Monthly Newsletter – November 2024

Dear TalkMatters Supporters,

Despite the appalling situation, TalkMatters continues to bring you good news of the co-operative work of our Associates in Israel-Palestine.  This is not to say that we are naive enough to believe that life is in any way easy for these initiatives.  In fact, we have just cancelled an event for later this month at the House of Commons because our speakers were not able to attend.  We know that all involved are profoundly affected as each day there are more accounts of violence, terror and loss. The situation is totally depressing and emotionally exhausting on a personal and professional level but there is no alternative but to carry on regardless.  

When we allow ourselves to see one another only as enemies, we play into the hands of those who thrive on division.

At a time when the world often feels hopelessly divided, the initiatives that TalkMatters supports remain a beacon of the possible.  We know that Israelis and Palestinians young and old are still coming together through sport, music, hi-tech, ecology, religion, etc.  

Please welcome our newest TalkMatters associate

With that in mind, we’re pleased to introduce the latest initiative to join TalkMatters, The Elijah Interfaith Institute.  Over the last twenty years they have formed a community of religious leaders, scholars, and practitioners from all faiths, who are inspired to find ways of sharing the wisdom of their traditions with each other and of creating bridges between faith and society.   Our two organisations align on many values including empathy, dialogue, understanding, tolerance, and education.  A very warm welcome to the Elijah Interfaith Institute and may our association be a fruitful one.

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Solutions Not Sides are touring UK schools

Solutions Not Sides (SNS) has been teaching the skills of empathy, active listening, communication, critical thinking and conflict resolution in British schools through the exploration of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict since 2010. Recent figures are still showing an increase in antisemitism and Islamophobia throughout the UK.  Now more than ever, it is important for young people to have the safe space to enable tough discussions on Israel-Palestine. We conclude this newsletter with their schedule of school visits for the rest of this year and well into 2025.  Please contact SNS to book them if you’d like them to visit your school.  

Sad News

Now with the same indefatigable sense of hope shown by all TalkMatters Associates, I want to tell you of the sad passing of Rev’d Keith McNicol.  An Anglican Priest and a very special friend.  A soul-mate.  Keith’s insight into the role that religion plays in Israel-Palestine was profound. His common-sense enormous.  We worked together on the Interfaith trips to Wahat al-Salam – Neve Shalom (WASNS) Oasis of Peace – the unique village in Israel where Jews and Arabs live in an equitable, shared society. For that and for the support he gave TalkMatters and for our many serious and humorous conversations at the British Library, I shall always be grateful.

Keith’s life was a blessing to all who knew him.

Keith was a valued Trustee of the British Friends of WASNS – Oasis of Peace UK and during a three month sabbatical lived in the village in order to travel all over Israel to interview Christians of different denominations.  Keith investigated the political realities and challenges faced by Christians living in Israel.  So today as a small tribute, and in memory of Keith, we would like to dedicate this newsletter to the place he loved and respected – Wahat al Salam~Neve Shalom.  

In memory of Rev’d Keith McNicol

Wahat al Salam~Neve Shalom (WASNS).  

Wahat al Salam~Neve Shalom means Oasis of Peace.  WASNS is the only village where Palestinian and Jewish citizens of Israel live in a shared, equitable society.  The village which lies in the Judaean foothills between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem is a unique example of an intentionally shared community in Israel. 

For 50 years, WASNS has stood as a shining example of the peace and equality that is possible.  It was founded by Father Bruno on land gifted by the Monastery of Latrun and it had strong British involvement from the start through London founder members Carol and Wellesley Aron.  

The two core village institutions are the bilingual Primary School for children and the School for Peace for adults.

Founded in 1984, the bilingual Primary School was the first of its kind in Israel, teaching the children equally in Arabic and Hebrew. Today there are approximately 270 students – around one third of the students come from WASNS, the rest from 19 towns, villages and cities in the region. A balance of around 50-50 is kept between Palestinian and Jewish children, boys and girls. That balance extends to the staff, so that children are constantly exposed to two languages and different cultures.

Founded in 1979 and with 77,000 alumni, the School for Peace is a high-level NGO that trains Israeli Palestinian and Jewish professional groups to work together to advance peace and equality.   Today the School for Peace is engaged in change-agents’ courses for professionals whose work has direct consequences at community level on both Jewish and Palestinian populations inside Israel and across borders.  Examples are courses for environmentalists, for mental health workers, for human rights lawyers, literature teachers, architects, politicians and urban planners.  Through these courses the participants not only get to know and respect each other, but more importantly, and with greater difficulty, learn to face up to history and understand the narratives of both sides to the conflict.

Extracts from the latest newsletter from Oasis of Peace UK ..

The Primary School: Resilience and Unity
Our school community is envisioned as three concentric circles: with children at the core, educators in the middle, and parents on the periphery. Each component plays a pivotal role, and disruptions within one sphere reverberate throughout the entire ecosystem. As we navigate the complexities of the current crisis, enhancing the Parents’ Community emerges as a crucial strategy in fortifying our collective resilience.

The impact of the ongoing conflict is deeply felt within our parental community. Whether it be Jewish fathers called to reserve duty or Israeli-Palestinian mothers witnessing displacement, all are grappling with the profound effects of the conflict on their families and communities. Shared concerns about discussing the war with their children and the erosion of faith in the prospect of peace, have become prevalent themes.

In response to these challenges, the primary goal of the Parents’ Community initiative is to cultivate a sense of unity and solidarity among parents, irrespective of background or circumstance. Central to this effort is the reinforcement of our School’s binational ethos, ensuring that children are educated within an environment that promotes peace, understanding, and psychological well-being.

Through collaborative engagement and mutual support, parents are empowered to navigate the complexities of wartime education and to reinforce the values of tolerance and compassion within their families.

By fostering a united front, we not only strengthen the fabric of our school community but also reaffirm our collective commitment to building a more peaceful and inclusive society, one family at a time.

The School for Peace (SfP): In Wartime
Despite the gulf that now seems bottomless between Israel and the Palestinians, the SfP continues its dialogue work. It looks at it as their task is to “to preserve all remaining remnants Jewish-Palestinian relations and to hope for their restoration.” At the same time, their task “to constantly learn new things in this work and evolve”. (Roi Silberberg) The effectiveness of SfP’s initiatives is evident in projects undertaken by SfP course graduates.

The mid-term evaluation of the SfP program brings optimism: “Despite the challenges of mortality and resilience, we have managed to establish an environment that embodies vitality, humor, and opportunities for learning. We have instilled confidence in the participants’ personal and professional capacities, nurtured their individual growth, and fostered group dynamics.”

Wahat al Salam~Neve Shalom is in our directory have their own website and have joined TalkMatters both live and on webinars many times.  Details of how you can donate to help support their work on this page on their website.  

Solutions Not Sides Touring Schedule 2024 and 2025

SNS workshops provide students with the opportunity to meet peace builders from Israel and Palestine and talk about their experiences of conflict and peace activism, as well as current events, in a safe space. During the workshops, students are able to develop skills incritical thinking, conflict resolution and active listening.

The tours book up quick so it is important to get in touch soon to secure your booking and provide your students with a safe space to engage in important discussions.

Please pass on this information

Please pass on this information to your friends and colleagues.  Please talk about the human stories that we share with you. In the horrendous circumstances we all find ourselves, 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. 

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Thank you for your support.

Jenny and the TalkMatters Team.