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Last Letter of 2024: On Shared Society - You and I Will Change the World!
By Orly Erez-Likhovski
This past year was so difficult, and as we enter a new one, I am trying to focus on the many positive things that have happened this year, that foster my hope that next year will be a better one. . Fortunately, two events this week reminded me that we are not alone, that we have people around us who are dreaming the same dreams as we are and working hard to make them come true.
Yesterday, I attended an extraordinarily moving Hannukah event called Mevi-Or - Bring in the Light at the Kol Haneshama congregation in Jerusalem. This event marked the culmination of a series of shared society programs that Reform congregations held across the country, with our initiative and support. I would like to share with you a few things that moved me to tears yesterday.
There was a presentation by three women who participated in Jewish-Arab encounters between members of the Reform congregation of Ramat Hasharon and the neighboring Arab community of Taybeh, speaking about their fear in the wake of October 7, but also insisting that there is no other option than to live together in coexistence, affirming that there is room for everyone here.
Next, the facilitator and two participants in a Hebrew-Arabic learning exchange program between Jews and Arabs at Kol Haneshama congregation spoke about learning not only languages, but also how to open their hearts to one another. They not only exchanged vocabulary but also shared themselves with one another.
Members of Or Hadash congregation in Haifa and an Arab participant in their programs spoke about their choice to talk about the fears and the complexities we face, to share our pain and our humanity with mutual respect.
The fact that these connections survived the unbelievable crisis we faced after October 7th sent a message of reassurance, affirming my strong belief that we can join hands together, and present a vision of tolerance and moderation in the face of extremism ad cruelty.
Then, Rabbi Oded Mazor of Kol Haneshama led an interfaith candle lighting, reminding us that just as in the Hannukah story when a little oil led to a lot of light, so the little hope we spread will defeat the darkness. Fr. Piotr Zelazko - Patriarchal Vicar for the Saint James Vicariate, Hebrew speaking Catholic Church in Jerusalem, spoke about how the ocean is made up of many drops of water, and each of us is a drop, and another drop, and another that will ultimately combine to bring about change. He urged us not to give in to anger and hatred, but to work to see one another as human beings.
Iyad, a Palestinian from Beit Safafa, the Arab community just a ten-minute walk from Kol Haneshama, quoted the Sufi poet Jalal al-Din Rumi, who said, "When I was little, I wanted to change the world, when I grew up, I decided to change myself". Inner change will bring about the light and illuminate the world.
Afterwards, Rabbi Dalia Shaham and Shira Golan, who lead a multicultural community of women called "Creating Reality", sang songs in Hebrew and Arabic. One was drawn from a verse in Psalm 122. May peace be within your walls, serenity in your palaces. Another affirmed I accept upon myself the commandment of the Creator to love your neighbor as yourself. They also sang "Imagine" by John Lennon in Hebrew, Arabic and English, instilling in us hope that change is possible:
You may say I'm a dreamer,
but I'm not the only one.
I hope someday you'll join us,
and the world will live as one.
We ended with Sameh and Uriah, an Israeli and Palestinian duo who created a project called "Let's Talk Straight” in which they tell unvarnished truths about what Palestinians think about Jews and what Jews think about Palestinians. Presenting reality from different perspectives humanizes those standing in front of us. They also mentioned how change will come from within us, and that if we look directly at one another and see each other, the world will change.
Just the day before, the Reform movement in Israel and IRAC were honored by the Abraham Initiatives, an interfaith organization with whom we work, with a shared society Award. It was particularly moving to receive the award alongside the Standing Together movement, Israeli peace activist Maoz Yinon, who lost both his parents on October 7, and Bedouin activist Hanan al-Sana'a. The ceremony honoring us and others showed how many good people are working hard for a different reality and filled me with hope and inspiration.
The late Israeli singer Arik Einstein sang in his famous song: You and I will change the world. You and I, then everyone will come along.
On the eve of a new year, we know how much we have already done, but how much more needs to be done. Most importantly, we know that we are not alone on this journey. We are surrounded by so many people working to bring light into the world, to nurture it so that it shines ever brighter.
We will change the world in 2025 and beyond!
With warm wishes of peace, health, safety, equality for the New Year,
Orly Erez-Likhovski
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