The Scribbler

I'd like to wish anyone who is celebrating a happy, healthful and peaceful new year. Shanah Tovah!

I was truly sorry to hear that Paul Newman had died. Then I thought about the first film I could identify him with and it came to me in a flash - "Exodus". Ari Ben Canaan himself. Then Butch Cassidy, The Sting, Cool Hand Luke, The Hustler.... What a guy! It then occurred to me that Paul Newman was so much more than just an actor. This man did something worthwhile. He actually put his money where his mouth was and set up the Hole-In-The-Wall camps. He changed peoples' lives. He didn't just take their minds on a little cinematic trip, he gave them memories that lasted so much longer than the average screening time of one his movies. I remember going through a period in my teens when I couldn't get enough of Paul Newman's movies - whether it was Butch Cassidy, The Sting, The Verdict or even Exodus. I just loved this guy in a way that only a man can love another man without it being any way sexual. I don't think I ever lost my admiration for him. His easy char...

Amongst all the anticipation of Macca's concert, something much more important was taking place. Yesterday afternoon, Dassi's school was privelaged to hold a very special lunchtime session in the hall. It turns out that one of the kids in Dassi's year is first cousin to Greg Chamitoff, one of the astronauts aboard the International Space Station. The school had a link-up with the space station and the kids were invited to ask questions, whilst the whole event was filmed by both the BBC and ITV television networks. To our delight, we saw our eldest daughter on TV, sitting there in the audience, as part of the feature on the "London Tonight" programme at 22.30 Apparently, she was even featured on a close up in a earlier programme which we unfortunately missed! As far as I know, this is the first time she has ever appeared on television, so it was an especially proud moment. Well done Dassi!

By DAVID BRINN - Jerusalem Post In the end, it comes down to the music. After all the hoopla surrounding Paul McCartney's visit to Israel - the calls for boycotts, the death threat, the private chef and grand piano in his hotel suite, and the visit to Bethlehem - it all boiled down to a little over two hours onstage Thursday night at Yarkon Park in Tel Aviv before 40,000 plus fans. "Shalom Tel Aviv, Shana Tova, Ahalan": Sir Paul McCartney on stage in Tel Aviv, Thursday. And it was a dynamite two hours, with the 66-year-old former Beatle proving time and time again that he's a consummate performer, musician and songwriter. Evidently in fine spirits, despite reports of him receiving threatening emails up to two hours before show time cautioning him not to go onstage, Sir Paul and his energetic and versatile four-piece band surprised the crowd of all ages by opening with a rousing version of "Hello Goodbye." It faithfully recreated The Beatles' original, th...

One of the key reasons why I (and I suspect many others) admire the Beatles and their music so much is due to the group's totally non-cynical and genuine desire to spread the message of love to the world. This is not a new desire, granted that the Torah tells us to "love our neighbour/friend (in the same way) as we love ourselves" - an ideal that preceded the Beatles by only a mere three thousand years. A cursory glance at the Beatles' songs verifies the fact - Love Me Do, She Loves You, All My Loving, Can't Buy Me Love, Love You To, All You Need Is Love testify to the fact. Let's also not forget that the Word was indeed "Love"! What better a message could anyone give out to the world? Paul McCartney's trip to Israel, besides being the catalyst for some rare good news emanating from the country (that's another one we owe you Paul) was all about spreading the message of love and tolerance. He managed, in his own way to assuage the critics and ...

The full set list from the September 25 Yarkon Park concert. Hello, Goodbye (The Beatles single, Magical Mystery Tour [US version], 1967) Jet (Wings: Band on the Run, 1973) Drive My Car (The Beatles: Rubber Soul, 1965) Only Momma Knows (McCartney: Memory Almost Full, 2007) All My Loving (The Beatles: With The Beatles, 1963) Flaming Pie (McCartney: Flaming Pie, 1997) Let Me Roll It (Wings: Band On The Run, 1973) including a tribute to Jimi Hendrixs' Foxy Lady during the coda My Love (Wings: Red Rose Speedway, 1973) Let 'Em In (Wings: Wings At The Speed Of Sound, 1976) The Long and Winding Road (The Beatles: Let it Be, 1970) Dance Tonight (McCartney: Memory Almost Full, 2007) Blackbird (The Beatles: The beatles [The White Album], 1968) Calico Skies (McCartney: Flaming Pie, 1997) I'll Follow the Sun (The Beatles: Beatles For Sale, 1964) Mrs. Vandebilt (Wings: Band On The Run, 1973) Here, There and Everywhere (The Beatles: Revolver, 1966) Eleanor Rigby (The Beatles: Revolver, 1...

