Training 80 Youth Encounter Leaders

On June 28th, the Reut-Sadaqa Interfaith Encounter group had a very moving field trip to Beit Hagath, in Ein Karem with Etienne Lepicard MD, PhD, who is its founder and inspiration.

Beit Hagath was originally the farm for the Sisters of Notre Dame de Sion which is now under jurisdiction of Monastery of Abu Ghosh. Beit Hagath’s natural setting full of flowers and gardens maintains a certain wildness in which the soul can flourish. It is a unique location which approaches interfaith in a unique and humane way. A Christian, Jew and Muslim live together on its grounds and have breakfast every morning together.

They have interfaith study groups, e.g. studying the weekly Torah portion with the Hebrew Midrash and Christian Fathers, such as 3^rd century commentator Origen who lived in the Holy Land. Later study of Qu’ran was added. It hosts an interfaith music festival and many other projects. One of the most stimulating is its partnership with the Master Chef Ezra Kedem, who teaches culinary skills to hearing impaired high school students or students of cooking from Notre Dame centre, opposite New Gate who come to learn and cook and taste together in an atmosphere that is reflected in the architecture of the kitchen and nearby dining room, both of which are made of transparent glass. It seemed a powerful metaphor for their open hearted work. We came away smiling.

Links:

• IEA's main website
• Recent updates page

• Report in English, Hebrew & Arabic (PDF)
  

January 22-23, 2016

Languages weekend in Ecome.

Seventyparticipants met for a weekend of learning languages at the Ecome Center, including Israelis who came to learn Arabic, Palestinians who came to learn Hebrew, and international visitors who came to learn both languages. There were also English classes for those who wanted to improve their skills in that language. Six groups studied separately according to their language and skill levels.

This weekend was organized based on the belief that if we learn to speak each other's language we can get closer, know each other better, and create a deeper trust. We ate together, played together, sang and made music together and went for a walk in the desert. It was inspiring.

February 5-6, 2016

Kibbutz Yagur- Teen and parent delegation preparation

On February 5-6 we held a preparatory encounter a youth delegation. Eight Israeli and Palestinian students will be part of a youth delegation to snowy Switzerland, where they will meet with Irish and Swiss youth. Prior to the trip, the 8 participating students and 8 parents met, along with their two guides. The purpose of this preparatory encounter was to provide the youth and their parents with the logistical details of the program as well as the ideal behind it, and material to be covered. We met for a few hours in the afternoon, ate delicacies from Kafr Manda and answered the parents’ questions. At first some seemed worried but they became more open and relaxed. The initial introduction was positive and sowed seeds for this exciting trip.

February 22-30, 2016

Youth Delegation - Israelis and Palestinians, in Switzerland

The youth delegation of 8 Israeli and Palestinian left from Ben Gurion airport on the morning of Monday February 22. The Palestinian guide left the previous day, through Jordan. We arrived safely in the Governors Mountains of Switzerland, where we meet 14 Irish and Swiss teenagers and six guides. During the week we spent with the Irish and Swiss group we learned about their cultures and told them about ourselves. We learned non-violent communication, did yoga, and sang each morning in German, English, Hebrew and Arabic. We hosted a cultural evening, for which we prepared traditional foods from our cultures, showing the diversity and color of the countries in which we live.

March 4-5, 2016

Languages weekend at Ecome

Sixty Israeli, Palestinian and international participants met for another language weekend at Ecome. As at the first and second language weekends, Israelis came to learn Arabic, Palestinians came to learn Hebrew and internationals came to learn both languages. We also taught English for those who wanted to improve their skills in that language. Six language groups studied separately according to their language and level of proficiency.

These meetings are inspired by the belief that if we learn to speak each other’s language we can get closer and create a deeper trust. We ate together, played together, made music and sang together. We went for a walk in the desert. It was inspiring.

We left with a taste for more, and intend to continue to develop this program in the future.

March 10-24, 2016

2 weeks of non-violent communication at Ecome.

150 people participated during the two-week session at Ecome, including Israelis, Palestinians and international visitors. There were various workshops on non-violence communication, with several different tracks on deepening foundations, teacher training, transformation and social change, offered by a dedicated team of seven teachers from the USA, Slovenia, Germany, Brazil, Palestine and Israel. The encounter was deep and meaningful. Some people came to participate for a few days of the workshop and others remained for the whole workshop. This activity is expanding. We plan to create a similar but even more sophisticated study forum next year.

April 1-2, 2016

Sensory Writing Workshop at Ecome

30participants, Israelis, Palestinians and international visitors met at Ecome for a weekend writing workshop taught by Madeline Kent, who came from New York to lead the workshop. Over the weekend we wrote and shared our writing in groups. We had a Feldenkrais exercise which helped us develop and get in touch with the senses that lead us to write more accurately, authentically, and to connect to who we are and what we are experiencing.

Links:

• IEA website
• Recent updates page

• Report in English, Hebrew & Arabic (PDF)