Musalaha Newsletter
March 2004
Women in Reconciliation
Women's Conference
Coming Events and Prayer Requests
Munayer Family News
Women in Reconciliation
In regions of conflict, women play an important role in conflict-resolution and reconciliation. Their roles in society prime them for their unique contributions to reconciliation activities. In Musalaha's experience, women have been active in our projects since the beginning. From conferences and desert encounters to prayer meetings, Palestinian and Israeli women have come together to participate in the process of reconciliation.
Men and women experience and deal with conflict differently. On a political level, women are less involved than men in formal discussions and policy making. In resolving conflict, they have different approaches and access to different resources than men. Women and children often take the brunt of the violence, being victims more often than perpetrators. However, they are not confined to a passive role; rather they are widely involved in many stages of conflict-transformation and reconciliation. Women are survivors and protectors, activists and educators.
Women's roles and occupations in their communities give them unique skills and positions to be active on various levels of peacebuilding . Women are often found in occupations such as teaching and social services, where they can have impact on younger generations. They have great influence in the home. As mothers they are responsible for educating and passing on values to the next generation. Mothers are also instrumental in developing a child's sense of cultural identity, world view, and shaping perspectives on the enemy and conflict. Women have influence in communities and in the home, therefore involving them in reconciliation activities can also introduce others to the process.
In a paper on women in reconciliation, Aisake Casimira outlined three unique qualities that women have to offer. 1 First , they are apt to focus on narratives. While men tend to discuss issues and negotiate positions, women share stories of community life. They feel comfortable in the exchange of personal narrative and experience.
"Aside from the capacity to respond effectively by creating safe space, women also have a specific narrative of their own. Women know what it means to be different. Stories throughout history attest to the fact that women are one, if not the most oppressed, exploited and abused group of people in our human history, simply because of being different. That is the narrative; the experience of being different and its consequence throughout history...The experience of being different is to teach others the dignity of difference."
Second, this awareness of what it means to be different may be a key resource in reconciliation. Understanding difference helps when it comes to facing and embracing others' differences. Third, women have "ability to give grief a public expression." The role of grief, of coping with personal and others' losses, is intrinsic to reconciliation. A sincere understanding of the other only comes with a willingness to understand pain, to accept, to confess and forgive.
Women involved in Musalaha's activities reflect these trends. They have shared their stories of how they came to reconciliation. Many of their stories traced journeys from places of hatred to acts of embrace. Tears have been shed; sins confessed; lessons learned. Women have expressed grief that comes with living in this conflict, and drawn attention to the painful effects of the situation.
Last month, 15 women met to discuss their roles in their communities and homes. The group represented teachers, counselors, women in various work places and in ministries. In conversations, differences have emerged. The group has repeatedly grappled with these differences, trying to make sense and understand one another's cultures, politics and theology. Often we have returned to the issues, looking at the Scriptures and questioning how to build unity with such conflicting identities. How do we live out the words of Ephesians 2? "For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.." Each encounter ends with the questions, "Where do we go from here?" "What do we do with this practically?"
In our last conference, one woman shared about her role in the community and her impetus for reconciliation.
"The verse I mentioned, goes on, ' Open your mouth for the speechless in the cause of all who are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously and plead the cause of the poor and needy.' Prov . 31:8&9. This verse seems to be my life verse. I guess I am drawn to the underdog. I am bothered by injustice. I hate exclusivity and inequality or anything that is 'elite' that would exclude 'the other.' The people I admire most are the Mother Theresa's of the world, the faithful tillers of the soil and not the stars..As a junior high English teacher, I speak to 70 adolescents. Along, with grammar, I try to impart to them biblical principals and respect for each other. I allow no racist talk in my classroom. And, I speak to my children who hopefully will speak to other children who hopefully will speak to others, spreading the message of God's love through his Son, and peace and reconciliation through Him."
Many women like this one are impacting their communities with the message of reconciliation. As a result, Musalaha is searching for more ways in which to empower and involve women in the process. This month's newsletter highlights the women's conference and explores women's roles as peacemakers. Thank you for your prayers and support of these projects and of other upcoming activities.
1. Aisake Casimira . (2003). The Role of Women in Developing a Culture of Peace. Paper presented at the Ministry of Reconciliation and Unity workshop titled "The Hand that Rock the Cradle holds the key to a United Fiji "
Women's Conference
As more than 150 women gathered in the conference hall at the Notre Dame conference center, there was something special about the atmosphere. There was excitement in the air, and irregardless of what was planned for them this weekend, the women were happy to be there. They seemed to have very gentle and open spirits toward one another.
