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The solemn demonstration that came about in entrance of Palo Alto Metropolis Corridor on Saturday evening was nearly as placing for what wasn’t there as for what was.
There have been no political indicators or chants. No calls to assist Israel or to denounce Hamas. No voices of assist for Palestinian independence and no diatribes in opposition to Israeli occupation. No arguments for a ceasefire.
The one poster that was prominently displayed on the Nov. 11 occasion was one asserting the identify of the occasion: Vigil for Peace. And for the group Multifaith Voices for Peace & Justice, which organized the rally, that was the purpose.
The vigil, which featured songs, prayers, tears, hugs and moments of silence, led to 150 individuals to King Plaza. The messages of their songs and prayers have been purposefully imprecise, multi-cultural and common. Louis’ Armstrong’s “It is a Great World.” Emma Revolution’s “Peace Salaam Shalom.” A recital of “Prayer for moms for all times and peace,” which was written by Sheikha Ibtisam Mahameed and Rabbi Tamar Elad-Applebaum.
The Saturday occasion nearly did not occur. Whereas Multifaith Voices for Peace & Justice prides itself on inclusiveness, occasion organizers acknowledged the problem of arising with the precise phrases to say throughout occasions of excessive divisiveness and trauma.
The Rev. Eileen Altman, who serves on the group’s Prayer Committee, mentioned the stress throughout the group’s ranks has been much like the stress throughout the wider neighborhood. Some members really feel like there hasn’t been sufficient sympathy for the devastation that occurred in Israel on Oct. 7. Others really feel like Israel’s subsequent navy actions in Gaza and assaults by Israeli settlers within the West Financial institution have not been given sufficient consideration, Altman mentioned in an interview.
Regardless of the problem in arising with a unified message, the group felt it is vital to rally and bear witness to the present second, she mentioned. Because the Oct. 7 terrorist assault, members of the multi-faith group have been in “excruciating ache collectively,” she mentioned.
“We have grieved collectively, we have puzzled what we would bear witness to throughout this very troublesome time,” mentioned Altman, affiliate pastor at First Congregational Church in Palo Alto. “We felt it was vital to bear witness for peace within the midst of this violence, as we have now for different wars. However we additionally struggled with what to say.
“We felt like, even when we do not fairly know what to say but, we all know we wish to pray collectively for peace. We wish to sing collectively, we wish to pray collectively. We wish to be collectively.”
The multi-faith group was born within the aftermath of 9/11 and the following conflict in Iraq. In 2003, members of varied Midpeninsula congregations began holding month-to-month conferences, which happen on the eleventh of every month as a commemoration of the group’s origin. At present, the group lists as its members 17 congregations and spiritual organizations, a roster that features Trinity Church in Menlo Park, American Muslim Voice, Mountain View Buddhist Temple, St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Palo Alto, and Beyt Tekkun in Berkeley.
Altman mentioned that because the group’s founding twenty years in the past, no situation has been as divisive and sophisticated as Israel and Palestine. That, she mentioned, is a mirrored image of the actual fact members of the group come from totally different locations and, as such, have totally different views and positions.
Diana Gibson, convener for Multifaith Voices for Peace and Justice, instructed the assembled crowd that the group made a aware resolution to maintain politics out of the occasion to create a “protected house” for everybody to hope collectively. For organizers, this meant banning indicators and cancelling audio system, Gibson mentioned.
The group thought of not doing something in any respect however determined that this was not an possibility, Gibson mentioned.
“For whereas it’s a vigil for peace within the Center East, we additionally desperately want peace right here and now,” Gibson mentioned. “The injuries are deep right here and, tragically, as everyone knows, the violence and hatred have struck right here as effectively. We couldn’t be silent. That mentioned, phrases may cause unintended ache.”
Sumina Sundas, one of many founders of Multifaith Voices for Peace & Justice, acknowledged the problem of displaying restraint and avoiding politics altogether throughout the current time.
Sundas mentioned in an interview she strongly helps a ceasefire in Israel and believes the state of affairs will solely worsen if issues stay on the present trajectory. However she additionally famous that a few of her Jewish colleagues are offended by that place. Her feedback on the vigil prevented any point out of a ceasefire.
“All of us are strolling on eggshells and the one motive we’re surviving is due to having these long-term relationships,” Sundas mentioned after the occasion.
If something, the latest battle has solely bolstered the significance of the multi-faith group and the relationships that its members had solid over the previous twenty years, she mentioned.
“We’re trustworthy and we care about one another,” Sundas mentioned. “Now we have rabbis within the group and I deeply care about them as a result of they’re constructing friendships. … The rationale we are able to do that specific work at this time is as a result of we have now relationships.”
These ties have been on show Saturday, as leaders from three totally different faiths – Jewish, Christian and Muslim – got here collectively to recite “Prayer of Moms for Life and Peace” in English, Arabic and Hebrew. On the conclusion of the vigil, all attendees stood in a circle to collectively recite a prayer for peace.
One of many objectives of the occasion, Sundas mentioned, is to encourage residents of various faiths and backgrounds to get to know each other. All religions, she famous, encourage their followers to like their neighbors.
“However the factor is, how will we love our neighbors if we do not even know them?” she mentioned. “So my request to my fellow People can be: Please get to know your neighbors. Get to know all people. As a result of the one means this may subside — this conflict and violence — is that if we see one another and see our humanity.”
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