Chayim B'Yachad Interfaith Encounter Group of Wadi Ara on 14th March 2008:

Chayim B'Yachad Interfaith Encounter group met at Ahmed Ghazal's beautiful home in Umm-el-Fahm on March 14.

We were invited for a scrumptious meal at the table, where it was evident that our generous hosts expected many more guests. I expressed my apologies for the slow growth of our group.

We met in Listening-Circle style, and were given a short introduction of the town.

A lot of worry about the declining state of affairs in Israel was voiced. Some spoke of wanting to find an active venue to help make things better. Some spoke, of looking for ways to simply exist.

One spoke of wanting to live by Human Rights, not by grace.

One mother asked that we teach our children to accept the Arabs, to teach that they are not all bad.

The "Talking Stick" picked for the meeting was, interestingly enough, -- a small Pyramid-- the Egyptian symbol and edifice of life, power, longevity and preservation.

We were urged to use the power of thought, not thoughts of power.

We were reminded that our focus here was to be on religion.

Our resident artists suggested a healing venue in the shape of a music and art festival, to our agreement. We urged our poet Ahmed, whose heart-rending poem we heard in our previous meeting, to begin teaching poetry in the local area.

The importance of right education was raised.

We agreed to pull more folks into the listening circles.

It was suggested that we initiate youth group -exchange between our towns.

Reported: Ronit Rot
Group's Coordinators: Ronit Rot and Kamel Agbariya
 

(Back to Reports)