We’re on a much needed six week vacation from Israel to the UK. John and I spent the first week touring as much of London as possible in a few days. I’d never been before, and have vowed to return as there is just so much to see and do. Our son just finished up at uni in London, so we were there to move his belongings out and to the Midlands where his sister lives.

This past week has gone by like a blur. We are staying in a teeny tiny hobbit hole of an English cottage as our daughter’s teeny tiny cottage is overflowing. Exactly three years ago, we were moving her in before her wedding. Both her house and her life are now full with an amazing husband and two children. Little baby, ‘Flick’ is six weeks and adorable: getting lots of cuddle time with a baby is a dream. Her big brother will be 2 years old next month and he is sharp with and remembers everything. Keeping up with him (lightening quick and into absolutely everything) is more than challenging. We now know why the younger set has the children!

Last weekend, we were blessed to be able to spend a very quiet, autumnal weekend on the Chatsworth Estate in the Peak District. It was something I’ve always wanted to do… it was the backdrop of the latest movie version of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (Darcy’s Pemberley). From the gardens to the mansion; from the art to the grandeur, it did not disappoint. Plus there was the farm and grounds with plenty of space for toddlers to run.

Even with all of our busyness, we are managing to keep abreast of all that is going on both in England and the world. The news cycle has been even more dizzying than our whirlwind tour. So shall we have a quick rundown?

Israel continues its press into Gaza to clear the area in targeted strikes of Hamas terrorists. Two bodies of hostages were recovered and returned to their homeland. A building in Doha, Qatar was bombed by the Israeli Air Force. There was intelligence that all of the Hamas higher ups (the seven billionaires who had been ‘hiding’ safely in Qatar, directing the war and the negotiations) were having a meeting there. We still await confirmation that they were eliminated, but it sends the signal to them and the world that Israel will go after its terror targets wherever they might be in the world.

Two weeks ago in Venice, there was another incident against visibly Jewish tourists. A group of Arabic men with a Rottweiler unleashed their dog on a U.S. couple, biting both and seriously injuring the 5 months pregnant woman. The attackers stole their phones and wallets before fleeing. They are still at large. Last weekend in Greece, 5 Palestinian men attacked a brother and sister whom they overheard speaking Hebrew. The man was beaten with sticks and plastic rods. Police were called and all arrested, including the Israeli tourists. When the father in Israel heard and tried to intervene, his son was put into solitary confinement, reportedly without food or water, in order to ‘protect his personal interests’ from the Palestinian men he was confined with.

The German voters in Westphalia are headed to the polls on 14 September. Ahead of the municipal elections, 7 of the 16 candidates from the AfD (Right Wing, Conservative) party have mysteriously died over the past two weeks. 5 have had heart attacks. The other 2 have fallen ill and died suddenly. All were anti-globalist.

Sri Lanka’s entire economy imploded overnight last week. There are food riots, fuel riots and chaos in the street. Their governmental leadership has resigned and the royal palace burned. Myanmar’s military staged a complete coup, shooting its way into power. Bangladesh saw its leaders hunted down and thrown out by Gen Z uprisings. All seem generated by social media. Mobs are clashing with police in Pakistan, banks have been torched over the country’s massive debt. Nepal went totally off line as a 27 minute internet kill switch affected that nation and now it seems India is in the crosshairs for upheaval.

Israeli academic, Elizabeth Tsurkov was released from her captivity in Iraq. President Trump negotiated for her after she’d been held since 2023 by the pro-Iranian Kaleb Hezbollah terror group. She is in very bad condition at Sheba Medical Center in Israel, suffering from severe back pain and cannot walk without assistance. However, the American-Israeli woman is home, back in Israel.

Just days after Spain’s prime minister said he would use a nuclear weapon against Israel to stop the genocide in Gaza, he applauded the pro-Palestine mob that interrupted Spain’s Vuelta. The Vuelta is a prestigious bicycle race, much like the Tour de France. It is an international competition broken into stages over several days. The finish line was completely mobbed and blocked, with the racers knocked off their bikes by people protesting the war in Gaza. Because of this, the race could not claim any winners and had to be negated. There were no arrests. Four bicycles were wounded in the fracas.

