So, my friends, I’m nearly to the end of this saga … although we traveled back to Tantur, and those of us remaining (who didn’t have cabs or flights to catch) stuck around for debriefing and final goodbyes and promises to contact each other with our own “stories” and reflections on our experiences.
Now that the walk is finished …. I hope I’ve been able to crack open a door, to shed a sliver of light on a different kind of story about the Middle East. I wanted to provide narratives to reflect on and pass along to friends and interest groups that challenge fixed and monolithic stereotypes about people trapped in political struggle. For me, my “knowing” has changed for good, or perhaps not so much changed as morphed. I began this journey with the suspicion that the world is mostly populated with people simply trying to get on with their lives, not with people eager to embrace violent deaths. The encounters I had on this trip have provided a sense of authenticity and transformed my suspicions into unshakeable convictions. Today I carry with me the names, photos and addresses of all those who took a bit of time out of their daily lives to meet and visit and tour with us. Their images remain – stirring my heart and unclouding my vision. People across every conceivable divide are hungry for voices of hope to supplant voices of hatred; they welcome messages of reconciliation although perhaps remain doubtful on “achievability.” However, most reasonable human beings realize that if no one tries, then hope is surely unattainable. I’ve shared stories of people who spend their lives trying! Still, the most common question asked by people endorsing one narrative or another is, “BUT how widespread are ideas and projects like these? Afterall this is just a small minority, right?” Today, I’m wondering why people believe this is so… What makes us so willing to accept that terrorist ideologies and tactics are the norm? In fact, my experience suggests the exact opposite. 100% of people I encountered were simply going about the business of making a differences. Extremists who advocate life threatening philosophies are the spoilers, who sadly hijack our attention and distract us from the real work of making the places we live into peaceable and sustainable communities.
Updates on Eliyahu Mclean, Jerusalem Peacemakers, and Bustan, Sustainable Community Action for Land and People
If you would indulge me for a few more posts, I want to share a couple of significant visits that I had after the walk was completed. When Esther and I got back to her apartment, in the midst of laundry and packing to depart, we arranged for two more visits in the Holy Land. First, we set up a meeting with my old friend Eliyahu Mclean, one of the founders and tireless activists involved in Jerusalem Peacemakers. Turns out his apartment is literally down the street from where Esther was staying. So on my last evening in Jerusalem we sat in his apartment for an “update.” Our conversation included another of Eliyahu’s guests, Bette Hoover, who just returned from assisting Bustan, a Bedouin advocacy organization, founded by our old friend and Perspective on Peacemaking Speaker, Devorah Brous. How’s that for serendipity? Eliyahu took a break from his computer, where he and an assistant were quite busy arranging permits for Palestinians to participate the upcoming “Big Hug” in Jerusalem on June 21, 2009. The Big Hug and the Sulha, two of the “action” centerpieces of Jerusalem peacemakers is actually taking place this coming weekend. And I for one will be following along on their website. Take a peek at http://www.loversofjerusalem.org/activities.html.
The goal of the Big Hug and indeed of all Eliyahu’s work is to “Shift Human Consciousness from Separation to Unity. We can only do it together…” Although struggling to make ends meet by marketing “green” products, Eliyahu (and friends) continue to build a reputation (sometimes simply by word of mouth) for being at the center of true spiritual enlightenment in Jerusalem, as he welcomes people of EVERY persuasion (from non-believers to ultra orthodox in every faith) into his home for chanting, prayer, dance and conversation. And it seems to be working because as yet those who refuse to sit together in any other circle make their way to his home and to these events on a regular basis. One especially delightful development is that he told us about a couple places (one on some privately owned land near the Dead Sea) where walls and barriers are non-existent. This spot has become a frequent peaceful gathering place for Palestinians and Israelis, often attracting large numbers of young people. Well would you expect anything else for a young orthodox Jewish man originally raised in the meditation practices of his parents home in Hawaii, and combining these traditions with a fresh embrace of his Jewish roots. It’s just impossible not to love this guy, but beyond that, I have deep admiration for his hard work which manifests as regular, all-inclusive, carefully planned and beautifully orchestrated celebrations!
Although Eliyahu had to leave for another meeting, Esther, Bette and I continued our conversations over a bottle of wine at a corner bistro. This gave us a wonderful chance to listen to Bette’s stories of the Bedouin communities where she lived and worked. Bustan is currently reorganizing under new leadership, as an NGO that continues to work in the Bedouin and Jewish communities of the Negev with the goal of “Sustainable Community Action for Land and People through analysis, education, and action, we work for fair resource allocation and environmental and social justice for all peoples in the region.” Devorah has returned to the US (…I’m hoping to find her e-mail…) and will be getting married this summer in California. Mazel Tov Devorah! One bit of sad news for those of us who know Devorah, apparently the straw bale clinic she helped to build for Bedouin communities has burned down due to a freak accident. I was heartsick about this. But, Bette reassured us that Bustan is re-organizing and charting this new more expansive course (which I certainly hope includes rebuilding the clinic…. I encourage you to learn more on their website www.bustan.org) In addition to getting caught up on Bustan, another especially lovely of this conversation, was the opportunity to talk about feminist perspectives, which can be precious difficult to come by in the Holy Land. Although I wouldn’t have traded even one experience that we had during our Walk the Green Line, one bit of feedback I offered Gershon for next year is that I would love to meet and hear more from the women of the regions, on both sides!
