We are visiting this village called Neve Shalom--Wahat al-Salam, "Oasis of Peace". I first heard about it through a Bill Moyers documentary on this community. They are a village of Jews and Palestinian Arabs of Israeli citizenship. The members are demonstrating the possibility of coexistence between Jews and Palestinians by developing a community based on mutual acceptance, respect & cooperation. They have many programs that bring people together of different faith traditions, ideologies, ethnicities and give them a safe place to listen to others and express their own views. A model that I call hospitality. Many are secular in their religion. They are committed to peace, justice and reconciliation in an environment that is headed in the opposite direction. It is so interesting to talk to them and learn of their journey. They have an elementary school of 200+ that starts at preschool age to model a different way.
No comments:
Post a Comment