Dear TalkMatters Supporters,
Never ending sadness and fear. The uncertainty continues. What will happen next nobody knows. But in many ways I am lucky. Inspired by the leaders of the initiatives that TalkMatters supports, I have a huge incentive to speak out about their vital people-to-people work, however distant the hopes of success are. I believe it is particularly important to bring young people back to thinking that peace is possible. And to that end, this month’s update includes news from the Arava Institute as a group of students begin their four-month journey of living and learning together in an intentional community. Read more….
SPECIAL PEOPLE
During the month, I met Mori Sela on Zoom. Mori lives near Haifa and is the Executive Director of an initiative called Sulha. The word ‘sulha‘ means ‘reconciliation‘ or ‘peace‘ in Arabic and ‘forgiveness‘ in Hebrew. Mori explained how Sulha brings together people from all walks of life to experience peacebuilding through listening circles, cultural workshops, and interfaith activities. In Jerusalem on May 8th and 9th, Mori is organising a People’s Peace Summit with over 60 member organisations. I hope to be in Israel then and intend to meet him there and then for you to meet the inspirational Mori and his Palestinian colleague Monir when TalkMatters hosts them both on a webinar in the summer.
Dan Tennant-Ralphs is another special person who brings a glimmer of hope this month. Dan recently gave a talk to a group in the Polylogue Madrid community. He speaks of acknowledging the suffering of both communities in the conflict and of the work that many organisations are doing to promote reconciliation and to build up trust. Watch his five minute video.
JOIN US ON AN INTERFAITH TRIP TO WAHAT AL-SALAM~NEVE SHALOM
Whatever we report, it is not the same as seeing for yourself what is happening at a grassroots level. Here is your opportunity. In November, TalkMatters together with Oasis of Peace UK are going to visit Wahat al Salam ~Neve Shalom (WaSNS) – the village in Israel where Jews and Arabs have lived in a shared equitable society ever since the 1970s. This special place is where half a classroom of children has family in Gaza, and the other half has siblings in the Israeli Defence Force. A place of immense complexity. A place where people commit daily to building a future of peace. A place that shows us that despite the relentless conflict peace is possible. Read more….
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In a time where conflict and division seem to increase daily, fear and pain threaten to silence us, TalkMatters continues to introduce the UK public to the people who refuse to see one another as enemies. We believe in supporting the grass-roots work in Israel and Palestine and we know that it is only by working together with you – our UK supporters – and with our Israeli-Palestinian Associates that we can ever walk another path. A path that leads to a future of peace, justice and equality for everyone. Please pass on this information to your friends and colleagues.
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Well that’s it for now with profound hopes for a return of all the hostages, a genuine ceasefire, the cessation of violence and peaceful coexistence.
Jenny Nemko and the TalkMatters Team