Hebron, Palestinian Territories. Photo: Daniel Aqleh.
Holy Land Peacebuilding Journey Blog – Hebron
from Kay Lamos, Participant on the Feb 2017 Peace Journey
Hebron, Israel checkpoint into Israeli-controlled Hebron. Photo: Christopher Miller
Yesterday we experienced the dual narrative tours of the Israeli and Palestinian sides of the Hebron experience up close and personal. It was certainly painful to hear both sides and feel the entrenched closeness to the pain of the stories and the hopelessness that is so often born of perpetuating those narratives.
Yet peace IS growing here perhaps because as the pressure intensifies in the world, in USA and here, it has the effect of bringing people together. In the states, Muslims, undocumenteds, LGBTs, Environmentalists, and so many more are seeing the truth in aligning to overcome divisive stories or “alternative facts”. Peacemaker, Elias Jabbour, in his 80+ years of wisdom, arrives at an internal stance beyond story, perhaps in spite of story, that tells us that we
In the Home of Peacemaker Elias Jabbour, Shefar’am. Left to Right: Elias Jabbour, Rabbi Gadi, Debra-sue Cope. Photo: Christopher Miller
either choose peace for our children and grandchildren, or we choose death. It becomes obvious there is no alternative.
I am praying that steadily more and more people find that place in themselves where Peace is the obvious and only alternative.
– Kay Lamos
February Abrahamic Reunion Peacebuilding Journey
The Abrahamic Reunion February 2017 Peacemaking Journey is a prolonged meeting of the AR International Advisory Board, the AR Directors, Coordinators, and Peacemakers, and the AR Israel’s Board, combined with several public events, some of which we hope to make available by Livestream, and certainly through this blog.
Dates to note (Exact timing TBA)
– February 26th: Livestream Prayers for Peace with Indigenous Grandmothers in New Zealand + AR Peacemakers in Jericho, Israel. 11:30am EST, Click for Details
– February 28th: Livestream Cross-Border Prayer at the Gaza Border with the Abrahamic Reunion. Time TBA
For details on any of these events, attending, or joining online, please write to chris@abrahamicreunion.org
photo credit: Christopher Miller
Holy Land Peacebuilding Journey Blog
from David Less, AR Co-Founder, Board Chairman
February 17th – March 1st, 2017
We are staying in the old city of Jerusalem, working daily on the program of the Abrahamic Reunion and awaiting the arrival of our international advisory board and other friends of peace and hope.
Yesterday I saw a simple clay lamp from this area that was over three thousand years old. I thought, “Well, the technology has advanced a bit since then but this exudes beauty as well as functionality.” In the simple clay lamp the hand of the potter was still seen. In our assembly line, mass produced world, we often don’t see the hand of the person or people who have created. When we lose individual creation we often lose beauty. That seems to be the challenge of the day. To create together for greater advancement and community but not to lose the presence of timeless beauty.
Life here is quite complicated. There is a collective psyche that longs for the light of the sun in the midst of the storm. Even when the sun comes out the memory of the storm can affect our experience. I find so many here, in Israel and Palestine, are looking for an answer that says “Yes, but I’m really right and you are really wrong. So now let’s get along.” To rise above that mindset while recognizing the needs and pain on all sides requires an effort of will and mind that is not easy. If I begin any place other than the pure heart in my own being the necessary vision of my intelligence becomes covered and hope fades.
Being here is truly a twenty four hour meditation and practice. Holding an inner concentration of prayer and hope is the only way I have found that allows me to maintain a platform that can create an atmosphere out of which the beauty of God can emerge. For reasons that only one’s heart understands this land can be truly holy. However, like any holy place, it must be continually sanctified and purified by love. This is the challenge. Beauty naturally emerges out of love and beauty creates a natural harmony and respect and compassion for the hurt of the other.
With love and blessings,
David Less
For the Abrahamic Reunion
February Abrahamic Reunion Peacebuilding Journey
The Abrahamic Reunion February 2017 Peacemaking Journey is a prolonged meeting of the AR International Advisory Board, the AR Directors, Coordinators, and Peacemakers, and the AR Israel’s Board, combined with several public events, some of which we hope to make available by Livestream, and certainly through this blog.
Dates to note (Exact timing TBA)
– February 19th: Praying Together in Jerusalem Conference at Tantur Ecumenical Institute
– February 23rd: Praying Together in Jerusalem interfaith peace prayer in the Old City – please join us if you are in the area, or join us wherever you are in prayer at 5:30pm Israel Time (EST +7hrs). Details to come.
– February 26th: Livestream Prayers for Peace with Indigenous Grandmothers in New Zealand + AR Peacemakers in Jericho, Israel.
– February 28th: Livestream Cross-Border Prayer at the Gaza Border with the Abrahamic Reunion. Time TBA.
For details on any of these events, attending, or joining online, please write to chris@abrahamicreunion.org
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