Rain Women

Where’s winter? That’s what some 40 American, Israeli and Palestinian women had on their minds when they strolled down Jerusalem’s Goldman Promenade on Tuesday as part of the Women’s Walk and Blessings for Rain. The walk, led by TRUST-Emun, a Jerusalem nonprofit focused on building cross-cultural ties, included members of the U.S. Center for Religious Tolerance. “We experienced the power of combining the energies of Christian, Druze, Jewish, and Muslim women with their prayers for the blessing of rain to pour down upon our parched land,” says Elana Rozenman, the organization’s executive director. Women walked with umbrellas and offered prayers, dances and songs appealing for rain from the various traditions and ended with a blessing circle. TRUST-Emun will hold another Women’s Walk in December – rain or shine.

Originally Published in Haaretz Anglo File Rank and File section see http://www.haaretz.com/weekend/anglo-file/rank-and-file-1.326929 on November 26, 2010

Israelis and Palestinians join together to pray for rain

Forecasters are predicting a dry winter and expect precipitation to fall below the 30-year average.

Amidst the stalled peace negotiations and continuous regional turmoil, Israelis and Palestinians are uniting around the need for rain in the region, with groups gathering to pray for a wet winter.

Forecasters have predicted drier than average winter months – December through February – and expect precipitation to fall below the 30-year average.

“We use the term ‘a little below average,’ but it could be more than 20 percent below average,” said Dr. Henia Berkovich, Director of the Israeli Meteorological Service.

On Tuesday, over 30 Israeli, Palestinian, and Druze women took part in a silent walking meditation dedicated to bringing rain to the area. Women came out to the Haas Promenade in Jerusalem with umbrellas for the walk.

Earlier in the month, Jewish and Muslim worshippers gathered near a water spring in the West Bank village of Walajeh to pray for rain.

Originally Published In Haaretz on November 23, 2010

TRUST WIN Women’s Walk and Blessings for Rain in Jerusalem

TRUST WIN (Women’s Interfaith Network) held a Women’s Walk and Blessings for Rain on Tuesday, November 23, in Jerusalem as the drought and unseasonably warm weather continues in Israel. Recently clergymen from the different religions have offered joint prayers for rain. The Chief Rabbis have called for fasting and prayers for rain. We decided to add the voice of women to appeal for the mercy of rain on our parched land. Over forty Christian, Druze, Jewish and Muslim women were amazed to see a beautiful small round circle of a rainbow in the sky as we gathered together. We obtained army permits for a group of women from Bethlehem to participate. Palestinians, Israelis, and Dr. Andrea Blanch from the U.S. Center for Religious Tolerance walked hand in hand slowly and silently on the serene Goldman Promenade along the seam between East and West Jerusalem carrying open umbrellas and a rain stick mimicking the sound of falling rain. We had a young daughter of six and women in their 70′s. We offered prayers in Hebrew, Arabic and English. We shared dances and songs that celebrate water and appeal for rain from the different traditions, and we ended with a blessing circle to strengthen each other. We experienced the powerful sisterhood of combining the energies of women with their prayers for the blessing of rain to pour down upon the Holy Land.

An Israeli women mentioned that she was so comfortable walking silently with a Palestinian woman and being freed from the necessity and challenge of verbal discussion. She was especially moved when the Palestinian woman took her hand and they ended the walk in a deep embrace. The women from Bethlehem invited us to visit their center, and plans were made for exhange visits with the Druze village in the north of Israel.

We are grateful to the students of Anna Halprin and the Center for Religious Tolerance for their support of this Women’s Walk. We plan another Walk in December.

Women’s Meditation Walk for RAIN

Tuesday, November 23, 2010 2 p.m.
Goldman Promenade, Armon Hanatziv, Jerusalem

With friends and supporters from the U.S. Center for Religious Tolerance.

We will do a silent walking meditation on the Goldman Promenade with Israeli and Palestinian women – Christian, Jewish, and Muslim. We will conclude with blessings from the different faiths for RAIN, and a movement/dance experience dedicated to RAIN led by students of Anna Halprin.

Please bring snacks to share.

Please bring drums, tambourines, flutes, or other portable musical instruments. We will provide water.

Gathering place at Parking Lot of Haas Promenade in Armon Hanatziv at 2 p.m. SHARP!

For information and registration, call Elana Rozenman 02 6749698, or elana@trust-emun.org