 Some of you remember that Creative Health Network has been supporting the WIE
in various ways, networking, helping with fundraising, and we brought them to the UK in October 2002.
They are amazing women, and we believe it is the women that will make the difference. Please
keep them in your prayers and 'see' their light spreading throughout all of Israel/Palestine. |
Women's Interfaith Encounter is a program of the Interfaith Encounter Association
29th March 2004
Dear Interfaith Friends,
Our WIE Jerusalm meeting Wednesday, March 24, was difficult but deep. The coordinators had sent three questions to the group in advance to evaluate our group dynamic and evaluate how strong we are and how well established. But by the night of the meeting every thing had changed -- with the assassination of Sheik Ahmed Yassin two days before, the tension in the air of Jerusalem - Al Quds - was so heavy that many members could not come because they felt so depressed and others were afraid. Others felt it was very needed to come especially at this time. We had a small but deep group -- we suddenly felt there is no need to mention our religious identity -- because as a group we are a family! We took care of each other's feeling so much at that meeting, that it was easy and comfortable to cry and open our deep wounds, to share how terrible we feel with the crazy sitution but yet how much we feel the need for our meetings, the commitment to continue, and the need to protect "our candle" from the evil around us.
The majority of the women were Arabic speakers so the meeting was conducted by Aida Shibli in Arabic with translation to English. We began with the our candles being lit by Nadia's mother, Fahmia Imhamis, whose own son, Hamis Totangi, was murdered over 15 years ago by Jews and she had made a special effort to be with us this evening. She gave a beautiful prayer for us to overcome feelings of vengeance and be united in peace. Carmen offered a prayer praising God for bringing us together, and that our light will shine brightly and overcome the conflicting forces. Elana offered the Jewish prayer for peace -- that God should bring peace to everyone. We had a very deep circle of personal sharing, telling about the hard times we are experiencing here.
Aida said that she is very sure that what we are doing is the right thing but after what has happened she feels that it is not enough and she feels a need to act in other arenas like the political level -- things have to go parallel, dialogue is good but not enough! Aida said that in difficult times we need prayer, and just coming to the meeting is an effort -- not easy -- but it is a form of prayer -- we are opening our hearts to each other, just walking in here is a demonstration of our desire for peace.
Shulamit told how horrible she felt hearing the expressions of hatred and racism in her haredi community -- and how she had told people making such remarks in the market that they couldn't say such things because we're all God's creations, and if we speak and teach hatred, we are lowering ourselves to the worst level. She said she felt strengthened knowing that she has our group to back up her feelings -- and that takes her from despair to empowerment.
Nizreen said she did not want to come to the meeting because she was so upset and had to face very tense meetings of the staff at her work at Hadassah Hospital -- but in the end she came because she knew she had to see good people and then she could relax here and find the strength to face the tensions outside.
Carmen spoke about how she feels like a tree with branches opening to both sides, how her heart is filled when she thinks about the group and how this strengthen her.
Nadia pleaded passionately for us to say the truth and be honest and follow the true path of our religions in our relations together -- with love and not hatred in our hearts. She offered a prayer begging God and saying that we all love You and ask You to send us real peace and end the killing of innocent people.
Joyce blessed us to continue to develop so that we can discuss all the issues that divide us.
Rose spoke about how important the meetings are to her -- that we can share and understand each other. She said she came from a meeting in East Jerusalem and the woman who offered her a ride then refused to bring her to West Jerusalem, so she had to take a taxi.
Wendy said she was glad to be back -- and wished her children could be there. Recently her daughter was told by the teacher in her music club that she doesn't have a strong enough Jewish identity because she doesn't hate Arabs!
Hanan said she felt at peace and that we should find peace within ourselves and keep that peace within us and between us in this way so that this situation does not destroy us. And even if we don't take big actions, our meeting together is already a big action.
We ended the meeting with a group embrace and everyone felt strengthened and relieved by our open expression of feelings and the bonds we have created together.
A group of us attended the premiere screening of "Mashala" about the murder of Hamis Totangi in 1987, by three young Jews who were caught, tried, and imprisoned for ten years, and then received a presidential pardon and were released. Last Saturday at the Tel Aviv Cinemateque we joined her family and the packed auditorium to see this moving and powerful film. The film dealt with her family, the released murderer, and a haredi Jewish poet who wrote strong poems against violence using her brother's name. We urge everyone to see it -- it shows so many facets of the violence, insanity, and human love that exist simultaneouly in our struggle together.
We wish all our Jewish friends a Pesach Sameach, and our Christian friends -- a Happy Easter. We hope that all of our combined prayers over this holiday season will strengthen the energies of peace in our world.
The Interfaith Encounter Association
PO Box 3814, Jerusalem 91037, Israel
Phone: +972-2-651 0520
Fax: +972-2-651 0557
Website: www.interfaith-encounter.org
Board:
Sr. Karmela Farrugia, Chair
Sheikh Muhammad Kiwan, Vice-Chair
Mr. Shlomo Alon, Vice-chair
Sheikh Ali Birani
Rabbi Dov Maimon
Ms. Ibtisam Mahamid
Deacon Eng. Jirias Mansour
Sheikh Tawfiq Salama
Yehuda Stolov, Director
E-mail:
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