Thank you very much for the two copies
of the Scribe, Nos. 74 and 75, which I am enjoying
reading.
I appreciate very much reading your
articles, in these and the other issues of the Scribe,
on different subjects. You deal with every problem
from a special and unique point of view.
Lately, I came across an article published
last year, together with other articles, by the
Babylonian Jewry Heritage Centre, in a booklet entitled
"Batei Hakneset Bebavel" The article includes
Darush Le- Bar Mitzvah by the late Hacham Ezra Dangoor
Z"l, on his son Reuben Sion's Bar Mitzvah.
I am almost sure that you must have a copy of this
publication, but I thought I would send you one
just in case you do not. As unfortunately it is
out of print, I have photocopied the article and
I enclose it herewith. All this took some time,
as the booklet was sold only in Or Yehudah - hence
my delay in replying to your letter.
On reading the article "The Israeli
Source of the Pathan Tribes" (Scribe Issue
74, p. 53), I remembered an article about the remnants
of the Jewish community in Burma by Reuben Kashani,
in which he writes also about the Karani tribes.
It was published in "Bamaaracha" (Issue
No. 250, Sept. 1981, Pages 18, 19, 54). I am sending
you enclosed a copy of the article, which might
interest you.
My wife, Grace, who was born and grew
up in England, wrote a poem inspired by the present
situation in Israel, which was published in the
Jerusalem Post. Although she has always done a lot
of prose writing - articles and speeches - this
was her first poem and was a spontaneous reaction
to the often depressing coverage by the media. I
am sending you a copy, as I feel you would identify
with the sentiments it expresses.
Shlomo Dayan,
Former Israel Ambassador to Nepal
Reply:
Many thanks for your letter and enclosures,
which came to our attention as we were reviewing
material for the 2003 issue of The Scribe.
The Bar Mitzvah sermon had in fact
been translated into English and appeared on page
18 issue No. 63 of The Scribe.
I liked Grace's moving poem (which
appears below) and I hope that events in Iraq will
eventually result in better conditions for Israel
and the region as a whole. I have always maintained
that the Israel- Palestinian problem is in fact
a regional problem. It appears that George W has
got the message.
Naim Dangoor
JERUSALEM - AUTUMN-WINTER, 2000
In the midst of the conflict - I sought
a moment of calm.
A favoured coffee-shop beckoned
But a bag lay under a Seat - causing me to wonder
The flowers of Yemin Moshe called
to me
But an armoured patrol-car was parked there - causing
me to wonder.
Perhaps I'd see that film I'd read
about
But extra Guards were posted at the door,
Checking bags with unaccustomed vigilance- and causing
me to wonder.
Then I remembered...
London in the 'forties
I, a child of six, woken with my sister in darkest
night - no lights allowed
The skies an angry red from bombing raids
Tile struggle for sleep in strange, underground
shelters.
Later, those terrible moments
When overhead V.I's paused in their deathly flight.
But, through it all - the jokes, the
songs, the laughter
The radio skits helping us to see the funny side.
My parents, who protected us from future harm
With calm faith and determined hope.
Above all - the peoples dogged resolve
That 'they' would not rule our lives.
Jerusalem in 1967 - and we again in
shelters
Now I, the parent, must keep my children safe, unscathed
by fear.
I hear again the jokes, the songs, the laughter
The people's resolve that 'they' would not rule
our lives.
It's hard to smile when bullets fly
To step out bravely when danger lurks
That strength will come when we resolve
That 'they' shall not rule our lives.
I saw the film...
I drank my coffee...
I sat in the park....
I had found my moment of calm.
Grace Dayan
