October 17, 2005.
Palestinian/Jewish dialogue-Camp Tawonga Revisited
Michael Roosevelt Katten Ramon An evening on "Middle East Dialogue.
Co-sponsored by the Noe Valley Ministry and WIDME - Women's Interfaith
Dialogue on the Middle East
"An Evening of Shared Hope: Revisiting the September Camp Tawonga
Jewish-Palestinian Weekend."
Main Speakers will be: Elias Botto and Michael Roosevelt Katten, plus
additional participants. A musician referred by Jonathan Dimmock, S F
Symphony keyboardist and founder of Arts to the Nation, will play
preceding the talks.
According to an article by Alexandra J. Wall in the September 23rd
Jewish News Weekly, this year's Jewish-Arab family camp included 20 people
from the Middle East who were flown here through fund-raising by local
Jews and Palestinians. This third annual peacemakers weekend was vastly
different than the first two, with far more people in attendance and,
in particular, many more from the Middle East. Including Tawonga staff,
there were about 140 people, with an almost even number of Arabs and
Jews.
"We want to be as inclusive as possible, and anyone who has an interest
in furthering the peace process is welcome,"said Michael Katten, a
Tawonga board member.
Sitting by the Tuolumne River, a final ceremony was held in which Jews
and Arabs washed each other's hands in the water. The camp offered many
opportunities for hearing each other's perspectives, even on difficult
issues. Participants discussed such contentious issues as the fate of
Jerusalem and the Palestinian right of return. Jewish and Arab children
of the participants played together, providing a glimpse of what the
future could look like.
Warmest Regards. Peace! Shalom! Salaam! and L'Shana Tova - Your Hosts
October 31, 2005 -
The City Repair project.
Portland, Oregon's
innovative neighborhood uplift volunteer program on video, followed
by a "what can we learn?' discussion.
