JITLI: September 2010

Monday, September 27, 2010

Democracy Day

In the morning we visited the holy spring in Ein Kerem, where Maria, the mother of Jesus drank water. We climbed to the monastery, There we heard the story of one of the nuns who was born as a Jew and found herself at the end of her life as a nun in Jerusalem. Most of her life she was teaching Arabic children.
From there we went to the Supreme Court, one of the three strongholds of Israeli democracy. The Supreme Court building is amazingly beautiful many symbols are intertwined in it. We entered into the courtroom, We watched the court in which a citizen sued the state for the injustice done to him.
From there we went to the Knesset, the Israeli legislature- the parliament, here too we toured the building. Every time I visit the Knesset I'm excited because I'mat the heart of Israeli democracy. We entered the Knesset plenum and watched a debate which took place. Then we met three members of the Knesset. Member of the Knesset Dov Hanin, He told us about his activities in the Knesset for the benefit of Israel citizens. Member of the Knesset Shai Hermesh of is living in Kibbutz Kfar Aza from Shaar HaNegev who praised his friend Dov Hanin on activities and about the security situation in the Gaza Strip and the Hamas rule. And Arab Member of the Knesset Ibrahim Sarsur who spoke about the importance of peace and his activities for it.
At night we went to visit the Western Wall Tunnels, The tour guide is a member of the religious urban kibbutz in Jerusalem. The visit in the Western Wall Tunnels was fascinating. Fantasy mixes with reality in the city of Jerusalem during the time of Herod's Temple there, It was interesting. Along the tunnel according to the researchers there is a point closest to sanctuary Holies of the Temple, and despite the late hours of the night we found women parying devoutly. I heard again an interesting and dangerous claim, that the western wall is just a wall. The aspiration of the Jews today is where the Temple stood. Because it is the holiest site in Judaism.
Questions while writing the post:
1. What is the reason that Israel is the only real fortress of democracy in the middle east?
2. What are the reasons that the Supreme Court in Jerusalem became the ortress of every citizen in Israel? Regardless of sector of religion? Was it democracy? Was it the nature of the judges? Is the status of the Supreme Court in democratic countries the same as in Israel?
3. How can one resist the dangerous religious people from all religions who value life as insignificant compared to the holy sanctity in their eyes?

the video clips:

visiting Ein Karem

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHmUOm_JR-Q

visiting Kottel tunnels

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysu_bLrKm10

I'm waiting to yout comments

Itzik Koren

Monday, September 20, 2010

Pilgrimage to the "Holy Sites"

At wake-up, it was still dark outside. Morning drive to Mount Scopus went by quickly. We got to Mount Scopus and stopped near a observation point. The Hanichim got off the bus, their eyes were covered, they went hand in hand up to the observation point, then they were asked to remove the blindfold, the Old City of Jerusalem was was spread before them. It was an emotional moment, after a brief explanation the hanichim spoke about the meaning of Jerusalem for them: Capital city, the holy city, a beautiful city, a historical city. After an excellent breakfast, the mood improved and together they sang tremendous " Brother happiness Jitli empire" in Hebrew, Arabic and Spanish.
We reached the old city; the first stop was on the Temple Mount, the two mosques. Entrance to the mosques is only allowed to Muslims, We toured the mosques square, Our task was to interview tourists and ask what Jerusalem means to them, we interviewed many people from different countries and the answers were interesting. (See video clip) From there we went to the Western Wall. Those days were the days before Memorial Day of Temple destruction, and the Western Wall plaza was full with praying people. Our fellow Muslims were afraid to enter the plaza, but soon they saw that there is no reason to be afraid. During this visit in the Western Wall I began to hear the statement that the Western Wall is just a stone wall and not worthy of the most holy place for Jews. That statement came from very religious Jews and it surprised me.
After a break for lunch in the streets of the Christian Quarter We went to the Church of Holy Sepulcher., Here, too, as well as in the Western Wall we continued to interview people about the significance of Jerusalem for them. And the answers were varied: The priest who came from Greece and serves the Holy Sepulcher claimed that there is not a city like Jerusalem in the world, London and Paris are very small Compared to Jerusalem, the young man who came from Italy explained that he should be a Catholic but he is not religious and he came to Jerusalem to see the places that his mother talked about in his childhood. The professor who came from U.S., he claimed that everything is politics and to cross a road is as dangerous as to visit Israel.
The woman said that, thanks to science and DNA discovery she now know that difference between people is so small, insignificant and therefore people in the world have to live in peace. The talks with the pilgrims made the trip to the holy places very unique. (See video clip).
In the evening we gathered to hear a lecture by Dr. Neil Lazaros " Middle East Update". Most of his speech was about the Hamas in Gaza and about the Injustice that makes the Hamas rule the residents of Gaza, He tried to prove it in movies and facts. Our Muslim brothers found it difficult to accept Neil's description. For some of them Hamas has only brought honor to Gaza Palestinians. There was an argument, painful but honorable. Jews and Muslims, each side tried to defend his position: Hamas is a terrorist organization, Hamas is good to the Arabs of Gaza. We ended the evening talking in groups Jitli and Jitli Peace Makers trying to explain and to bring people together. Ibrahim touched everyone when he told us about his brother, a Bedouin soldier who died protecting the Gaza border. It was a great expression of emotion, and the complex situation in which we live.
The questions that came to me during the writing this post:
1. is religion a belief or a livelihood? 2. How come the most holy places instead of being a places of unity have become a source of hatred?
3. What is the difference between Muslim Hamas and the extremist Jewish movements? Who's worse?

