www.peacexpeace.org from Little Film Studio on Vimeo.

Whenever I see a Catalyst video I am always reminded of the interviews from the women of 60 Years, 60 Voices. It trully is remarkable to think that through the years there are still women who are working for peace and believe in the idea. Let us always work to raise up their voices.

Here is a look at 60 Years, 60 Voices from the author as well as new things Peace x Peace is doing to present women what is happening on the front lines in Israel and Palestine. The voices must continue on.

Please also check out our  facebook page:

www.facebook.com/60Years60Voices

These are just a few quotes from some of the brave women who were interviewed for 60 Year 60 Voices. A collection of interviews written in 2008. Their story lives on today as we continue their legacy by keeping the discussion of Israeli and Palestinian peace alive. We invite you to join us as we continue to update this blog, our facebook page, and twitter account of the stories of women from the area of conflict and what we all can do to bring justice and peace to the Middle East. Hopefully through the posts we can inspire you to not only get the book yourself, but also to teach others the importance of hearing all voices, especially women’s, when dealing with conflict resolution and peace.

In conclusion, one thing most of all strikes me as I read through the interviews. Most, if not all, of these women believe that peace can happen. It is not some abstract ideal or belief that can never be reached but an actual tangible goal. As one woman says, “People don’t use it (Peace) anymore, and someone has to remind everyone this concept exists. Someone has to believe it is possible.” Peace is possibly according to the people who live there. Let us believe it also.

In Hebron, the army has evacuated the disputed home. In Afula, a town in the North, both the families of Gavriel and Rivka Hertzberg are sitting shiva, seven days of sitting on small chairs and receiving those who comfort them. But even mourning takes a break on Shabbat, from Friday night to Saturday night. As the week comes to an end, our pace changes. Tomorrow night I will wear white clothes and go to my synagogue, join with hundreds of others in the harmonious singing that welcomes the Sabbath, like a bride, into our hearts.

From Jerusalem,
Barbara Sofer

This morning I went to a conference on Chronic Diseases for Children at Hadassah’s Mount Scopus hospital. Several hundred medical professionals from different fields and from all different ethnic backgrounds were there. There was a particularly interesting lecture about the dilemmas of child adoption.

Today in Jerusalem, our new mayor Nir Barkat takes office. He’s a person of good character, intelligence and vision and I wish him the best in helping to solve the complex problems of our very special city.

I was also involved in a meeting about a fundraising dinner for a new center to make the diagnosis process easier and more effective for women with possible breast cancer. So many women miss early detection because they are afraid of the testing. Breast cancer is a scourge for Jewish and Palestinian women, of course.

I also dropped in at the Hadassah Hospital emergency room to say a quick hello to my daughter, a new nurse. Lots of sick kids—no time for coffee. Too bad. There’s an Aroma café, my favorite brand, on the Hadassah campus. I got up at my usual 6:00 AM to finish my Jerusalem Post column. The last one, on Peacexpeace was picked up by usatoday.com! The archive of my columns is on my website www.barbarasofer.com

This morning began with a brit milah, called a bris in the US, the 8th day circumcision ceremony for a baby boy. This baby is the grandson of close friends and I know his parents very well, too. Brit means covenant and Dad Yossi talked about the different covenants in the Bible, promises beginning with Noah and then strengthened with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob of G-d’s continued involvement with the human race in general and the Jewish people in particular—for better or worse. And do we have to constantly confirm our part of the covenant by acting in a way demanded by G-d? Yes, answered Yossi. Acting in a godly way is a constant challenge. There’s the letter of the law, but we are commanded to go beyond the letter of the law in our personal interactions. In Israel, attending a brit is important enough to come late to work, as I did. The baby was named for his great-grandfather Rabbi Yitzhak who left Hungary in 1928 when ruffians surrounded him and cut off his side locks. It turned out well. His presence in the US allowed him to save most of his family from the Nazis. The family moved to Israel after Independence. I remember Rabbi Yitzhak well—particularly for his amazing sense of humor which survived the many traumas of his life. It’s a lesson to us all.

And speaking of Thanksgiving and life lessons, did you know that it was established as a national holiday by Abraham Lincoln who saw all we needed to be thankful for despite the Civil War?