9/11 Commemoration - Painful Hope Rabbi Schlesinger and Mr. Ali Abu Awaad will tell their stories of personal transformation and discuss their joint efforts towards Israeli Palestinian reconciliation. Thursday night, September 11, 7pm at the Northway Christian Church, Dallas ABOUT THE PARTICIPANTS Currently finishing his book, Painful Hope, Ali Abu Awaad is today a leading Palestinian activist teaching his countrymen non-violent resistance, and reaching out to Jewish Israelis at the heart of the conflict. Jailed by Israel during the First Intifada for stone throwing and membership in a terrorist cell, he demanded to see his mother who was also imprisoned. During the course of a 17-day hunger strike, he learned the tremendous power of non-violence. Through voracious reading while still in jail, he came under the influence of Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and Mandela. During the Second Intifada, Ali was shot by an Israeli in a drive-by shooting, and was evacuated to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment. While in the hospital, he received word that his beloved brother had been shot and killed by an Israeli soldier at a checkpoint. It was in the context of the Bereaved Families Forum that brings together people from both sides who have lost loved ones in the conflict, that he began to learn how to channel his pain and anger not only into nonviolent resistance, but also into reaching over the chasm that divides between Palestinians and Israelis. Ali has toured the world many times over, telling his riveting story of pain, frustration, bereavement and personal transformation. (A simple Goggle search of his name will yield hundreds of articles and videos) Hanan Schlesinger is an Orthodox rabbi and teacher, and a passionate Zionist settler who has been profoundly transformed by his friendship with Ali. His understanding of the reality of the Middle East conflict and of Zionism has been utterly complicated by the parallel universe that Ali has introduced him to. Ali and an Israeli partner, together with Hanan and other Israelis and Palestinians, have been involved for the past six months in creating Roots/Judur/Shorashim, a center for non-violence, understanding and reconciliation on a piece of land owned by the Awaad family in the heart of Gush Etzion and abutting the Palestinian town of Beit Umar. This location is one of the rare places that both Palestinians and Israelis can access without special government permits, thus facilitating grassroots, unmediated get-togethers and deep conversations between people from the two sides. The Palestinians and Israelis involved in this initiative do not hide the many deep disagreements between them. They are deeply aware of the complexities of the conflict and of the lack of equality between the two sides. What unites them is their honest search for human understanding and non-violent resolution of the conflict. Roots is an outgrowth of a intra-Palestinian initiative being nurtured by Ali on the same piece of land, a center for the teaching of the philosophy and methodology of non-violent resistance to the next generation of Palestinian leaders. Ali’s vision is to create a Palestinian movement that would place non-violence at the very core of the identity of its activists. Join Ali and Hanan as they tell their personal stories and the intertwining of their stories. They come with no ready peace plans in hand, but only with the conviction that human understanding and trust will be the prerequisites for lasting justice, freedom and peace on that tiny sliver of land that they both call home. ------------ Ali will be touring the USA from August 25 until the first week of October. Rabbi Schlesinger will be joining him from about September 9th to the 22nd and during that period the two of them are available to speak together. When Rabbi Schlesinger is not with Ali, Ali is available to speak alone. A invitation to book one or both of them is hereby extended to groups involved in peace work, synagogues, churches, mosques, Jewish and Palestinian organizations, and any other community forums. It is especially gratifying when different faiths join together for these events. The presentation, Painful Hope, lasts 2 hours when the two speak together, and 1 ½ hours when Ali is on his own. The purpose of this speaking tour is certainly to raise consciousness but primarily to raise funds, both for the Roots/Judur/Shorashim Center for Non-violence, Understanding and Reconciliation and for the Palestinian Institute of Non-Violence. The hosts are asked to help facilitate this fundraising. In addition, there is a $700 fee to book one or both of the speakers. The hosts are also expected to pay airfare for the speakers from whatever point in the US they are traveling from. Organizations are encouraged to help us book more than one venue in their city, thus cutting down on airfare. Lastly, the hosting organization will provide lodging for the speakers, either in private homes or in a hotel. Contributions can be made out to “Friends of Roots” and sent to: Friends of Roots c/o Oakbrook Church 1700 Reston Parkway Reston, Virginia 20194
Posted on: Fri, 08 Aug 2014 18:25:10 +0000
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