Tonight the man does his thing at Yarkon Park. I wish so much that I could be there and am praying like never before that the Moshiach (Messiah) arrives before 6 pm GMT and whisks me away to Jerusalem (well, dropping me off in Tel Aviv first so that I can see the concert as there are still some affordable tickets left). I know that I really shouldn't use this as an excuse to pray for the arrival of our saviour, but at the end of the day, does it really matter why I want to be in Israel??? C'mon Moshiach , if you need an excuse to come, can't it be Beatle related?

Why is it that whenever something looks as though it's going well in Israel, somebody has to come along and spoil the party? We finally got the chance to see the back of Olmert. Things were looking up (well, let's face it, anyone replacing him couldn't do a worse job) and then the news last night that shook us. Yet another terror attack. Yet more families shattered. Yet more blood seeping into the cracks between the pavement that winds its way throughout the Jerusalem we so love. Yet more. I have the luxury of having visited nearly every place where a terrorist decides to carry out his or her murderous project. When a car crashes into a group of people in front of the Jaffa Gate, I know exactly where they were standing, because I've graced the very spot myself. Similarly so with the recent bulldozer attacks. I've been there and these locations are not in any way distant to my heart, mind or memory. On the one hand, this is blessing because I can immediately identify...

I make no apology whatsoever for adding one article after another regarding Sir Paul McCartney's upcoming trip to Israel. How could I not go bananas over the notion that my two great loves, the State of Israel and the Beatles are for the first time becoming entwined. Words fail me... Additionally, I have nothing but the utmost respect for Sir Paul. In defying those who would wish that he cancel his trip (and I won't even tell you what I think about that scumbag in Lebanon who threatened him with assassination), he shows himself to be a true friend of the Jewish people and the State of Israel and we don't forget things like that . As they say in Hebrew "Kol Hakavod" - all respect due - to him. I have always held him in high estimation with regard to his amazing music. Now I see him in an ever greater light, if that were at all possible. I only wish I were there to experience the show.

David Horovitz , THE JERUSALEM POST A full half century after The Beatles began to take shape, Paul McCartney still sounds awed, modest and appreciative when discussing the lasting resonance of their music. Ahead of his Tel Aviv concert on Thursday, McCartney talks here to The Jerusalem Post about his beliefs, about how he copes with near-universal fame, about the puzzling, even "magical" inspiration for some of his songs, and about his abiding, insistently optimistic outlook on life. Paul McCartney, just turned 15, was introduced to John Lennon, all of 16, at a church fete in Woolton, Liverpool, at which Lennon's skiffle group, The Quarrymen, was playing. The older boy, so legend has it, was impressed by McCartney's familiarity with rock and roll music and his facility with a guitar. For one thing, he knew how to tune it properly. The year was 1957. McCartney, who had already started penning his own songs (he still sometimes plays his first ever composition, "...

By Geoff Baker Paul McCartney performs in Israel on Thursday for the first time. The concert in Tel Aviv will be a security nightmare and rival groups are playing tug-of-war with Paul's personal politics. Because he is seen almost universally as 'one of the good guys', everyone wants to recruit him to their side. Israel, which famously banned the 'decadent' Beatles in 1965, is billing the concert as part of its 60th anniversary celebrations. Paul with Linda in the Nineties. His Tel Aviv concert is a nod to the Jewish element in his success, including her family the Eastmans whose legal advice helped him during the Beatles' breakup Some Palestinian groups insist the event should not go ahead - and no one discounts the possibility of an extremist attempting a 'spectacular' to make a political point. 'I was approached by different groups and political bodies who asked me not to go to Israel,' Paul told the Israeli media. 'But I refused. I do wha...

