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by Ann Jordan
Attending the Hague Appeal for Peace international conference in May 1999 helped
to clarify my thinking on my current research project and enable me to draw my
ideas into a coherent whole. Two main influences were, the need to promote a
‘culture of peace’ in our societies, and, increased awareness of the scale and
diversity of effective, sustainable, grassroots peace and human rights efforts
world-wide. I decided to explore initiatives of this kind and focus my research
on a range of ordinary people working ‘behind the scenes’ in conflict zones, and
their experiences of working towards a culture of peace. .
In the autumn, I was offered the opportunity to visit Israel via Servas, the
hospitality world-wide peace organisation whose ethos of ‘open doors, open
minds’ aims to promote intercultural understanding through personal contacts and
exchange of ideas. As a member I received an email via ServasNet from an Israeli
member whose email address name is ‘musicpeace’. I was captured and inspired by
this message, which was a warm welcoming call to visit Israel to experience its
beauty, warmth and harmony, and not be deterred by its political strife.
Following an exchange of personal emails I readily accepted the offer to stay
with her as the starting point of my research exploration in Israel. My
understanding of this country was one in the centre of long-term strife in the
Middle East, with irreconcilable grievances between Jews and Palestinians,
despite numerous state peace initiatives. I knew from my involvement in peace
campaigns that this would not be the total picture. My initial contact claimed
that there were many examples of living peace in Israel but that we rarely, if
ever, hear about them in the international media. .
I set off from the UK with an open mind for a two-week trip in late November to
find out more. .
My journey took me through the Sharon Plain, Northern and Western Galilee, and
Judaea, staying in Mishmeret, Zichron Yaakov, Nahariya, Ben Ami, Tiberius,
Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv. I travelled through a fascinating range of landscapes,
including fertile agricultural plains encompassing numerous farming villages,
picturesque Mediterranean beaches, verdant forests, various hill and mountain
ranges dotted with olive, cedar and cypress trees, and a long stretch of desert.
Date palms, citrus fruit trees, and multi-coloured bourganvillea were in great
profusion.
.
The following are living peace initiatives of which I had experience or
awareness. .
Firstly, Servas Israel is a joint Israeli Palestinian organisation with mainly
Jewish but increasingly Arab hosts. I stayed with six different sets of Servas
hosts, all of whom are actively involved in or supportive to various peace
efforts. Like so many people in general in Israel they were hospitable, friendly
and helpful. I very much enjoyed their companionship and support.
‘Musicpeace’ herself epitomises living peace. She has an aura of calmness, inner
peace and goodwill. From the outset she bestowed a calming influence on me,
which was sustained throughout my stay. I learned about her life as a musician -
vocalist, percussionist, writer - and the importance of music to her own sense
of well being, and as a universal language and cultural bridge builder. As well
as studying eastern classical music she performs, with a collaborative group of
Jews, Moslems and Christians, a healing form of eastern rhythm and western
melody. .
For further information about her work,
The day after my departure from my first host was spent in the historic bustling
port and multi-cultural city of Haifa on the Northwest coast. Firstly I visited
the World Centre of the independent world-wide religion Baha’i faith. The Shrine
of the Bab is the golden-domed edifice that dominates the city of Haifa. I was
too late to gain admission here but I was able to experience the beauty and
tranquillity of the uniquely designed gardens. In their leaflet I noted the
following research –pertinent quote, “The earth is but one country and mankind
its citizens. Let not a man glory in this that he loves his country, let him
rather glory in this that he loves his kind.” .
My new hosts recommended that I visit Beit Hagefen, an Arab Jewish cultural
centre. This municipal and national centre was founded in 1963 to create a
meeting place for social and cultural encounters between Jews and Arabs and to
encourage and promote understanding and coexistence. It serves as a symbol of
cooperation and coexistence, has a visible impact on daily life in the area and
attracts visitors from all over the world. After speaking with an actor in the
theatre and learning about his international work I was introduced to the
director. During this impromptu interview he talked at length about the centre.
At that time in late November they were preparing for the joint Hanukah,
Christmas and Ramadan annual festival, a social, cultural and artistic
expression of good relations between Jews and Arabs living in peace. This year
the activities included a coexistence walk, a route of displayed works of art
entitled, “Top 2000”, and which puts special emphasis on innocence, love,
beauty, optimism and peace. .
I was informed also about the Sculpture Garden for peace and coexistence in
Kawkab village, Galilee. Both Israeli (Arab and Jewish) and Palestinian artists
take part in this project, providing another example of cultural and human
collaboration between two peoples. .
