Tomorrow, September 13, is my birthday and also an important historical milestone in the Israeli-Palestinian journey-to-peace. Tomorrow marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Oslo Accords on the White House lawn. I remember vividly and viscerally that moment in time. Yasser Arafat put his hand forward immediately while Yitzhak Rabin, a former army general, paused for a moment as he seemed to be reviewing the war-torn and bloody history of their two nations. Then slowly moved his hand forward to consumate the deal. I wept. As a peacemaker, I felt somehow, it was a personal birthday gift to me and I was filled with hope. My hope 20 years later remains intact, in spite of the continuing conflict and the new violence in the region. Otherwise, it would be too hard to rise in the morning and go out into the world to do my work, or what some people have termed "my ministry." My wish, still fresh and vibrant, is to see peace in the Middle East in my lifetime, and in the world. So please join me in that wish. Thank you to all those of you who have sent me early birthday blessings. Sending love and blessings of peace for all of us. Ruth P.S. Tonight I will be presenting my interfaith program at Manhattan College and tomorrow morning, I will be talking to students who are studying Islam at the college. What could be a better way to usher in my birthday than to be engaged in interfaith education! For my Jewish friends I wish you "Gmar Hatimah Tovah," and an easy fast. May you be inscribed in the book of Life and of Peace.
Posted on: Thu, 12 Sep 2013 14:52:26 +0000
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