God heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
-Psalm 147:3
These past few weeks have been tense in Jerusalem, with two deadly terror attacks at light rail stations and clashes over access to the Temple Mount. This past week, we also marked the 19th yahrtzeit of Israel’s Prime Minister, Yitzhak Rabin. With broken hearts, we pray for peace and healing for a region where too many people have suffered the loss of loved ones at the hands of violence and extremism. This Sunday, in our “More Tough Social Issues in Israel” course, we will be watching a film that addresses how Israelis and Palestinians most deeply affected by the violence are calling for an end to the conflict. The film, Encounter Point, tells the story of an Israeli settler, a Palestinian ex-prisoner, a bereaved Israeli mother and a wounded Palestinian bereaved brother who risk their safety and public standing to push for a new way forward. The film features Ali Abu Awwad, a grassroots activist and advocate for non-violence who visited our community over Sukkot. In addition to watching the film, we will discuss the topic of bereavement and trauma among Israeli and Palestinian families and look at the efforts of the Parents Circle Families Forum to bring about peace during the war this past summer. All are welcome to join us in the Quitman Library from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM to view and discuss the film.