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.

Comments are closed.