, high in the mountains, to a tiny taverna, probably normally only frequented by the locals.  The wonderful view over a valley and mountains in the distance having tempted us to go into what was little more than a shack with four tables and a huge window overlooking the view.  The only people in sight were an elderly couple who were obviously the owners and who were happy to supply our order but the old man also insisted on showing off his garden produce to us and keeping us entertained.  First he went into the garden and picked some ripe apricots which he washed and cut up for us, followed by mint and aromatic herbs for us to smell after which,  he brought a jug of homemade  raki for the men to try.  Finally he came back from the garden carrying a baby goat, saying, “Him good boy,” and placed him in Lola’s arms.  The goat seemed to enjoy being cuddled as much as Lola enjoyed cuddling him.

KINDNESS FROM JEWS AND ARABS

A few days after our return home we were all set to go out for a busy morning of errands when the car refused to start, a neighbor kindly and courteously gave up his time to get us started with our jump-leads and concerned for us, made us promise that we would go straight to a garage which we immediately did.  At our garage, a small but very efficient one in the little Arab village of Beit Safafa adjacent to Gilo, from where a new battery had been purchased very recently, we received speedy and courteous service from Kamal, one of the four brothers who own the garage and all of whom are dedicated to keeping our ancient car on the road for as long as possible.  The battery was replaced with a new one very speedily and we were assured that as it had been under guarantee there was nothing to pay and with good wishes and warm handshakes we were sent on our way.   The warmth with which we were treated made up for the annoyance of the messed up morning.

KNESSET MEETING

Maybe another ray of light should be the assurance that we received from the British Ambassador to Israel at a meeting yesterday at the Knesset that there is virtually no increase in anti-Semitism and anti-Semitic attacks in the U.K. and that we and other ‘hasbara’ groups are far too concerned about the situation.  This assurance followed our various presentations citing horrendous incidents on university campuses and elsewhere and incitement to violence from extreme Islamic groups.  According to the Ambassador this situation is exaggerated, barely exists and we are all worrying unnecessarily which is indeed cheering news.  It did, however, lead us to wonder why all Jewish schools, synagogues etc. in the U.K. have to be heavily guarded these days but unfortunately time did not allow that question to be asked.  I only wish that we had not all left the meeting feeling so skeptical.