On Tuesday, May 2nd, the Reichman University (IDC Herzliya) IEA group met to discuss the divide between secular and religious communities.
We began with a simple activity asking our participants to define for themselves the terms secular and religious. Compiling our definitions together we group which terms felt most applicable to each community (secular or religious). The dialogue touched based on ideas of tolerance, freedom, observance, and stability.
We also enjoyed Golda ice cream thanks to IEA!
The group in Haifa University also met on May 17, 2023
Today we talked about the miracles of the prophets. For example, the miracles of the prophet Moses when he cut the Red Sea into two parts when the Israelites fled from Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and when his staff turned into a snake, and when he put his hand in his pocket it turned white.
We talked about the miracles of Jesus when he walked across the waters of the Sea of Galilee, and raised the dead, and healed the blind and when he asked God that the table be filled with food according to the request of his close people so that they would have something to celebrate the holiday with.
We also talked about the miracles of the Prophet Muhammad and they are the Koran, the holy book of Islam, and Israa and the Miraj, when he left his home and came to Jerusalem and ascended to heaven and what happened to him and who he met, and what he saw there.
We also talked about the prophet Abraham when he was thrown into the fire and he was naked and the fire did not burn him and he came out of it safely, also when he came to slaughter his son Ishmael and God sent him a lamb to slaughter instead of his son, and how his wife Sarah conceived the prophet Isaac at an advanced age.
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Fananin is a community of Arabs and Jews in the Holy Land. Our goal is to create a space for art in all its forms and meanings to heal ourselves, through singing circles, spiritual lessons, art expression, parties, nature trips.
In the past months, we met for different activities in the desert, next to the water and in the city.
“There is a story that lives within us about the love among all the creatures of the earth. Our hearts unite us and bring us all together.” This is what the participants expressed and how they felt when we sang, danced, and talked together with love and brotherhood. Despite all the conflicts that are happening around us, we gathered and made peace within us and spread it everywhere. Thanks and praise be to God for this blessing (happiness).
Links:
Fananin is a community of Arabs and Jews in the Holy Land. Our goal is to create a space for art in all its forms and meanings to heal ourselves, through singing circles, spiritual lessons, art expression, parties, nature trips.
In the past months, we met for different activities in the desert, next to the water and in the city.
“There is a story that lives within us about the love among all the creatures of the earth. Our hearts unite us and bring us all together.” This is what the participants expressed and how they felt when we sang, danced, and talked together with love and brotherhood. Despite all the conflicts that are happening around us, we gathered and made peace within us and spread it everywhere. Thanks and praise be to God for this blessing (happiness).
August 25
We had a sound healing workshop at Fe el-Beit. The power of the voice of creation within us is the greatest evidence of the greatness and importance of every human being. We are greater than we think. You are the force of creation. From our Palestinian members Nael and Mohammed only attended while the rest could not attend due to difficulties in crossing the checkpoint.
September 29
We had an art painting event in Jerusalem. The way of art is not devoid of its concepts of renewed life flowing in every moment through us.
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May 1
Our group was 13 people at the end of Ramadan Iftar in the garden. Despite the wind, we had great food and a great discussion. We also got to see the fireworks and celebrations at Damascus Gate. Thank you and see you all next time. Eid Mubarak!
June 9
We met at the Felm Center for pizza and conversation. We discussed Shavuot, Pentecoste and Eid Al Adha, the holidays that were close to the date of our encounter. Our conversation led to many interesting realizations of differences and similarities between our practices.
August 28
We had a great encounter with a few new faces!
Malkon lead an icebreaker for us to get to know each other better, and Doron prepared us some sources to inspire our discussion on love in our traditions.
We discussed what it means to love those close to us, those who are strangers, loving God, unconditional love, and limitations imposed on love by our realities.
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After more than two years of the group not meeting, and after repeated postponements for various reasons, we finally gathered thirteen men and women at the Palm Center in Jerusalem. Since many of the participants were new, we conducted a detailed introductory round and afterward, we introduced the topic chosen for the encounter: Trees (inspired by Tu Bishvat, when the encounter was originally planned to take place ...)
The Torah describes the Land of Israel as blessed with seven species - grains and fruits that are important and fundamental to a healthy life and can satisfy human needs: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates.
The Qur'an also has a special status for some of these trees: Allah said that the olive tree is a sacred tree because the olive tree prays, it is important for eating and it also symbolizes peace. Figs are also mentioned in the Koran, though not as much as olives. The date palm is used to break the Ramadan fast every evening, as taught by the Prophet Muhammad in the Sunnah. There is also a limit that you should not eat even numbers from the date tree. As for grapes, if it is alcohol-free it is permitted, but if the grapes are made into wine, they should not be drunk, moved, or touched.
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