sun rise on jerusalem
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIyzd0qnfIk

2010what jerusalem means to me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QKysuDwnUM

holy jerusalem
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6k9OOzPQNw

neil lazaros
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n65fivPLV_A

I'm waiting to your comments, answers

Itzik Koren

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Acre the City of co-existence

Theatre, an International Language - in Acre the City of co-existence

We left the Galilee to Jerusalem and on our way we stopped in Acre. A city where Jews and Arabs are living together, an Ancient city and a new city.
In Acre we visited the temple of Baha Allah and the Gardens Baha gi
Lovely gardens, similar to the Bahai Gardens in Haifa. We saw some trees hundreds of years old, these trees 'saw' during their lifetime a lot of events including the founder of the Bahai religion who lived and was buried in Acre.
We visited the temple where he is buried, we were impressed by the simplicity and dignity of this place.
The Bahá'í religion talks about human unity.
To promote human unity, the following principles were set:
the abandonment of all forms of prejudice
assurance to women of full equality of opportunity with men
recognition of the unity and relativity of religious truth
the elimination of extremes of poverty and wealth
the realization of universal education
the responsibility of each person to independently search for truth
the establishment of a global commonwealth of nations
recognition that true religion is in harmony with reason and the pursuit of scientific knowledge
First question: Is there anyone that these principles don't suit?
From there we continued theJewish-Arab theater in Acre.
There, an actor named Khaled gave us a theater workshop Including games designed to further lower the barriers of individual participants. Cooperation was full and there were many moments of laughter and relaxation and ease. At the end of the workshop spoke to us a resident of Acre that two of his brothers were killed during the Second Lebanon war from rockets. He shared with us great pain and insights that there's no room for hatred and revenge, but for cooperation based on humanity.
Second question: Are the people we met in Acre, a mixed city, treat the subject of co-existence in a different way ? from Tel Aviv citizens .

Third question: Could you feel the common Languages in Akko? Theater? Food?
Participants were given lunch money and they dispersed into Acre's special market and enjoyed its rich assortment.

After lunch we dealed with the question : who am I?

It took about 3 hours to reach Jerusalem . We dispersed to mama groups to conclude the summer trip so far. A large screen was spread out in the yard prior to broadcast of the final game of the World Cup. The boring game caused participants to go to their rooms to rest. The next day's activities will start before sunrise

The video Clips:

The Bahai Center

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS9If2GA0cY

Theatre Games

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1qVgvH7V7o

Haled Show

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNhCdSP2-bw

Moti Story
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvaMTTCk3wY

Who Am I?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kw-tycRxm78

Shaar Hanegev Mama Time

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SSiW1WE3eI

Waiting to your comments

Itzik Koren

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Saturday - the fourth day of jitli summer trip

