Interfaith-Encouter Association Event
Women's Interfaith Encounter of Northern Israel -- Day of Learning at Yemin Orde

On Tuesday, June 3, the Northern Women's Interfaith Encounter in cooperation with the Yemin Orde School had a Day of Learning "How Religion Gives Strength to Women" sponsored by a group of British donors. The day was planned by Siham Halaby, Ibtisam Mahamid, Randa Zarik Sabag, and Mara List -- our Northern Coordinators. Fifty Muslim, Christian, Jewish, and Druze women, including several daughters aged 3 - 11, heard teachers from each faith: Druze, Muslim, Jewish and Christian. They quoted from the Bible, the Koran, the Druze Book of Wisdom, and the New Testament with examples of how the Prophets treated women with respect and forgiveness and stories of great women in scriptures like Sarah and Miriam.

It was a lovely mild day and the women sat outside for small discussions facilitated by out Coordinators and had deep and penetrating questions and reflections about our religions. A Muslim women told how her faith gives her courage and strength to educate her children in how to treat other people and how to respect them. For this reason, it's very important for her to learn about the other religions in order to understand and respect the otherness and be an example for her children.

One discussion got into the suffering of women in war resulting from the distortions of religious teachers. A Muslim woman told how in the Koran it is forbidden to harm children, women and old in war -- it is only permitted to attack somebody who has weapons and can defend himself. A Druze women told us that in their religion, somebody who takes life, even by accident, is not allow to come into the religion. A Christian said that Jesus was against war, preaching about love also to the enemy. The Jewish women spoke about the strict laws of war that are written in the bible, and how we must be careful not to vandalize or damage accidentally the innocents, property and the animals of the enemy.

Another discussion covered the difference between what the Holy Books (Bible, New Testament, Koran, The Druze Book of Wisdom), say about women -- and the gap created by the interpretations that male religious commentators have given through the years. They agreed about the importance of the true intentions of the Holy Books, and about the right and the obligation of women to find the right interpretation for us. They also agreed that we must empower themselves via the religion, not by trying to be like the men, but by deepening our understanding of what is our real mission on earth as women, and what we can do that men can't, in order to bring peace and compassion to our loved ones and to our land.

There was a wonderful camaraderie as the women walked across the beautiful lawns filled with flowering bushes arm in arm to the dining room and had an evening meal together. Our closing session included singing and laughter and finished with a large circle on the lawn in a group meditation led by Ibtisam and then many embraces. Everyone felt grateful to the British people who had made this lovely and successful day possible. We also felt grateful to the Yemin Orde staff, and especially the Director, Chaim Perry, for opening their school to us and providing us with such warm hospitality. We look forward to collaborating with them on other events in the future.

This report was prepared by Elana Rozenman with assistance from Mara List, Ibtisam Mahamid, and Piera Edelman