The director of Beit Hagefen would welcome opportunities to speak about
collaborative activities between them and multicultural organisations in other
countries.
On the outskirts of Nahariya further north from Haifa is Ben Ami, a co-operative
farming settlement (moshav) where I stayed with a host in the grounds of his
avocado/pecan nuts/citrus fruits orchard. This man is an active member of a
number of peace groups including ‘Peace Now’. He participates in public
awareness raising of the need for resolving the ‘settlements’ dispute. He is
especially active in an association of both Jewish and Arab family members who
have lost relatives through the army or terrorism. They come together for
raising awareness and promoting peace, understanding and tolerance. One of his
sons was killed in the Yom Kippur war in 1976. Giving his compensation money
from this death to peace groups has been a transformative experience for him.
.
Following a delightful 24 hours in Tiberius on the shores of the beautiful Sea
of Galilee I took a bus journey through lush green valleys followed by the stark
yet special beauty of the desert to the magnificent capital, Jerusalem, and from
there on to the Shoresh Hotel high in the Judaean Hills. Invited by my first
host, I was here to attend the Mediterranean Musical Dialogue, an open encounter
between Israeli musicians and their colleagues from other Mediterranean
countries. This unique musical workshop, now in its fourth year is organised by
Mishkenot Sha’ananim, an international cultural centre producing events that
allow artists and scholars to interact through the arts, encouraging
intercultural recognition and understanding.
During three whole days through a series of interrelated
workshops musicians work together combining elements from their different
musical cultures whilst at the same time learning the principles of their
venerable traditions. Master classes focus on specific topics, e.g. rhythm,
form, harmony, others are on specific repertoires such as Andalusian, Yemeni,
Greek, Arabic Turkish. I was able to stay for only 24 hours but it was a most
exhilarating experience. I felt so privileged to take part in such a gathering
that is devoted to increasing understanding, appreciation and enjoyment. The
place was filled with all pervading joyful, vibrant, uplifting vocal and
instrumental sounds. Aside from the workshops musicians irrespective of culture,
gender, age, used every opportunity to communicate through their love of music.
It was such a pleasure to hear and see string, percussion and wind instruments
including oud, lyra, basuki, violin, flute, nai, darbuka, as well as a richness
of vocal sounds. A musician from Jerba in Tunisia, who plays nei, violin and
oud, told me that he was here, “to improve playing sounds that make you weep”.
His passion could be seen clearly in his smiling shining eyes. .
A central issue in the workshops is improvisation in all its manifestations. I
feel that improvisation could be seen in wider terms regarding peace building in
general, in that it suggests acceptance of diversity and of trying ways to
explore the diversity to achieve greater understanding and harmony.
This workshop, not a peace initiative in the official sense, but yet another
lovely example of living/working peace. .
Bat Shalom is Israel’s foremost women’s peace movement. It provides a focal
point for Israeli women to advocate peace and human rights based on a feminist
model. It is in partnership with The Jerusalem Centre for Women, a Palestinian
women’s peace organisation. Working towards a just and equitable peace between
the two peoples, they are known together as The Jerusalem Link: A women’s Joint
Venture for Peace.
Having prior knowledge of this organisation, I was pleased to have the
opportunity to be taken by my fourth host into their office in Jerusalem to meet
the current director personally. I learnt that, notwithstanding opposing forces
particularly in the holy capital, this peace initiative remains determined to
carry through its action programme; galvanising women to action, mobilising the
international community, and promoting a culture of peace by seeking to bridge
the political conflict through personal alliances and humanitarian intervention.
In addition to these specific initiatives I came across a number of incidental
examples of living peace. These include experiencing the beauty and peace of
philanthropist Baron Rothchild’s gardens; hearing about a couple’s past
experience of Kibbutz life that included voluntary outreach work with refugees
from bordering countries; being given the names of a rabbi working for human
rights, mainly supporting Bedouins, and of a Jewish male who, as a member of an
Israeli committee against house demolition, is helping to rebuild Palestinian
homes; hearing from a psychologist Servas member about her time in a kibbutz,
and her professional life, where she worked extensively in conflict resolution
and mediation, particularly with young people. .
I returned home from my brief visit feeling a greater sense of inner peace,
optimism and with an infusion of positive energy gained from spending time with
so many people committed to justice and lasting peace. The concept of peace and
coexistence in the wider sense is seemingly so hard to achieve yet so many
people in their small but collectively significant ways are making a valuable
contribution towards this end. These described here are but a few of the many
more people who believe that peace is worth working for. I hope that my report
of these peace stories will touch, influence and inspire others to play their
part towards a culture of peace. The stories have certainly inspired me.
.
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