After Ireland,Slovenia and the Netherlands threatened to pull out of next year’s Eurovision music competition if Israel was represented, the organizers held a meeting. It was decided, in the name of fairness and in order to keep peace, that Israel would be given two options: participation under a neutral flag or temporary withdrawal from the contest for one year. This would allow the Israeli participants “to avoid humiliating removal by European countries.”

Two Saturdays ago, Max and I went to Shabbat services in London. Due to security interests, it was a “secret synagogue” where Max knew the rabbi and told him in advance we would be coming. There was a secret code on a keypad to get in. It’s all very unfortunate.

Later in the morning, John, Max and I were strolling London when we encountered road blocks on many streets. We had heard there would be a pro-life march which was to attract over 10,000 participants. There was also a pro-Israel rally scheduled. Both were way overshadowed by pro-Palestinian jihadist protesters with their flags and smoke bombs. It was really confusing.

It seems that Great Britain is at a breaking point. We are staying in a little air B&B as the local hotel in the village of 780 was turned into a government sponsored migrant refuge. All men ranging in ages from 16-47, I was told. (rapes, child abuse, grooming gangs preying upon young white girls, roaming gangs of thieves) In the larger cities, there are entire no-go zones operating under Sharia law. There is no free speech. People are being arrested for posting pro-British sentiments on social media and for silently praying in the vicinity of abortion facilities. The government passed a law several weeks ago saying a woman can abort her unborn baby up to the time of delivery. A national assisted suicide law also passed with no restrictions on age or reason.

The government here in England is in a shambles. After several major scandals, Prime Minister Kier Starmer has rearranged his entire cabinet. Because a woman was arrested three weeks prior for waving a British flag in protest of the immigration, jihadist rallies and government corruption…and because a man was arrested for taking down Palestinian flags and putting up the Union Jack 🇬🇧, now all over the country the British flags are waving. Over every M1 overpass. From buildings and homes. In all the small villages and along almost every street both the UK flag and the flag of England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 are waving on proud display. It is just one act of defiance.

Last Saturday in London, right wing activist organized the Unite Britain march. It was reported that over 400,000 were in attendance, however drone photos and rough estimates put the count at well over one million people thronging the streets of London. Many of us, both in the United States and abroad are mourning the political assassination of Charlie Kirk. This was the trigger in Britain also to wake up and participate nationally. The London rally to unite Britain and to preserve British heritage was also in response to Charlie’s death and now enduring legacy.

On the heels of all this, President Trump is currently making his second tour of the UK since his inauguration this past January. The media have very little good to say about his trip, whether it’s criticism of Melania’s fashion choices (raincoat too long and to Inspector Gadget; hat brim too wide; color choices inappropriate) or Trump’s need to be there and be “reined in -strictly confined to Windsor Castle and 10 Downing Street.” After being escorted to the castle in fine royal carriage regalia (pomp and circumstance too much says the press), the Trumps were toasted by King Charles at a huge, amazingly elegant and formal state dinner at the castle (a waste of money, but at least it softens Trump up ahead of his power meeting with the Prime Minister, reported the media). I must say, Kate Middleton looked absolutely stunning and regal wearing Princess Diana’s tiara which once belonged to Queen Mary. Prince William at her side made the couple look like a Disney Princess and Prince Charming.

I’m sure I’m leaving out a ton. I will end this now as I really want to head off to my daughter’s house. I promised to make a Shepherds’ Pie for dinner tonight, and we are preparing to leave for the weekend in Amsterdam tomorrow. We are meeting Max’s fiancée’s family (he proposed this week. She said yes). It should be interesting, to say the least. We will fly back to England early Monday morning, just in time for Rosh haShannah, the Jewish New Year and start of the High Holy Days.

In the meantime, we’ve received text and email from the Israeli State Department. It’s a travel advisory for those spending the holidays abroad:

May the year ahead be peaceful and more uneventful than the last year. May it be healthy and fruitful in every good thing.

Addendum: At the request of my daughter and her husband I have removed video and most photos of them and their children for their privacy. Thank you for your understanding-