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The peace prayer gathering at Tantur, overlooking Jerusalem and Bethlehem, was a huge success. Reverend Terasawa, a Buddhist monk from Japan who I met several years ago at an interfaith conference in Uzbekistan approached us to help organize an event in response to conflict in Bethlehem and the Holy Land. A coalition of interfaith and peace organizations joined efforts, bringing together a most amazing, diverse group of people to pray for peace and unity.
We started in the chapel with a blessing and welcome by father Michael McGary, rector of Tantur, chanting by the Buddhist monks and chanting from the Quran with Sheikh Khalil Elbaz from Tel Sheva. The gathering is covered well by the write up in the Jerusalem Post below. We closed by going up to the roof and forming a large circle with Bethlehem as the backdrop. We sang, danced and prayed spontaneously, coming together in a beautiful and inspiring way that opened up everyone's hearts – Israelis, Palestinians, a Jordanian, Christians from the U.S. and Europe, Buddhists and guests from South Africa and South America.
May 14, 2002
By LAUREN GELFOND
 Photo: Christian Ditsch www.version-foto.de |
Seeking an alternative to political peace rallies, some 80 Muslims, Jews, and Christians joined visiting Buddhist monks yesterday in a call for nonviolence and unity.
Among those gathered at the Tantur Ecumenical Institute halfway between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, near Gilo and Beit Jala, were a number of Israeli religious leaders, including rabbis, nuns, and Druze, Beduin and Sufi sheikhs.
Three Buddhist Monks from Japan initiated the peace vigil, with the endorsement of the Vatican, the chief mufti of Bangladesh Sayid Muhammad Hasani, and Prince Hassan bin Talal of Jordan.
"Religion has become the hostage of violence and conflict. We must help it regain its original purpose to unite people in one spirit," said Rev. Terasawa Junsei, leader of the Buddhist delegation.
Dressed in a traditional white Buddhist robe with an orange sash, Junsei led the monks in chants while playing a paddle-shaped drum, using the same melodies and instrument used by Gandhi when he prayed for nonviolence 70 years ago.
Prince Hassan of Jordan, an observant Muslim active in interfaith peace activities, originally planned to join the mission, said Junsei, but Israeli officials concerned for his safety vetoed the idea.
Clerics took turns reading from traditional texts and leading prayers, and members of interfaith associations sang songs and read poetry and parables.
Ibtisam Muhammad, from Fureidis near Zichron Ya'acov, one of ten Muslim women participating in the Women's Interfaith Encounter, told a story of a bird who laid down on the ground with its feet in the air, to prevent humanity and the sky from crashing. "We are brothers, and in the end there is one land. The land will live on but we will go," she said. "The earth is round and a mother's womb is round. We have a lot of work to do, to be like mothers and bring love and tolerance to the world. I pray we will wake up and hug each other." Moved by her address, Jews and Muslims around the room put their arms around one another.
Emunah Witt, a self-described Hasid, pulled five of her children, ages 6-17, out of school to participate in the rally. "I want them to know that human beings can get together, and I want Muslims, too, to teach their children that we can live together," she said. "I will do anything to make it safer for my children." Her elder son, Sha'arya, his side curls and tzitzit swaying as he sang, played a Shlomo Carlebach tune on the guitar as the crowd linked arms.
Emanuelle Yardei, an Ethiopian immigrant, played the drums and sang, but not about peace. "I don't want there just to be peace, I want there to be equal rights," he said.
Naim Halil, 38, of eastern Jerusalem, said he has been dreaming of a meeting like this. "When we come together and speak of peace and godly things, we are giving something to each other, and as people tell other people, this movement will grow."
Junsei, representing an order of 250 Buddhists who travel the world, walking in conflict zones, got the idea for this visit while in Chechenya. After getting international support, he turned to Israeli interfaith organizations the Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel, Israel Interfaith Association, Peacemaker Community, Circle for Sanity, Bustan L'Shalom, and the Women's Interfaith Encounter who helped organize the event.
The monks are off to Istanbul later this week, to continue urging nonviolence solutions to the Chechnya conflict. They intend to return to Israel and Palestinian areas this summer. "Learning about nonviolence can help both sides," he said.
Eliyahu McLean |
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