Have you ever thought of your life as being a round birthday cake? No I hadn't either and then it occurred to me that this isn't such a bizarre analogy...stick with me on this one, it does make sense. Let's say you viewed your entire life as a birthday cake with each slice representing an important milestone. As you make your way around the cake in a clockwise direction and remove slices, you can recognise the achievements you've made. When you are born, you remove the first slice and look at a cross-section (sideways on). There you are in your mother's arms in the hospital, dressed in your white baby grow, possibly gurgling, more probably asleep, little eyes tightly shut. Eat the slice. Remove the second slice. Now you're up on your little legs, walking around the furniture gurgling proudly to yourself and so on. Go on, take a bite. Yesterday, Dassi removed a slice from her cake and looked at it. It was our tour around a secondary school, potentially the one sh...

In an odd twist to this story, World Net Daily reported that Aaron Klein, a terrorism author and expert, contacted several men he described as Palestinian terrorists and was said to have found not one of them had heard of Paul McCartney. Klein, WorldNetDaily's Jerusalem bureau chief and author of the book "Schmoozing with Terrorists," even sang Beatle songs, including "Yesterday," "Let It Be" and "She Loves You" to them, but even those didn't help. Abu Ahmed, said to be a senior leader of Islamic Jihad in Gaza, reportedly told Klein, "We don't know these Beatles." They had, however, heard of Britney Spears and Madonna. In fact, Abdel-Al had threatened to "cut the heads" of Madonna and Spears for spreading Satanic culture. As as adjunct, Dana thinks that Paul McCartney shouldn't be told because he'd be more upset if he knew the terrorists had never heard of him, as opposed to knowing of any plans they might...

I think it should be clear that my political views vis a vis Israel are not exactly what one would call "left wing". Then again, I certainly wouldn't want to ally myself with anyone from the right who believes in going around shooting Arabs. So I suppose I'm stuck somewhere in the middle, or probably to the right of centre. I support the Jewish Settlers in their ideals to live in whichever part of Israel they choose to do so. I don't however agree with the actions of some of the hotheads who go out of their way to antagonise their Palestinian neighbours. I also strongly believe that places like Hebron must always remain in Jewish hands, irrespective of whether the UN or anyone else for that matter agrees with it or not. I write this in light of (Vice Premier) Haim Ramon's evacuation-compensation bill which offers to pay off the Settlers to the tune of 1.1 million shekels (nearly £170,180) per family, on the condition that they voluntarily agree to move to ...

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Legendary Beatles star Paul McCartney said he was pressed to cancel his upcoming performance in Israel, but reassured Israeli fans in comments published on Thursday he would go ahead with the planned concert. "I was approached by different groups and political bodies who asked me not to come here. I refused. I do what I think, and I have many friends who support Israel," McCartney said in an interview with Israel's Yedioth Ahronoth. Pro-Palestinian groups have frequently called on international academics and prominent cultural figures to boycott Israel over its occupation of the West Bank and blockade of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. Jewish groups have condemned cultural and academic boycotts as anti-Semitic. McCartney will perform hits from his Beatles days and his solo career during a September 25 concert in Tel Aviv as part of a series of shows that has taken McCartney to cities he never visited before. Asked about how members of the Beatles, o...

I watched the coverage of the remembrance ceremony at Ground Zero yesterday night and it occurred to me that, for the first time, "9/11" was being treated in a different way than it had in the past. It felt as though, both the TV station and some of the people (aside from those who were obviously affected) were going through the motions. My suspicions were proven right when one of those interviewed said that "9/11 had just crept up on him". He hadn't anticipated it, because there was so much going on his life, what with the elections, the economy, the recent Olympics, the summer break and so forth. 9/11 had just crept up on him. In other words, the anniversary didn't hold as much significance to him as it might have done, say, twelve months ago. An event which shook the world to it's very core, just eight years ago, was starting to sound like a bit of an after-thought. If this is what people are saying now, how will the anniversary be marked in three yea...

September the eleventh. 9/11. 911. How can the day ever mean the same again? It has taken on so much more than the twenty four hours it spans. The last seven years have in some way or another been nothing but 9/11. If ever an event shaped a generation, this was it. We all remember where we were because we can't forget, even if we try. The shock, the smoke, the towers, the images. How these are burned into our subconscious. But it's not about us is it? This day is about the mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles. It is just about them and this is the only thing that matters as the clock moves into a new year. Forget the towers. They were only concrete but dare not forget what happened to nearly three thousand innocents but seven years ago today. September the eleventh, you haunt me - but as long as you do, I realise that I still have at least a shred of humanity left in my being. Amen.

