Dear TalkMatters Supporters,
Home now after 3 weeks in Israel. Bright sunshine surrounded by the darkness of pain and loss. Both Peoples traumatised by what is going on around them – everyone knows someone who is dead or dying. Peace – a word hardly worth using when it comes to Israel Palestine – seems even further away.
I travelled the country to find out how the initiatives that TalkMatters supports are coping. And noticed a remarkable contrast between the despair of the general population and the refusal of the Jews and Arabs involved in the initiatives to live with hatred and fear of the ‘Other’.
Here are some snippets from my diary.
On my way to Ashdod. Everywhere you look there are photos and stickers of the people taken hostage. Heart breaking to see the fear and uncertainty of all the people- Christians, Muslims, Jews, Druze, Behai, Secular, etc. War is an unknown different place
Akko Arab-Jewish Community Centre and Younited (formerly known as the Givat Haviva International School)
‘If it wasn’t for these two projects, I couldn’t get up in the morning – it gives me great hope that things can be different. It’s like everything in this country – one step forward and ten steps back’
Children at the Akko Jewish-Arab Community Centre
In Netanya to meet the indomitable Clare King Lassman. Clare has worked tirelessly for years with Director Mohammed Fahili at the Jewish-Arab Community Centre in the mixed Arab-Jewish town of Akko…. read more
Clare also works at Younited. She told me after the hostage taking and the subsequent Gaza war, the 15-18 year old Jewish, Arab and International students retreated to their own camps. But very soon they were back to talking about their common concerns of football teams, homework, music, etc. Clare put this down to the skills taught at the school – to listen deeply, to speak in a way that is not confrontational and to work at understanding why another human being has a different point of view…….read transcript of interview
The Interfaith Encounter Association
Today in Jerusalem met Carolina Frimer. She works with the The Interfaith Encounter Association (IEA) – the umbrella for 35 active and expanding mixed groups of Jews, Christians, Muslims, Druze and Bahai. Carolina explains why in these uncertain days of war, more groups are coming on the scene.
The Elijah Interfaith Institute
Director of Education of The Elijah Interfaith Institute, Peta Jones Pellach invited me to two events. The Jerusalem Rainbow Group for Interreligious Study and Dialogue at the Pontifical Institute Notre Dame of Jerusalem where we discussed the Christian and Jewish perspectives of ‘Who Is My Neighbour‘.
The following evening I attended the gardens of the magnificent church St Peter’s in Gallicantu on Mount Zion. Every month religious leaders and laypeople of different faiths pray side-by-side, each in their own way.
“It’s Time” People’s Peace Summit
Thousands of people came to the two day “It’s Time” People’s Peace Summit held in Jerusalem‘s International Convention Centre where over 60 co-operative initiatives were represented. Despite the financial effect of Trump’s order to shut down USAID, there is a reported increase in interest from Israelis and Palestinians to act and get involved.
Many of the initiatives that TalkMatters represents were there. It was great to hear the Jerusalem Youth Chorus and meet their conductor Micah Hendler .
Two of the young singers—one Israeli and one Palestinian—shared their powerful personal stories before the chorus delivered a moving performance of “A Different Way” earning a standing ovation.
Through evocative trilingual performances and heartfelt storytelling, the JYC opens a space for genuine dialogue across boundaries, challenging audiences to reimagine what’s possible on the path toward a shared future.
At the convention, I was also able to meet face to face with Leora Hadar of Women Wage Peace (WWP). Last time we met was during covid times on Zoom when TalkMatters hosted a webinar with WWP. She told me about the on-going co-operation between Palestinian and Israeli women.
Wahat al Salam~Neve Shalom (WASNS)
Bob Fenton recently retired from the Development Office at Wahat al Salam~Neve Shalom (WASNS)
Still in Jerusalem for a thoughtful discussion with Bob Fenton. He pointed out that the people we are seeing on the streets of Jerusalem are not enemies. They do not know each other and have rare opportunities to come together. WASNS where Jews and Arabs live in a shared, equitable society is the role model that shows that peace is possible.
The Teachers’ Lounge
Now back in Netanya. After the buzziness of the city great to see the sea again. And to meet Lior Davidi from The Teachers’ Lounge. In this video clip she explains how the initiative was affected by October 7th.
The Teachers’ Lounge brings Arab and Jewish teachers together to discuss the pedagogical and social challenges they face in the classroom. Lior explained that the teachers also learn about their different backgrounds and cultures by visiting each other’s homes and touring together areas that they fear to go to alone.
Despite the on-going war and the threat to funding, these inspirational people refuse to give up. They understand that teachers need to know the other’s narrative to be able to pass on this vital knowledge to the next generation.
Road to Recovery
It was a great privilege to meet the Director of Road to Recovery, Yael Noy today. This is an initiative that involves 1300 Israeli volunteers who drive children and their carers from the West Bank (and before October 7th from Gaza) to Israeli hospitals. I spoke to Yael straight after the Hamas massacre on October 7th and again a few months later. I was amazed that the drivers never stopped their work. Now I am amazed to hear that in the last year 115 new volunteers have offered their services. In this video clip, Yael explains how it works.
The Freddie Krivine Tennis Initiative
Last but not least a visit to see old friends at the Freddie Krivine Tennis Initiative tennis courts and new clubhouse at Bet Hananya near the village of Jisr Az-Zarqa. I have met Founder Jane Krivine and Director Lee Wilson before in Israel and in the UK. In fact, both spoke inspiringly at two TalkMatters live events in London.
This time I met Senior Coach Mohameed Rashwan, new Coach Yoni Gottlieb and Bana, one of the young people on the programme from the village of Faradis. They spoke to me about this special place – the challenges and the opportunities.
Well that’s my trip . Scary at times but nothing to talk about when compared to the brave Israelis and Palestinians who despite the very real threat of death and destruction insist on continuing to work towards a better world. It is at times like this that hope feels like an act of defiance.
And with that in mind, please consider joining us for our visit 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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That’s it for now with profound hopes for a return of the hostages, an elimination of the terrorist threat with a genuine ceasefire, the cessation of all violence and peaceful coexistence.
Jenny Nemko and the TalkMatters Team