May 22nd, back in  Jerusalem - Al Kuds

 

The holy city of the Jews, Christians and Moslems and capital of Israelis and Palestinians. A loaded place. Israel is a tiny country where Jews were fighting to have a non-visa restricted home land for Jews with the experience of persecution, desperate attempts to get into safe countries that restricted the access with quotas and inaccessible visa restrictions and then the Holocaust. It sits every Israeli in the neck. Alone the thought Israel could be in danger provides nightmares and acts in the day time that are not always rational. It is painful to watch the current political developments, but isn’t it painful to watch what is going on in many other countries as well? Growing up as a gentile German in postwar Germany, I am especially sensitive to Anti-Semitism and easy one way solutions. Life is usually more complicated.  

This does not justify injustice. In Israel are a wide variety of social justice, civil and human rights and peace organizations. On my way to Bethlehem I meet the women of Machsom Watch (see below), an organization that would be interesting to learn from when we talk about the selective checks and violence against black US citizens.

Apropos Racism: this topic is on the surface also in Israel. While Baltimore rioted, the Ethiopians in Israel stood up for a big demonstration. It was not the first time to voice the racism this group of Israelis are facing with force to change names, inequality for jobs and education and daily discrimination, but this time is was big.


I came back for the Shavuot weekend. First I went for a dip in the Dead Sea, a meditation in the desert, a breakfast in the old city and a visit with some former neighbors. On Saturday, Kol Haneshama had prepared a night of study and action on racism. It included a lecture on identity, followed by an excellent playback theatre: Brave participants of the study night told events of their lives, where they either were acting racist/being bystanders or also being attacked. The group played the situation and offered a variety of solutions. It was very powerful. Then a question and answer section where Shlomit, an activist in the Ethiopian community reminded us all that it was the Israeli forces that brought the Ethiopian community into the country. You can find the reports on you tube if you are interested (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdf7OI7ywEY)

I have great respect for people who speak up in a way that fosters justice and life together in a society and the leil tikkun in Jerusalem did nourish my thirst.

The night and my Jerusalem visit ended for me listening to a beautiful chant of the Megilat Ruth and the sunrise over the promenade and after all these words I treat you to some pictures …

 

 

MachsomWatch is a volunteer organization of Israeli women who are peace activists from all sectors of society. We oppose the Israeli occupation in the area known as the West Bank, we oppose the appropriation of Palestinian land and the denial of Palestinian human rights.  We support the right of Palestinians to move freely in their land and oppose the checkpoints which severely restrict Palestinian daily life.

Since 2001 we have been observing and reporting on the Occupation.  On a daily basis we monitor the West Bank checkpoints, the separation fences, the agricultural gates, the military courts and Palestinian villages.  We document what we see and what is reported to us by local Palestinians.

Through our observations, reports, films, photographs and tours we aim to influence public opinion in Israel and throughout the world by recording and authenticating the impossible conditions faced by the Palestinians under Israeli occupation; conditions which also corrode the fabric of Israeli society and the values of democracy. We attempt to ease the frustrations and hardships of Palestinians by offering assistance wherever we can.

- See more at: http://www.machsomwatch.org/en/about-us

 

Another interesting link:

http://www.nif.org/our-issues/civil-and-human-rights