Dear Walter, I hope you can help me here. The other day, I set off for work leaving my husband in the house watching the TV as usual. I hadn't driven more than a mile down the road when the engine conked out and the car shuddered to a halt. I walked back home to get my husband's help. When I got home I couldn't believe my eyes. He was in our bedroom with the neighbors daughter. I am 40, my husband is 44, and ?the neighbors daughter is 25. We have been married for ten years. When I confronted him, he broke down and admitted that they had been having an affair for the past six months. I told him to stop or I would leave him. He was let go from his job six months ago and he says he has been feeling increasingly depressed and worthless. I love him very much, but ever since I gave him the ultimatum he has become increasingly distant. He won't go to counseling and I'm afraid I can't get through to him anymore. Can you please help? Sincerely, Sheila -------------------...

Mark Regev has established himself as an eloquent and highly respected spokesman for the Israeli Government. Recently the very charming "Israeli girl" blogger asked her readers to submit questions to Mr Regev, which he duly answered. In the spirit of finding out what really happens in the Middle East (as opposed to the highly questionable and mostly inaccurate BBC take on events) please go to: http://israeligirl.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/09/mark-regev-answ.html

Every now and again, you get a little boost that makes your life a little better. My shot in the arm came through a phone call this morning from London radio station, LBC, telling me that I'd won two tickets to see the musical Our House which features the songs of Madness. I entered the competition online last week and thought nothing more of it. When I heard the voicemail message on my mobile (the old one, I'm still a-waitin' the replacement), I was pretty pleased with myself and probably told too many people. Lots of jealous expressions abounded (to be fair, they tried to appear happy, but I just knew... ). Anyway, I'll be going on Wednesday night. Let me put it this way - this is a great way to start the new week. I hope that the sun keeps shining on me. Maybe I should buy a lottery ticket, because you never can tell....

It's always gratifying when a friend approaches you and tells you he or she has just read your blog and really enjoyed it (I have yet to meet someone who tells me they hated it....even if they did!). I know that there are loyal readers out there, who like to follow my rantings and general "happenings". I also know that there is a lot I would like to write about that I keep to myself, for all kinds of reasons. Making your life open to publication is different to letting all and sundry find out every little thought that enters your brain, or indeed, share all the stresses that we face in our daily lives. At times, this blog has been extraordinarily therapeutic and it is something that I value highly. Four-and-a-half years on, I'd like to thank you again for keeping up with my adventures. When I started on this journey, people looked at me as though though I were mad. I guess that I'm still writing here says that maybe doing so isn't as bizarre as it once seemed.

So I was back at school. No kids. Just results. Meetings and results. Lunch and results. Meeting and lunch and results. The good thing about being at school is that it takes your mind off other things that you've probably had too much time to think about when you weren't at school (discussing results). I now have another ten months to take my mind off the life I pertain to lead outside school. I can't work out if this is or isn't a good thing, but having just spent the last three hours preparing for the new term, I've probably already answered the question. The first proper teaching day is on Thursday. Before I know it, the holidays will seem like a luxury that I didn't quite appreciate enough when I was living through them.

NEW YORK-Saying he could no longer stand idly by while a vital part of American culture is lost forever, activist and Broadway producer Mel Brooks has founded a private nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the word 'schmuck.' An emotional Brooks stopped short of kvetching at a schmuck fundraiser Monday. 'Schmuck is dying,' a sober Brooks said during a 2,000-person rally held in his hometown of Williamsburg , A 0 Brooklyn Monday. 'For many of us, saying 'schmuck' is a way of life. Yet when I walk down the street and see people behaving in foolish, pathetic, or otherwise schmucky ways, I hear only the words 'prick' and 'douche bag.' I just shake my head and think, 'I don't want to live in a world like this.'' The nonprofit, Schmucks For Schmuck, has compiled schmuck-related data from the past 80 years and conducted its own independent research on contemporary 'schmuck...

For all you haters of Zion, here is the perfect way to boycott the evil regime and help those poor helpless Palestinians...

What if they don't like me? What if I give a crap lesson (or three)? What if I haven't prepared adequately? What if I screw their lives up permanently? What if I haven't used my holiday effectively? What if the exam results are abysmal? Yes, it's the annual pre-school psyche routine. Another 24 hours and I'll be thrust back into the 80 mph motorway that is high school. Deep breath. Eyes tightly shut. Breathe out. Sharp intake. Breathe out. 24 hours.