Dear TalkMatters Supporters,
I’m excited to tell you that after six years of self-funding, we are ready to move up a notch. TalkMatters is now a registered charity under the wings of the Abrahamic Reunion England (ARE). This collaboration provides us with the ability to apply for funds in the UK and to accept donations while maintaining and preserving our independence. Like TalkMatters, the ARE has a commitment to the ideals of community, cooperation, friendship and peace among the people of Israel and the Palestinian Territories.
We have already started to apply for funds and thanks to the generosity of the Leo & Betty Gruss Charitable Trust, we are hosting a three day speaking tour with the Freddie Krivine Initiative. We are speaking at the House of Commons, places of worship and to younger generations.
I believe it is particularly important to empower the next generation with the knowledge, confidence and sense of purpose needed to engage thoughtfully with Israel Palestine and to help transform perspectives and contribute to a significant change for the future. We are also hosting our first fund raising event.
You, our closest supporters, know that our purpose has never faltered. Despite the catastrophic Hamas massacre, Gaza, Iran, Hezbollah, Lebanon – the complete turmoil in the Middle East – we have kept going. TalkMatters has successfully raised the profile in the UK of many of the cooperative grassroots initiatives that enable Jewish and Arab Palestinian citizens of Israel as well as Palestinian and Jewish residents in the Palestinian Territories to meet, talk and slowly build up trust.
We want to do more and with your support we can bring more speakers to the UK, host more webinars and expand our platform via social media, writing articles, podcasts, etc
First Fund-Raising Event
Join us for our first fund raising event on Sunday 21 June 15.30-18.00 Cumberland Tennis Club, NW6
Join us to celebrate six roller coaster years of partnering grassroots cooperative initiatives. From music and ecology to hi-tech and religion, we have spent the last six years bringing Israeli Jews and Arabs face-to-face to build a shared future.
To mark the occasion, we are delighted to host Lee Wilson and Riham Namle from the Freddie Krivine Initiative (FKI). The FKI brings Arab and Jewish children together to learn, play tennis, and to simply have fun – proving that sport has the power to unite.
In true pre-Wimbledon spirit, we will enjoy a classic strawberries and cream tea in what promises to be an afternoon of inspiration and meaningful conversation.
We very much hope you can join us. Tickets are now on sale via TicketTailor
If you’re unable to attend, we would be extremely grateful if you would consider making a donation in support of our work.
Looking forward to seeing you in June.
Updates from the Jerusalem Youth Chorus
I hope this email finds you and your loved ones safe in these deeply frightening times. Since I joined the Jerusalem Youth Chorus (JYC) staff in November 2023, I have had to begin far too many messages in the shadow of fresh violence, grief, and fear for the young people at the heart of our work. In that time, more than 80,000 lives have been lost across the region. Now, as violence escalates yet again, our singers and their families once more seek safety, watching missiles pass overhead. It is precisely in times like these that JYC’s work matters most: bringing young Palestinians and Israelis together to build trust and practice a different future than the one unfolding around them. It is exhausting to hold onto hope. I won’t pretend otherwise.
And yet—every week at JYC, hope persists. It lives in 45 teenagers who continue to come together, in person or online, to share music and humanity. It lives in our staff and facilitators who nurture these relationships, and in our alumni who remain deeply connected and committed to this work. And it lives in you—our global family—who believe in the power of music and dialogue to build something different. In the words of one of our singers:
“The choir brings together people who are brave enough to risk changing their truth and opinions, and even getting hurt. It’s not all acceptance and joy. It’s a lot of quiet struggle, while you discover new realities and new parts of yourself you didn’t know existed. We say things we would never dare say anywhere else. We show sides of ourselves we’ve been taught to hide. And slowly, we become free. It doesn’t mean your whole world changes, but here, in the choir, we create our own world.”
Updates from Interfaith Encounter Association
The Interfaith Encounter Association has 135 groups all over Israel that works to build bridges between Jews, Muslims, Christians and Others.
This is an account of one such group – the Jerusalem Young Adults Group
The group met for a session dedicated to discussing their first encounter with “the other”-their initial experience of meeting people from a different community, whether through visiting their neighbourhoods or being present in their spaces, and the accompanying feelings and impressions.
The Jewish participants began by explaining that this experience wasn’t entirely new to them, particularly due to their early interactions with Arabs at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, especially during their preparatory year, where many Jewish and Arab students meet. They explained that this period provided a natural space for getting to know each other and helped break down initial barriers. One participant shared that he grew up in Modi’in and used to see Arab families with their children in public parks, which instilled in him a sense of natural familiarity and lack of fear. Another participant mentioned that his first encounter with Arabs was through Arab workers employed in his family home. He developed a direct relationship with them and began learning Arabic, which made the experience simpler and less stressful.
Most of the Arab participants indicated that the primary difficulty in meeting Jews was the Hebrew language barrier. They stated that their initial contact was mostly through public transportation, particularly the light rail connecting northern and southwestern Jerusalem. Some also shared that their first direct encounter with Jews occurred during their preparatory year at the Hebrew University. Others spoke of their initial experiences involving encounters with police or passing through checkpoints, explaining that, despite their aversion to these experiences, they were able to distinguish between civilian Jews and those performing official duties.
Several participants described feelings of curiosity and apprehension during these initial encounters, but these feelings quickly transformed into comfort after direct interaction and personal introductions. Participants from both sides agreed that direct human interaction is a crucial tool for breaking down stereotypes and building deeper, mutual understanding between people from diverse backgrounds. At the conclusion of the encounter, the participants shared their wishes for the year, hoping it would be a year of peace and security, following years filled with wars and tensions. Despite the difficult circumstances, the participants remained optimistic with hopes for a better future. The encounter concluded in an atmosphere of respect and openness, emphasizing the importance of such gatherings in deepening mutual understanding, strengthening shared human values, and building spaces for dialogue, listening, and trust.
Update from The Elijah Interfaith Institute
“Saints: Historical Reality and Spiritual Legacy”
We are pleased to invite applications for the 2026 Elijah Interfaith Summer School, taking place in Assisi—the hometown of St. Francis—on the 800th anniversary of his death. This unique programme brings together students from around the world for a period of study, reflection, and dialogue in a sacred setting, fostering an interfaith community of individuals seeking wisdom and deeper understanding. Early enrolment is encouraged, with discounts available for registrations completed in April. Registration closes on May 15.
Program details here Register here For enquiries or further information, please contact:
peta@elijah-interfaith.org
