| Khesed News #78 Feb 2009 |
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Page 3 of 6
- Sara Fischer, Musalaha Editor
Musalaha is a Christian
organization actively seeking reconciliation
between Jews and
Palestinians in Israel[What does this say for us in Australia?] For Rebekah who hated Palestinians after her friend was killed in a terror attack, this trip was a turning point in the way she related to Palestinians as she soon found that through open honesty she was able to leave with Palestinian friends. For Issa, meeting an Israeli soldier caused a wall to go up before him because of the endless humiliation he had suffered at checkpoints. But, when Danny broke bread together with Issa during the Lord's Supper the wall of bitterness, hatred and fear was broken down and the two were no longer strangers, but brothers. This is just a glimpse at the testimonies shared on Musalaha's Young Adult Desert Encounter when nearly 40 Israelis and Palestinians trekked across the plains of Wadi Rum, Jordan camping in Bedouin tents, riding camels, excursioning in jeeps and hiking across vast desert sands. The purpose : to build relationships as the starting to the reconciliation process. The reconciliation process is not easy especially when dealing with two cultures constantly in a state of conflict. There are various obstacles and barriers to reconciliation. One of the obstacles that prevent Israelis and Palestinians from meeting is their identity crisis, which is constantly shaped and moulded by societal and religious influences. And being a believer makes it even harder. For the Messianic Jew who only has a Jewish father, enlisting in the Israeli army and donning the green uniform initiates him or her into a select sector of Israeli society. Many who grew up with a feeling of rejection of their Jewishness because their mother was not Jewish now have a new sense of belonging. Leaving the immediate family for a new family, the Messianic Jew now has a new ticket into society. For some of those – the former soldiers who found their identity in the Israeli army – meeting with Palestinians can come as an obstacle and it is harder to attend events such as this reconciliation trip. This is not the case for all of the participants who have only one Jewish parent and served in the army. Some have a strong Israeli identity and a willingness to develop friendships with Palestinians. And even for the Palestinian-Israeli there is a crisis. Amira shared how she was hesitating to speak because there was an inner struggle as she did not know which language to speak: Hebrew or Arabic. Because of the frustration within her , she was building up an anger. On the one hand if she spoke Hebrew she would be denying her Palestinian identity but on the other hand she belongs to Israeli society. Sitting around the campfire in the neutral desert gave her the opportunity to speak up and express her feelings before all. Identity is something we all struggle with. But as more and more shared their struggles, hurts and frustrations, I came to the realization how much more important it is first and foremost that we find our identity in Jesus the Messiah. When we are found in Him, we are then able to have a common meeting ground for unity and reconciliation as we learn to accept others for how God made them: In His likeness and image. |
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