TRUST WIN Celebrates First Decade of Women’s Interfaith Activities

TRUST WIN (Women’s Interfaith Network) held a joyous Celebration of our First Decade of Women’s Interfaith activities on December 11, 2011 hosted by the American Center in Jerusalem – exactly ten years since our first gathering there. There were over sixty women – Christian, Druze, Jewish, and Muslim – Israelis, Palestinians, and US Embassy staff including the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of Near Eastern Public Diplomacy.

We opened by lighting a candle depicting Jerusalem made by women of Abu Dis. Prayers were offered by women from the four religions emphasizing that this small flame can dispel much darkness that surrounds us. Each woman spoke from the heart about her feelings of hope, love, sisterhood, and “frustration that the harmony that exists in this room isn’t contagious enough to affect all of our people”. We reminisced about all the activities and programs that have taken place in these ten years and the strong bonds of sisterhood that have developed.

A Woman of Valor Award was given to Ester Golan, a Founding Member of TRUST – Emun, for a lifetime of service to Interfaith Relations. There were smiles, hugs, tears, and deep joy. As the women continually embraced in greeting, Elana commented to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State that “we, women practice bosom to bosom diplomacy – always hugging and connecting with our bodies which enables us to speak from our hearts. We also speak from our womb and connect as mothers who want all children to live in peace and safety”. We enjoyed a beautiful Anniversary cake decorated with a photo from our recent Inauguration of the Garden of the Mothers in Daliat HaCarmel:

The gorgeous Peace Quilt made by 72 Israeli and Palestinian women was on display and the Quilt women led a beautiful activity to continue the quilt process. The Quilt remains on display at the American Center. We are grateful to the US Embassy for their grant for this celebration and continual support for the last decade, and for their lovely video of the Peace Quilt and the Celebration.

We are grateful and blessed by all of our supporters who have helped to make this year a rich and busy one for women of different faiths to meet together and visit each other’s homes, to plant four mature olive trees on the Goldman Tayelet in Jerusalem with the assistance of the City of Jerusalem, and to plant forty-four trees with the assistance of the Daliat HaCarmel Regional Council as a remembrance of the Carmel Forest tragedy last year and as a symbol of women’s interfaith work.

We bless everyone that this holiday season will bring much light into our hearts, our homes, and our lands.

Healing and Peace Quilt Promotes Tolerance and Mutual Understanding

TRUST – Emun, a Jerusalem-based ngo offering an alternative to conflict and violence is holding its 10th anniversary celebration at the American Center in Jerusalem. TRUST-Emun is committed to building mutual trust and understanding through unique person-to-person programs and activities in the region. Their women-led activities aim to find the common humanity that builds relationships and dispels fear among people from diverse backgrounds, cultures, religions.

The Palestinian-Israeli Healing Quilt was created by a group of Jewish, Christian and Muslim women who joined together in 2003 with the vision and desire to embrace life and to work together to create a place of peace. The 72 embroidered/painted hands of the quilt represent each woman’s voice. The quilt is incomplete with each of its sides open to hear more voices and inspire others to effect social change within their communities.

Please visit the American Center, 19 Keren Hayesod, to view the exhibit. http://Israel.usembassy.gov/ac

Inauguration of the Garden of the Mothers

On December 1, 2011, women of different faiths from the TRUST WIN (Women’s Interfaith Network) fulfilled a promise they had made one year earlier.

Last December women leaders of different faiths surveyed the damage of the Carmel forest fire and vowed to replant trees in honor of the the forty-four Prison Services personnel – Christian, Druze, Jewish, and Muslim who perished there. With the cooperation of the Daliat alCarmel Community Center, TRUST – Emun held the Planting and Opening Ceremony of the Garden of the Mothers – planting forty-four trees and creating a permanent and serene symbol of the sisterhood of Christian, Druze, Jewish, and Muslim women who have worked together in the northern region for ten years. The Garden also is home to two ancient olive trees and two new sculptures representing Hope and Rebirth.

Several hundred people gathered for the Ceremony to hear Carmel Nasreddin (the Head of the Local Council of Daliyat al-Karmel), Emile Hamadi (Director of the Cultural Center), Ayoob Kara (Deputy Minister of the Development of the Negev and Galil), Prison Service officials, leaders of the Faith Communities of the area, members of the families of the prison personnel who perished, and women leaders from the TRUST WIN (Women’s Interfaith Network) CC, Siham Halabi of MADA CC, Ibtisam Mahamid of Women Reborn CC, .

After the final planting of the seedling trees, there was a silent Meditation Walk around the garden with the interfaith women and mothers from the families whose sons and husbands had perished. One mother thanked us tearfully and showed us a beautiful photo of her son, and said she would come regularly to visit the Garden of the Mothers. Another one said this was the first time anyone had created a permanent memorial – and that it took the women to do it!

We are deeply grateful for grants and donations from the Center for Religious Tolerance, the URI Environment Program, John Weiser, Barbara Meislin/the Purple Lady, and supporters in Austria, Germany, and Spain. Their faith and financial support for the work of interfaith women enabled us to carry out this substantial and permanent project. We invite everyone to come and visit it with us!

We thank everyone for their prayers and commitment to the sisterhood of women of different faiths building peace.

Press Coverage
http://www.panet.co.il/online/articles/1/2/S-482502,1,2.html

http://www.greenprophet.com/2011/12/interfaith-womens-group-commemorates-carmel-fire-tragedy/

Video
Trust Emun Inauguration of the Garden of the Mothers

Elana interview 6:17 – 9:12