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<H1><A HREF="eli-sulha2005.html">The Sulha Way 2005</A></H1>
<P>We recently held the 5th annual On the Way to Sulha gathering, July 19-21,
at Park Hayarkon in Israel. In the days leading up to the disengagement from
Gaza, the Sulha gathering provided a haven of dialogue, prayer, music and
encounter.
Some aspects that were very strong this year were the women's dialogue
tent- the tent of Sarah and Hagar, the children's village, the full
participation and leadership of the of the Israeli and Palestinian teenagers
who were part of the youth 'Sulhita' gathering in March, live Arab and
Jewish music and the Bereaved Parent's Circle tent.
This year was the first time we had a 'Beit Tefillah', House of Prayer for
all the religions to study texts and pray together. Ihab Balha, the Muslim
co-director of the Sulha Peace Project and I held the space, with the help
of Michael Kagan and Michael Golomb. Next to our space was the Silent
Meditation Dome, helping to hold the balance of masculine and feminine forms
of prayer.
The first day we studied the opening pages of the Holy Books: Quran, Torah
and New Testament. Our circle expanded to many people when Sheikh Abdul Aziz
Bukhari came and led a closing Muslim prayer, Rabbi David Rosen the Jewish
prayer and Deacon Jiries Mansour, a Christian prayer. Geshe Thebten Phelgye
arrived straight from Dharamsala, India and joined offering a Tibetan
prayer.
On the second day the theme of study was prayer in the 3 religions. We were
honored to have Rav Yosef Hadani, chief rabbi of the Ethiopian Jews give a
teaching along with Father Franz from the Beatitudes community on Catholic
prayer and Ibtisam Mahamid on Islamic prayer. Sufi sheikh Hilmi from
Nazareth offered at the closing circle song and movement.
Each day the crowds got larger with a wide diversity of participants coming
together. On the third day, the theme of the study was forgiveness
(sulha/slicha). Rabbis Shaul Yutkavitch and Micha Odenheimer gave powerful
teachings from the Jewish tradition. Then an Israeli and Palestinian from a
new project "Fighters meet Fighters", bringing together former Israeli
combat fighters and Palestinian militants came and shared stories of their
transformation from military combatants to peacemakers. At that moment
crowds of Palestinians from Ramallah, Jenin and Bethlehem joined the circle,
as well as settlers arriving from the anti-disengagement rally at Kfar
Maimon, and representatives from the Bereaved Parents Circle. A Nigerian
priest came and offered a prayer for healing of the Children of Abraham,
elevating the intentions and hopes of all there.
For some great pictures of this event visit the website, www.sulha.com and
click On the Way to Sulha 2005.
Please also join the Sulha community online, click 'Join Our Community' to
support the project.
Here is an article from the Jerusalem Post about this year's event.
'A safe place to appreciate each other's stories'
By ELISHEVA WYLEN -Jerusalem Post, Jul. 25, 2005
"Four thousand people gathered together at Park Mekorot Hayarkon in Petah
Tikva last week to dance together, eat together, and learn from one another.
More than 300 participants in the three-day festival, called "On the Way to
Sulha," were Arabs from the West Bank, Jordan and Israel.
The Arabic word sulha means forgiveness. The festival, organized by the
Sulha Peace Project, began in 2001 with 150 Israelis and no Palestinians;
and now in its fifth year it is thriving.
The festival was also attended by participants from around the world, like
Geshe Thubten Phelgye, sent by the Dalai Lama with a blessing of peace, and
Sheikh Fara Gaye, a Senegalese Sufi sheikh who feels that peace in Israel is
a necessary step to world peace. "What happens to my brother here, if I
don't do anything, will happen to me," Gaye said.
Many participated in listening circles, each with its own tone, but all were
very personal and focused on making an individual connection with strangers.
In one circle an Arab in his 50s emotionally said that he had never before
sat down and spoken openly with an Israeli, and now he could honestly say
that he had Israeli friends. Statements like this were common occurrences at
the gathering.
Meals provided a chance for people to sit down together and feel the
connection with each other on a very basic human level.
A variety of workshops focused on conflicts taking place outside of Israel
to gain a new perspective.
One tent, specified as a place of prayer for all religions, held workshops
on how religion unifies people. In one such workshop Ethiopian Chief Rabbi
Yosef Hadane spoke to an audience of Jews, Muslims and Christians.
"You must clean the heart of all hate and anger before you can pray," the
rabbi told the attentive crowd, "As the Torah says, 'It is forbidden to hate
your brother in your heart.'"
In a passionate response, one Muslim woman quoted the Koran, "When the heart
is before God, then the heart is at peace."
The most powerful workshops took place in the Tent for Bereaved Parents.
There both Israeli and Palestinian parents spoke about the pain of losing
their children through war. In this tent the true spirit of sulha was
captured as parents on both sides of the conflict consoled each other and
shared each other's pain.
"In these critical times, we decided there is a need for a safe place to
hear and appreciate each other's stories, hopes, fears, traditions and
cultures beyond a specific agenda," said a flyer from the Sulha Peace
Project.
In the evenings, musicians and entertainers came together to help people
release the tensions of the day and celebrate.
Bands Sheva and Shotei Hanevua performed, along with many other Israeli
musicians. Although Gaza residents were unable to obtain permits for the
festival, many other Arab musicians were able to come.
The Sulha Peace Project also holds several smaller events throughout the
year. The Sulhita takes place four times a year and is specifically for
children. The project also holds workshops for universities and groups upon
request.
Eliyahu McLean,
Rodef Shalom,
Inter-religious advisor to the Sulha Peace Project</P>
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