Education Israel Project #1520

Training 80 Youth Encounter Leaders

by Interfaith Encounter Association (IEA)

Project Report | May 10, 2019
Gilboa-Nablus Youth group - two encounters

By Dr. Yehuda Stolov | Executive Director

15.1.19 Encounter 2 -Yeshivat Ma'ale Galba’s students- Nablus:

The encounter didn’t start as expected because the taxi that was supposed to pick up the Palestinians was late. At the beginning we went through the names (some names have changed from the Israeli group) then we decided that there isn’t much time to do the discussion as planned regarding the subject of The Oral law and Traditions, so we decided to do a brief introduction of the subject from a Jewish perspective and shed some light on the complexities within this topic, and to ask the Palestinians if they have similar teachings. The Palestinians talked about the subject and most of the time we asked them questions about Islam in general, and about their social circle in particular. We received some interesting answers (most of the conversations were in English, parts of them were translated by Oday from Hebrew to Arabic and vice versa).

They also asked us questions about our basic religious duties at the end of the discussions. Someone answered that there are big arguments among the Jewish people revolving around the question: What are the most important religious duties. However, we explained to them the idea of the Ten Commandments and we found out that there are big similarities between the two religions when it comes to prohibitions and permissible in the Ten Commandments.

We finished the day with a lot to reflect on for next encounters where we will discuss the subject of the “design” of the Torah\ Islam, as we planned.

Gilboa- 29.3.19

We had the encounter in Gilboa, it was a very intense encounter and the guys were very active.

We were 15 Palestinians and 6 Israelis.

I translated for both of them. We discussed many issues about religions and cultures, humanity and peace coexistence.

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Feb 14, 2019
Awareness Day- Bearing witness day

By Dr. Yehuda Stolov | Executive Director

About 15 Israelis from all over Israel and one Vietnamese Zen teacher gathered to come and hear from the people living on the other side of the fence, in the occupied territories.

We met two young men who lived in a small, quiet village in the heart of the mountains and heard about their lives, how much they loved life, cared about the earth and about humanity. Despite difficulties in their lives, their hearts are not bitter and full of hatred. They just want to continue living well. In another village, we had lunch and heard the life story of an older man. He experienced in his life few demolitions. As a child he suffered greatly from repeated uprooting and episodes of violence in all its forms. The hardships he described led many of us to tears and feelings of suffocation.

We then went to another village in the heart of the mountains and sat in a welcoming home. Two young family members opened their hearts to us and to life. They spoke of their desire to live in peace with their neighbors and to get know them.

These experiences shook up some of our group, but there was also something balanced about the possibility of containing both sides of the equation without deciding which side was right.

In the evening, one of the young men called me and told me how excited he was that members of our group listened to him. That was very meaningful to him.

They all received flower plants gift, and after a week, I visited the flower and the people who blossomed in their hearts.

A few days later, a friend who joined me, summed up his experience with these words:

"Yesterday I submitted myself to the kind leadership and hosting of a friend, and had a wonderful day in many ways. Two moments out of thousands: 1:30pm - making funny faces with 3 children in a tiny village and then discussing comic books with their older brother.1pm - playing domino with 5 children in a tiny village and then playing hand games with their little sister. All children were huge and gorgeous souls with beautiful windows of eyes. Some are defined by some adults as Palestinians, some as Jews, some as settlers, some as Muslims, some as Israelis, some as illegal, some as traitors...But I saw neighbors, huge and gorgeous souls with beautiful windows of eyes, souls and eyes so powerful I had to look away after a few seconds. Thank you my friend, thank you kids."

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Nov 21, 2018
Two encounters of LIFE group

By Dr. Yehuda Stolov | Executive Director

12.7.2018

In our July encounter we spoke about the 9^th of Av (according to the Hebrew calendar), the saddest day of the year for Jews. According to the tradition, both the first and second Temples were destroyed on this day. In addition, many other tragedies happened to the Jewish nation around this day.

The 9^th of Av is a fasting day and there are rules that help us feel in mourning. It is not allowed to sit on a chair (people sit on the floor), to greet each other, to wear leather shoes, and even to study Torah because it makes one happy. There is a custom to read "Kinot" (sad poems, describing difficult times in Jewish history) in the morning of the 9^th of Av. Some people read sad books or watch sad films, like films about the Shoa.

It is very important to do things that make us feel that we lack something – as individuals and as a society. Our goal is to feel the absence so that we wish to build a better society during the rest of the year. Therefore it is very important to imagine a better future and hope and expect that it is possible to repair. If we pass the fast without hope, we didn't do what is required from us.

It is said that the Messiah will be born on the 9^th of Av, so within the sorrow there are seeds of hope.

After the explanation on the 9^th of Av, rose the question of the Temple's location. This led to an interesting conversation about the future and how can we live together in peace if we quarrel over the same place. We also spoke about a wider question – should we discuss political issues in our encounters. People had different views.

We also spoke about those who are "observant" in our communities and what does that entail regarding going up to the Temple Mount and fasting.

In our group we have people who observe the rules of religion and people who don't.

The group continues to grow and we had 20 people. We had new members, including an 8-year old boy from Male Adumim who connected with a 22-year old guy from Azariya.

30.8.18

We had a very interesting encounter - each person spoke for about 5 minutes on the meaning of their name. We took name tags and wrote our names in Hebrew and Arabic. We also welcomed a new Jewish member, Arlene.

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