Journey to Israel: Shabbat, the K'nesset, Neve Shalom, Yad VaShem and Interfaith Dialogue for Peace

On Friday we prayed together at the Wailing Wall, celebrated Shabbat with the spirited Kol HaNeshama congregation in Jerusalem, and enjoyed a wonderful Shabbes dinner.

Shabbes was a delightful day to sleep in, pray at some of the many, many congregations in Jerusalem, wander through the old city, and relax by the pool. We made Havdalah at sunset (the service which ends Shabbat) and together, enjoyed the sites and sounds of a Jerusalem that re-opens itself to a bustling night life.

Today (Sunday), we started the day with an outstanding tour of the K'nesset, Israel's government. We engaged a meaningful conversation about co-existence with Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam, an extraordinary community outside Jerusalem. For 40 years, residences have created a community of Arabs and Israelis who live side by side, educate their children together in Hebrew & Arabic, and offer a vision of what a working peace might look like.

We spent the afternoon at Yad Vashem, Israel's "Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Authority." Haunting. Powerful. One person in our group posed the searing question: How can people do this to each other?

Finally, we spent our evening breaking bread with four 20-somethings--two Jewish, two Palestinian Muslim--and talking about their experiences dialoguing for peace.

Our lesson for the day: There is no "them." There is only "us." We are one human family. The sooner we all embrace this reality, the more we can join as partners to pursue a world where the lion can lie down with the lamb. And no one is ever again afraid.

Sending you all prayers for peace from Ir Shalem--Jerusalem...