I had a marvellous time giving my speech at Kenton Synagogue last night. Thanks to everyone who attended and for all your generous comments and blessings. Particular thanks to Sharna for driving out to Windsor to collect me and then drop me off afterwards.
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I will be speaking at Kenton Synagogue on Monday evening at 8.30pm. The theme of my talk will be ‘How I advocate for Israel – and why’.
Come along if you fancy!
Nick Clegg’s description of Israeli settlements as ‘vandalism’ was, even by the standards of his bonkers commentary on Israel, a moment of great farce. Whatever your view of the settlements, no definition of the word ‘vandalism’ fits the motivation or reality of even the most hardline West Bank settlers.
Clegg’s subsequent assertion that new settlements create ‘facts on the ground’ that decrease the prospect of a two-state solution is harder to argue with. Not least because a significant number of Israeli settlers proudly confirm that they are indeed thus motivated.
Ariel Sharon, an original champion of the settlement movement, told the settlers they needed ‘to grab as many hilltops as they can to enlarge the settlements, because everything we take now will stay ours’. He also described the new neighbourhoods as ‘facts on the ground’.
I have no inherent quarrel with the settlements nor the settlers. I do think, though, that many of us who support Israel can improve the way we explain them to the world.
There are a number of potential justifications for them, including strategic, tactical, cultural and historical ones. More of us need to get off the fence and either enthusiastically make these cases, or come-out and oppose settlements.
At the moment we all too often fudge the issue, merely parroting that it is not the settlements that are the obstacle to peace, but Palestinian rejectionism. This evasive line of argument is not cutting any ice in the court of public opinion.
When we dodge the issue, we effectively present settlements as the embarrassing member of the Israeli family. In which case we cannot be surprised when the world increasingly sees them as a bad thing.
What say you?
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‘Hitbodidut-meditation – inner-directed, unstructured, active self-expression before God is the highest path of all. Take it.’
(Rabbi Nachman of Breslov)
(I don’t know Violet, for whose birthday this video was made. I just thought it was a cool video. I hope she had a good birthday though.)
Happy week, everyone!
I just been perusing my blog statistics and I’m pleased that so many people come and read my thoughts.
As I expected, most visitors come from England, with Israel a close second and America just behind. I was pleasantly surprised that lots of people from Iran pop-by every day. It was also interesting to see how much traffic the NaNach website sends my way.
So I’ll attempt an all-encompassing sign-off: shalom, have a nice day, از ملاقات شما خوشوقتم, jolly good show, and – of course – Na, Nach, Nachma, Nachman Me’Uman!
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Haha, this is funny. How many of these things have people said to you?
I’m interested and excited to learn that Noam Shalit – Gilad’s father – aims to stand as a Labor Party candidate in the next Knesset elections. “Following years of a public struggle, during which I got to know Israeli society thoroughly – both its beautiful and ethical sides – I have decided to join public life,” he said.
More power to him. Some of the most significant politicians in Israel’s history have entered politics following extremely challenging experiences. Natan Sharansky and Menachem Begin had been held by the Soviets. So had Yuli Edelstein. Benjamin Netanyahu lost his brother Yoni during Operation Entebbe.
None of these examples exactly match Noam’s, but they each have their similarities and they show that people who have faced some of life’s harshest challenges can offer much on the political stage. Best of luck, Noam, and thanks again for the grapes.
Meanwhile, in 10 days the Zionist Federation will deliver messages to IDF soldiers as part of the ‘Make a soldier smile’ campaign, set-up by Keren Hajioff, an IDF soldier from Finchley. So, if you want to make an Israeli soldier smile, please write a suitable message and email it to: office@zfuk.org
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‘Lovers of this Middle Eastern delicacy take their shawarma very seriously,’ begins a recent Haaretz article. Damn right we do, as this passionate discussion on my blog showed.
The Haaretz article lists what it says are the top five shawarma outlets in Tel Aviv. I was pleased to see the inclusion my global favourite, Hakosem (The Magician). The others listed are Daboush, Kababa, Olei Tzion and Haj Kahil. I’ve not been to any of them – yet – and I’d love to hear from anyone who has. Also, does anyone have any further shawarma recommendations elsewhere in Israel? I’m particularly interested in Jerusalem.
Reading the Haaretz article has left me a) very hungry and b) all the keener to return to Israel soon. I’m thinking of April or May, actually. Meanwhile, myself and a shawarmaphile OyVaGoy reader from Berkshire are making the latest of our now regular road trips to Golders Green today. We have been known to eat two servings of shawarma during such pilgrimages. Oh me, oh my.
So, news reaches me that the kosher McDonalds branch at Ben Gurion Airport has closed. I’m gutted – I used to love a quick nosh there on my way home from an Israel trip!
Can any Israelis reassure me that Burger Ranch – which is replacing McDs at Ben Gurion – is any good?
If not, then may the Ben Gurion McDonalds be rebuilt speedily in our days, amen.
The Daily Mail captioned this photograph: “Festive: Abramovich and his partner Dasha Zhukova celebrated Christmas on the Caribbean island”.
Yup, and after lighting the Christmas menorah I expect they went and sang carols around the Hanukah tree.
