Interfaith Meeting Despite Tensions

At a time when tensions are strong and much suspicion and vengeance exists between Israelis and Palestinians, TRUST – Emun in partnership with the Jerusalem Peacemakers organized an evening of study and discussion about religious perspectives on “Non – Violence” in Judaism and Islam in light of recent violence in Jerusalem and our region. There was some skepticism and resistance within both communities to our event– Israeli Jews saying that this was not the right time to meet because of anger about the massacre at the Jerusalem Yeshiva and Palestinians saying they couldn’t meet with Israelis because of anger about on-going killings and oppression in Gaza.

Fifty Palestinian and Israeli residents from East and West Jerusalem, as well as from Ramallah, Hebron, and Bethlehem joined us to hear the teachings from Rabbi Daniel Landes, the Director and Rosh Yeshiva of Pardes Institute, and Sheik Izhak Taha, the Deputy Mufti of Jerusalem. The meeting took place in Abu Tor, a mixed neighborhood on the seam between East and West Jerusalem. Joining us were Ultra-Orthodox Jews in black hats sitting with secular Jews and Muslims in hijab and modern dress, from all age groups. After an opportunity for people to introduce themselves to each other in one on one encounters, the invisible walls and barriers in the room disappeared.

Rabbi Landes taught how Aaron would resolve conflicts by going to both wronged persons in a conflict and telling each how badly the other felt for what he did and how much he regretted it. Then when the two would meet, they would embrace and econcile immediately. The Rabbi said that today we have the opposite of Aaron because we have the media and our leaders continually telling us how much the other side hates us and wants to kill us and doesn’t want to reconcile. He emphasized how important it is for each of us to share our experience here with our own communities, that members of the “other side” do feel badly for what has been done to us and wants to reconcile.

Sheikh Izhak Taha said that the basic teaching of the Quran is a message of love and tolerance and that this love extends to all creatures and all humanity. Those who do turn to violence are not true Muslims, they are choosing the path of darkness rather the light that the Quran offers. He also spoke about how his grandfather told him stories of a time when Jews and Arabs lived together here like family, how his grandmother even wet-nursed a Jewish baby. Though he hears most often the pain of his own people, the sheikh sees that two nations in the Land are suffering. We should eat and dance at each others celebrations, this will build trust and love between us, he said. We have forgotten how we used to live together.

Participants shared in small group listening circles about their pain, fears, frustration, as well as positive memories of a shared past and hopes for a better future. Both Israelis and Palestinians spoke of frustration and despair about the extreme attitudes in each society and the reluctance of the majority to work together non-violently to find solutions. Both spoke of the need to hear the other side acknowledge their own violence and express regret. Possible ways to do this were discussed.

One Israeli mother spoke of her fears for her son about to enter the army. One Palestinian with tears in his eyes spoke of his hope for the time when Israeli and Palestinian children will play together and grow up together in harmony.

The evening was ended with a circle of spontaneous prayers for peace. People were reluctant to leave the warmth of our oasis of trust that had been created. The desire for continued dialogue led to plans for a series of study sessions beginning in May.

Comments are closed.