It is heart-wrenching to discuss peacebuilding efforts in the midst of such sorrowful days in our country as more and more people join the circle of grief. The Glocal program itself mourns the loss of one of our alumni, Aran Goren, who was tragically killed on October 7th.
Yet, even within the darkness of these days, we want to share some transformative experiences that have brought light to us, in spite of the current painful reality. The connections we have maintained with each other provided solace and renewed our belief in the possibility of better days. It is from this perspective that we write this article.
Forming a sanctuary
Following years of working in peace activism but without reaching any substantial progress, we came together as a group a few years ago, trying to promote peace through shared community building. With time, this was the main space for our work.
Our community, comprising various individuals, including both Israelis and Palestinians, Arabs and Jews, from the river to the sea and even including Gaza, is dedicated to nurturing a bilingual, politically conscious culture that promotes inclusion and equality, and aims to set an alternative to the ongoing division and systemic oppression. Over the years, our initiative has thrived, bringing together hundreds of people in cultural events and shared spaces. We have worked tirelessly to raise awareness, forge new bonds, and craft a new narrative for the future, one that nurtures the individual sovereignty of each person on their own and one that sets a direction for collective liberation. Hence, under the umbrella of "Elham - The Day After," we have continued to advance these goals and expand our impact.
In our journey together, we have had the privilege of meeting, processing and collaborating with individuals from diverse backgrounds, in spite of the separation forces, in a unique and deeply unifying personal manner. These relationships are founded on true friendship, open communication, and a level of trust that is fundamental to our reality. We have invested time and effort in building these relationships, prioritizing friendships and social gatherings over more mainstream peacebuilding efforts.
Unlike mainstream approaches, our focus has been on community building as a key to peace work. Instead of political dialogue we enriched trust in personal conversations and in place of campaigns, we nurtured relationships. Mainly, instead of working towards conflict resolution from a top-down perspective, we aimed at conflict transformation within our ongoing relationships, forming a model of an alternative shared culture that would set the tone towards a new paradigm.
In practice, this meant the facilitation of bilingual interactions and cultural events, combining Nonviolent Communication and facilitation work within ongoing community gatherings, as well as harnessing art for political messages and political imagination towards true reconciliation. This allowed us to embrace changes in views, honoring traditional practices and even acknowledging the fear of abandonment by our existing social ties.
Some may criticize such an endeavor as one that normalizes the current power relations and systemic roots for the conflict, but for us, conforming to these voices was not in our interest. Instead, after years of activism we had to nurture a space, maybe a sanctuary, that anchored us in a hopeful future. For us, building a mental and physical sanctuary that is rooted in care, love and compassion as opposed to fear, hatred and control, is the exact opposite of normalizing. It aims to transform relations in a deep way setting a clear shared direction that opposes a reality of separation, exclusion and hatred. In this way, we intended to reinforce a rather radical form of resilience that stemmed from clear intentions.
Finding Strength and Solidarity in Shared Sorrow
Unfortunately though, there was nothing that could have prepared us for the events accumulating last October and the ensuing conflict. We found ourselves devastated, mourning the loss of friends and family within our community. In the face of such violence and polarization, maintaining resilience and unity has become our paramount challenge. In the initial days, it seemed as though the community was fracturing, with individuals automatically taking sides. The pain and disappointment were palpable, even among us.
In response to this challenge, we pursued key strategies. Firstly, we identified a safe space that everyone could access, spend time together and feel secure. This was crucial for maintaining direct and personal contact.
Additionally, we formed a small group of community members experienced in facilitation that addressed the immediate need for unity and understanding. Engaging in open and respectful discussions on controversial topics, we aimed to rebuild trust and foster greater understanding among our community members. We firmly believe that by working together and recognizing our interdependence and shared humanity, we can find common ground even in times of escalating violence.
This attempt involved organizing opportunities where individuals could share, support, and express their grief. Additionally, the facilitators actively aimed at demonstrating acceptance and promoting an inclusive language of solidarity in all our interactions. This helped in the acknowledgment of feelings of pain and anger and their transformation with time into direct empathy. This also allowed for a safe space to recognize the pain of the other side and denounce violence without compromising on the necessity of security. It helped us resist the urge to react to external triggers and focus on the wider vision that we hold together.
This process helped us channel our feelings of defeat and despair, stemming from our efforts to create harmony and tranquility amidst the devastating reality we faced. It reinforced the significance of our efforts and renewed our belief in our ability to rise stronger from adversity. These interactions, forged through hardship, have been instrumental for individuals like Liel, who lost friends in our close circle.
Consequently and despite the challenges, we are steadfast in maintaining our hope for better days, despite the ongoing violence. This involves shedding guilt and shame, and confronting the fear of judgment, as we emphasize a collective language of transformation that highlights the potential for a brighter future. We are challenging societal norms and seeking to dissolve or filter outdated paradigms that no longer serve us. By advocating for self-determination and empowering individuals to shape their own futures, we are fostering a sense of agency and optimism within our community, even amidst the current challenges we face.
This newfound agency has allowed us to take the time to envision and develop new tools that will lead us towards this new reality. As a result, more initiatives have sprouted, ranging from emotional emergency aid workshops to shared gatherings focused on working the land. Fundraising efforts have been initiated to support communities in need, and plans for community events in the upcoming months are underway. As events continue to unfold, we are witnessing how our bonds are growing even stronger through engaging with our pain, understanding our interdependence, and witnessing its promising impact.
Forging Ahead as a Collective
The recent events have underscored the futility of violence and dehumanization. We ask ourselves day after day how we can form sanctuaries that still impact the reality around them. We try to experiment with how we can recognize our interdependence and express solidarity in times of separation and how we can resist divisions without forming new adversaries. Basically, how we can enrich solidarity and interdependence towards unity, even in times of war.
We are more determined than ever to build a community that embodies resilience, inclusivity, and a shared vision for peace. Through our collective efforts, we are confident that we can overcome these challenges and create a better life. We know that ultimately, the bonds in our community were those that created resilience in the face of such devastating events.
As we move forward, let us hold onto the belief that together, we can build a future where peace and understanding prevail in a reality founded on equality and security. Let our interdependence be the beacon that guides us through the darkest of times, towards a brighter, more inclusive reality that can ensure security for all living in this painful land. Let's hope this war will be the last one.
