Training 80 Youth Encounter Leaders

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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23.11

We discussed a text on the different views of Muslim intellectuals on tanakhic figures such as Ezra, and the mutual influences of Islam, Judaism and Chirstianity.

10.12

Hussam gave us an amazing Graffiti tour of the Silwan neighborhood in Jerusalem.

28.12

We met at the Community Garden of the Natural History Museum. Hussam explained that the building was in the past an Armenian Villa that still called "Dacian”. Our special guest, Malkon, spoke about his Armenian heritage, his plural identity as Armenian, Palestinian, Christian, and about Armenians in Jerusalem. We had a very meaningful conversation with Armenian Sfiha to go with it.

31.1

Continuing the topic of our last encounter about Armenians in Jerusalem, the group met for a special workshop at the Armenian Ceramics workshop in Jerusalem’s Old City. We painted our own ceramics and received explanations about different aspects of its culture.

Links:

• IEA website
• Activity & annual reports
• Get invovled