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<DIV><FONT face=Garamond color=#800080 size=4>Blessings, Toni Sar'h</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Garamond color=#800080 size=4>The last four days have been
filled with much good.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Garamond color=#800080 size=4>Picture this:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Garamond color=#800080 size=4>A single file of men, women and
children walking in silence from Haifa to the Galilee. Five days
meandering through Jewish and Arab villages.<BR>During the walk there is
silence. No speaking. All shapes, sizes, Jewish and Arab - all
wearing a simple white ribbon - silently and slowly weaving their way through
the Galillee, beginning in Haifa, ending in Magd al Kurum and then Amirim for an
annual Sulkha (spiritual reconciliation gathering attended by Sheikhs of Moslem
and Druze faith, Rabbi, Priest and Sister and the spiritually
committed.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Garamond color=#800080 size=4>No arms, no weaponry.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Garamond color=#800080 size=4>We arrived to the Peace School in
Magd Al Kurum in the evening and placed our sleeping bags on the roof where we
were invited to sleep. I spoke with the son of the school principal -
Bahir. Bahir is in the 11th grade. His favorite subjects are
computers and electronics. When asked what he loves most about it - his
answer: "Using when you build something - you begin with physical material that
already exists. You are limited by your physical resources. With
electronics and computers - you have nothing physical to start with - only your
mind and your thoughts. But with your mind and your thoughts you can
create anything, an entire new world. This is what I love about
it."</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Garamond color=#800080 size=4>Basma, a mother from the Arab
village of Tamra in the Galillee explained that for the last six years she has
dressed in black, seen only black and blood. She has wondered why she is
alive and what will change to give her hope in the dreams that she secretly had
to participate with others in something bigger and better than the violence and
unending terror which plagues the middle east. She said that when she saw
the silent group pass her window - her heart stopped. She felt compelled
to join them. Her daughter warned her of danger and repercussion for
betraying the cause of her people. Refusing to listen, Basma walked to the
door, opened it, and joined the group in silence.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Garamond color=#800080 size=4>Cynics amongst you may wonder
"these are a few peace fanatics, what difference can a few people make?"
This was the thought of one woman - a extremist from one of the settlements who
decided to come on the walk out of curiosity. At the parting discussion
she admitted to judging the peaceniks and rejecting their ways as impractical
when she daily experiences the horrors of terror on both sides of the line in
her settlement town. She wondered whether the peaceniks would be as open
to hearing and meeting with those in the Jewish settlements to allow for
dialogue amongst Jew and Jew on opposite ends of the spectrum. She also
admitted that since walking the five days, her attitude and willingness to
listen opened tremendously. It was courageous of her to speak her truth -
it was courageous of the group to listen and accept.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Garamond color=#800080 size=4>At the Sulkha a Jewish father
whose son had been killed last week in a terrorist bombing decided that he would
use his son's murder to avenge terror with peace. It was very difficult
for him to sit through the discussions and circles of Arabs and Jews expressing
their fears their hurt, their varying reality.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Garamond color=#800080 size=4>The miracle of the last five days
is that there were people from ALL persuasions. A prominent Zulu chief
who, along with Nelson Mandela had been instrumental in the peaceful resistance
and ultimate resolve of the archaic South African system of conflict between
black and white arrived from South Africa to provide hope and
inspiration.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Garamond color=#800080 size=4>The day ended with a feast - Druze
Debka dancing and a musical concert, which lasted long into the
evening.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Garamond color=#800080 size=4>If there is a heaven - this was
close to it.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Garamond color=#800080 size=4>Just prior to Itzhak Rabin's
assassination, I wondered why we don't take to the streets so as they did in
India with Ghandi. I thought that this would be so simple a
solution. My hopes were crushed with Rabin's murder - but I have refused
to give in. This week my dreams are being fulfilled. We will
continue the walks - one silent little step at a time.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Garamond color=#800080 size=4>Eyal - an Israeli Jew expressed it
simply and poignantly: "There is always violence. There is always
murder. These come from fear. There will always be fear. There
is always peace. There is always love. They all exist at the same
time. It is a matter of choice".</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Garamond color=#800080 size=4>Each ONE of US makes a
difference.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Garamond color=#800080 size=4>I share my good with you so that
it may strengthen in all our hearts and minds... for the highest good of
all.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Garamond color=#800080 size=4>What is your choice? Please
forward this to everyone who would be uplifted and inspired by it.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Garamond color=#800080 size=4>Thank you.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Garamond color=#800080 size=4>Eliana Gilad Founder, Voices of
Eden <A href="http://www.voicesofeden.com">www.voicesofeden.com</A>
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