Books
I, Partridge: We Need To Talk About Alan by Alan Partridge
Eleven, by Mark Watson
Martin Amis: The Biography, by Richard Bradford
Jerusalem: A Biography, by Simon Sebag Montefiore
Belieber: Fame, Faith and the Heart of Justin Bieber, by Cathleen Falsani
2011 OyVaJoys: All my TV appearances; speaking at Eton College, Wellington College, and alongside the Shalits at the FZY
Films
One Day
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1
The Help
Justin Bieber: Never Say Never
Limitless
2011 OyVaJoys: Being spontaneously offered a free collection of new crockery by my friend Jonathan Sacerdoti, just hours after I’d been thinking we needed some new plates and bowls; the visit of the magnificent Hevroni sisters; the flops that were the so-called flotilla and flytilla.
Gone too soon
Rob Daley
Amy Winehouse
Christopher Hitchens
The Fogel family
Gary Speed
2011 OyVaJoys: The release of Gilad Shalit
OyVaGoy posts
There’s Something About Tzipi
Gilad Shalit: Why it was all worthwhile
Imagine if happened Jerusalem
We need to talk about shawarma
End of OVG (April Fool)
2011 OyVaJoys: Making new friends, including Rabbi Lew, the Paull family in Windsor, Louise Hulland, Richard Sassoon, Sam Hailes, Elliot Davis, Alanah, and many more, including this lovely horse that lives in a field near me – I go and see him most days
Albums
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds: Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
Charlie Simpson: Young Pilgrim
Amy Winehouse: Lioness Hidden Treasures
Beady Eye: Same Gear, Different Speed
Leona Lewis: Hurt (technically an EP)
2011 OyVaJoys: The customary birthday visit to Bath and our anniversary weekend in Norfolk
Articles published elsewhere
Blogland: Here Be Dragons
Amy Winehouse and Tarot
Stop Picking on the Chasids
Her Friends Called Her Mummy
Bibi: the misunderstood PM
2011 OyVaJoys: Seeing Natan Sharansky speak at the We Believe In Israel conference; the trips to NW London by the ‘Berkshire Shawarma Appreciation Society’; reaching number one in the HMV book charts with my Adele biography.
Gigs
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds at the Roundhouse
The Saturdays at Hammersmith Apollo
Justin Bieber at the o2
The Wanted at Hammersmith Apollo
(Actually, I only went to four)
2011 OyVaJoys: Road trips to Hever Castle, the Ashdown Forest Llama Park and Burford
I was 12 years old when I first heard The Clash. A friend of my older brother played me their debut album; they had me at Janie Jones. I was gripped by their energy, fury and passion. As I explored their music and story, I was particularly awestruck by their lead singer Joe Strummer, simmering as he was with enthusiastic idealism.
How overjoyed I felt to have discovered the greatest band of all time, though I was simultaneously dismayed to learn they had already split, so I would never see them play in-person.
Within a few years I did get to see Joe Strummer perform live. First, during the several stints he did with The Pogues, as a guest performer, stand-in guitarist, and even, for one wonderfully-strange tour, a stand-in lead vocalist. Then I got to see Joe in his various solo incarnations, first the Latino Rockabilly War, and then The Mescaleros.
What superb solo performances he delivered, particularly with the latter act. I’ve so many memories: the roof nearly tearing-off the Astoria during Safe European Home, the time they opened with London Calling at Brixton Academy, and played White Riot during the encore. It also did not escape my notice or approval that, just as with The Clash, his new band had a rather cute bassist.
Joe had struggled for much of his life with depression and then the burden of being Joe Strummer, an earnest character upon whose shoulders rested too much expectation. In the Mescaleros-era he seemed to have found contentment of sort, though that adrenaline-pumping fury and trademark snarl did emerge on-stage.
No performer before or since has ever meant so much to me as Joe Strummer. Which was why on that December day, nine years ago this Thursday, I cried when the radio told me he had unexpectedly died. An undetected, congenital heart condition killed him as he returned home from taking the dogs for a walk. I don’t often mourn a person I haven’t personally known, but I truly grieved that day for the loss of such a talented and decent soul. I still miss him terribly.
My favourite of all the tributes paid to Joe came when a friend of his was asked: “Did he fulfil his wish to change the world?” The friend’s response was: “Maybe not, but he changed the way a lot of people look at the world.” No small feat.
Here he is during happy times with The Mescaleros, performing my favourite ever Clash song. RIP, Joe. Thank you for your energy, music and inspiration – all three are eternal.
I wish my Jewish friends a happy Chanukah. Non-Jewish readers may be enlightened and entertained by this humorous guide to the festival.
I am grateful to the lovely Paull family for presenting me with a mini dreidel, a menorah and 44 candles following our Shabbat lunch on Saturday. They also handed me a guide to Chanukah, complete with a recipe for latkes. The recipe looks simple enough for me to give it a try in the kitchen, and I’d like to get in the spirit of the festival, albeit somewhat superficially and goyishly.
However, my rare attempts at cooking have sometimes resulted in atrocity. As a friend who sampled one ‘meal’ I ‘cooked’ remarked: “This is a day that will live in infamy”. If my so-called latkes go comically wrong I will post a photograph here for our amusement. But you never know, they might turn-out well — Chanukah is a time of miracles, after all.
Both of the television documentaries I’ve appeared on this week are now available to watch online.
To watch me discuss Simon Cowell in More4′s 50 Years Of Bad Sex, click here. My segment begins around 59 minutes in.
To watch ITV’s Amy Winehouse: Her Life And Legacy, click here. I appear at various points throughout the programme.
You can buy signed, personalised copies of my Simon Cowell book direct from me here.
