Rebuilding Trust in the Village
Keep Talking:
Dialogue is an ongoing process, a way to talk about the issues arising from war and conflict and to bring us back together in the midst of a raging conflict that separates and unites us in new ways.
The village held a series of six dialogue sessions, led by facilitators from the School for Peace, Moran and Ibrahim. Some village members attended most of the sessions, others showed up in the middle. Each was encouraged to contribute.
Village members spoke in turn, expressing their personal pain over the death and destruction they see in Gaza, and the continuing deep sympathy for families of hostages and victims of the Oct. 7 massacre. But they also looked inward, to the village, and spoke about ways of strengthening unity and resolve within the community.
Smaller groups – binational ones – gave everyone a chance to engage, to air painful issues, including the relationships between groups in the village, and to begin thinking about how to continue.
Afterward, when each group reported to the larger group, the village members began to discuss possible combined actions within the village and outside of it.
Keep Recording
Adam Ben Shabbat created a weekly podcast for village members in which people are given a stage to speak their minds in depth, in a one-on-one situation, and to let others hear what they think. In his first podcast, he interviewed Haled, a man his age who left Wahat al-Salam – Neve Shalom to live in Haifa. In it, Haled talks about his decision to leave, about his relations with Jews, including Jews who are serving in Gaza right now, about being a Palestinian citizen of the state who understands the fear many feel to speak up for their people.
Keep meeting
Samah Salaime met with the European Foreign Minister Josep Borrell. Salaime gave him a run down of the activities of peace organizations during the war, told him about the harassment of Palestinian citizens of Israel within the country and discussed with him the importance of pushing for an immediate cease fire.
Keep with Wahat al-Salam – Neve Shalom
Ido Even Paz designed and had printed decals for cars. These are meant for cars of members and residents, as well as friends, staff and parents who drive in and out every day. These decals will not only make the guards’ job easier, it will be a symbol to those outside the village: We stand with Wahat al-Salam – Neve Shalom, and continue to work for peace.
Keep calm
Another way for village members to deal with the flood of emotions is through yoga and meditation. Dorit Shippin invited members to join her free weekly meditation sessions, as well offering free biweekly yoga lessons until the end of the month. About 10 extras showed up in addition to the regulars. In both kinds of sessions, the group has been working on relaxation, calming and releasing negative emotions. In the yoga classes, this is done through movement, while those in the meditation sessions focus on mindfulness and sharing.
Keep explaining
The foreign press continues to take an interest in Wahat al-Salam – Neve Shalom and its unwavering ideology of peace and shared society.
Laurence Bass, President of Oasis of Peace UK, in the Scotsman