Saturday - the fourth day of jitli summer trip
The activity was scheduled to begin at 10 am. The young counselors decided to make another "team spirit" activity, so they woke the hanichim up at five am, Took them out of their rooms, to watch the sunrise together among other actions,. We, the adult educators slept in the same time, so I'd love to see pictures and hear stories about this activity.
Then the day began again at ten in the morning, Because the Sabbath the activities were around the hostel in Tel Hai. We started at Tel Hai , the settlement , where Joseph Trumpeldor was killed defending .. The hanichim visited the site museum and heard the story of Trumpeldor.
It was interesting to hear that in the past, the Jews and the Shi'ite Muslims were like brothers, kept each other, Today the situation is different.
The second stop was to visit a stash in Kibbutz Kfar Giladi, it seemed that we could not be on time and so as not to disappoint the kibbutz member who was waiting for us to visit, We the educators went to hear the fascinating story of one of the stash of Kfar Giladi .( see video clip)
After lunch we visited the Museum of Photography at Tel Hai industrial center that combines art and industry, we saw fascinating photos of Israel since the beginning of the 20th century. the name of the photographer is sShweig Shmuel Yosef. No doubt his photography was at the level of art.
We saw the technique in three dimensions as it developed early last century
Photo games workshop was carried out and the results can be seen in special pictures.
Toward the evening, we gathered for activities to learn how to listen to each other,
Halil and I presented a conflict between neighbors, and showed how good will and paying attention can solve the the majority of conflicts
Shoshi Israeli came to Tel Hai to demonstrate and teach the Hanichim how to dance flamenco. There were three workshops to an end the Hanichim danced flamenco drummed and sang. The source of Flamenco dance is in Spain. it recalls the glory days of Spain where Jews and Muslims lived together and created and wrote. It wasa joyous evening with a lot of positive energy. Thank you Shosi.
Questions:
1. Tel Hai story is a good example of different narratives in different perspectives, Jewish and Arab residents of the Galilee, Arab Shia people of Lebanon will tell a significant historical event in different perspective. Does the story become a unifier or separator?.
2.A successful entrepreneur Stef Wertheimer, is his story typical? what can I as a jitli member can learn from his story?
3. Art of photography, art in the dance, Is there a lot of good in art because the arts speak the same language to all people?
4. Does a constructive way to resolve conflicts depend on the initial approach of the litigants?
Happy New Year and Eed El Fitter Mubbarach

I'm waiting to your comments

Tel Hai Activity
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2VWyOhx9IQ

A Stash in Kibbutz Kfar Giladi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sazd35DxQq8

The Museum of Photography at Tel Hai

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPWAzdyfpFQ

Activities to Learn How to Llisten

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDfFg-muXpY

Halil and Itzik Presented a Conflict Between Neighbors
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1zYwmIt_RM

Flamenco Evning
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w0kOVrNkY8

Itzik Koren

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

The third Day jitli summer trip was a Friday

The third Day jitli summer trip was a Friday
Know the other through religion

The second night passed quietly, except for group of participants smoking hookah (shisha ).
The excuses for the Jewish guys who brought the hookah were that this is a sure way to approach the Bedouins and that was the main purpose for smoking. Despite the convincing argument smoking Hookah was banned during the journey.
We started the morning with a walk along the Banias River on its new hanging bridges. It was very nice track, noise and intensity of water flow in summer it was foreign to residents of the Negev. From there we drove to the Banias River sources, we saw and learned about this sacred place. Here we divided into four groups and each group filmed a documentary video clip that connected the Banias River and coexistence problems. The participants were creative and excited and interest and so were the products that were produced.

The participation of the Hanichim in the video production was full, some in photography and some were acting and some in organization and cooperation and consideration each other was full.
Afternoon in the woods near the Banias River sources, a group of Muslim participants explained us the essence of Muslim Pray. And also they prayed for all of us to Alla. These were very touching moments with a special atmosphere.
From there we drove to the city of Kabbalah, Safed . We toured the Mount Kna'an and the Independence War Memorial on its top. The monument was dirty and neglected. Under the monument there is a rock-hidden in a pit where Safed Jewish residents come to pray and to be with their God. We entered the pit we were in darkness, and then we began to sing. Part of the songs were religious songs and part was nonsense songs.
The singing of Jitli group in this place under the ground in Zefat the Kabalim city brought us together, with sensations incomprehensible (to me) of holiness.
Then we toured the ancient alleys of Safed before the Sabbath entered, few people were rushing in the streets
Jonathan Foreman, the friend of Eran our guide who was penitent) hosted us in his home .He told us his life story and the reasons that caused him to be a religious man. Through my eyes the crises he went through - of his mother's death and his brother death in a car accident left him with many questions unanswered. Partial answers, again in my eyes Jonathan found in religion. However Jonathan is impressive man he spoke with soothing voice of a man who is really a believer.
From there we went back to the streets of Safed, Old City, and near the old mosque in the city the Hanichim spoke about their feelings after their experiences during the day. "The first time we participated in a Muslim prayer ""First time I spoke with an Orthodox Jew with wigs" "I did not understand what the meaning of the Muazzin voices sound ( the man who call the Muslim prayer to come to the mosque) across the border".
In the evening the Jewish participants made Kiddush" for Shabat in the dining room.
We attended the evening in a cultural way; each group expressed its culture passages (see videos).
Hezi brought two chocolate cakes to mark the birthday of Chen and Dory.
The Saturday program was scheduled to begin at 10:00 am.
The questions came to mind while writing this blog:
1. What's the role of God in human history?
2. What is common in all Monotheistic religions, those who believe in one

God?
3. Is being a religious believer in the 21st century a weakness or strength?