It was not easy for everyone to come. There are a variety of factors that influence participation. In past years several of the Palestinian women were unable to receive permission to leave the Palestinian areas and hadn't been able to attend. This year they miraculously received the necessary permits at the last minute. For other women, there are other considerations. Some have hestitated because of concerns about the challenges of meeting with believers from the other side. What if they push a political agenda? What if we cannot see eye-to-eye? This year several women who have been uncertain about participating in the past were able to attend. The conference was full to capacity and we even had to put participants on the waiting list.
Each conference is unique, and the highlight of this one was the worshipful atmosphere. The worship team led the women into a deep and rich time of worship at the beginning of each session. One participant wrote: "I thought the worship was very special and intimate, and that the worship team did a great job leading everyone into fellowship with God." Worshipping together was one of the main focuses of the conference, and this led to unity of spirit and intimate prayer times as a group, where people prayed in Arabic, Hebrew, Russian, and English. There was a sweet spirit and atmosphere from the outset of each session.
An Israeli participant shares her experience: "I thought the conference was outstanding. The worship was superb and rich, as were many of the sharings . The simplicity and the depth of women praying and worshipping together is very moving and meaningful, for me. Since I have a few friends now, I felt a lot more comfortable than previously, and it was good to see familiar faces and to meet new people. A particularly moving time for me, was after we all sang, "You are the Lord of glory....with healing in your wings" in our own languages, when one of my sisters began to cry and pray, in Arabic, and I felt as though I understood her completely, based on just the few significant words!. At least, I understood the cry of her heart, which is my own. I can heartily "amen" what (one of the leaders) shared, in that our spirits leap within us when we recognize each other, and seeing the faces of some of my sisters is as though I see the face of God."
The theme of the conference was 'Women who inspire: women of the Bible, saints of the past and present." We focused on women of the Bible and our communities who inspire us especially in the area of reconciliation and peace-building. An Israeli and a Palestinian led the sessions and presented each one of the conference speakers. Seven speakers in all, Israelis, Palestinians and local internationals shared from their hearts about Biblical women, such as Naomi, Mary, and Hannah, whose experiences inspire them to be involved in ministry, charity and reconciliatory work in the country.
There was no political talk. The bottom line was our personal and intimate walks with God, and the ways that these have inspired women from the past. We also heard from women who inspire us today to love and serve those around us, whatever culture or people group He has placed us in.
A Palestinian participant shares: "I was really strengthened by the conference; specifically by the fellowship, the excellent worship and the strong sense of God's presence amongst us." This participant shares that various women who attended from her church called her after the conference to tell her how much the conference had influenced them, or of spiritual breakthroughs they had during the time of worship and prayer. She sums up by saying: "There really was a strong spirit of love between the women."
Coming Events and Prayer Requests
We appreciate your prayers for upcoming events.
-Young Adults Follow-up Conference, March 19-20. Young adults and students who participated in last year's Desert Encounter will reunite for a weekend of fellowship, activities, and study.
-Youth Leaders Conference, April 1-4. Youth leaders who participated in Musalaha's previous youth leaders training conferences are invited to participate in advanced training. Youth for Christ will once again provide excellent training for youth leaders from Palestinian and Israeli congregations.
- Theological Consultation, May 21. Miroslav Volf , professor at Yale and author of Exclusion and Embrace, will join leaders and others for a day seminar. He will discuss the theme "Living with the other."
-Leaders and Families Conference, August 8-14. Twenty leaders and their families will travel to Germany for this conference. From our experience in 2001, this was a very successful and fruitful event, as the families were able to build strong and lasting relationships. Please pray for our staff as they make the necessary travel arrangments and preparations for the conference.
Munayer Family News
It has been a busy winter for the Munayer family. We had a nice Christmas and just the other day, the boys were able to enjoy the snow for a couple of hours, although it wasn't much by European or American standards. Snow in Jerusalem is always exciting for the children, and even a small amount is enough to bring the city into a state of chaos. Schools were cancelled for one day, to the boys' delight.
We celebrated 3 birthdays in January and February. In two weeks, Jack, our oldest, recently gave up swimming for volleyball. Daniel participated in the national junior swimming competition. His relay team received the bronze medal, and he placed 7th in the backstroke!
Kay's mother is coming for a visit in two weeks, so we are all looking forward to having her around. Kay has been busy making and selling 200 jars of marmalade to raise money for the Shepherd Society in Bethlehem .
Salim continues to travel to Bethlehem and up to Nazareth to teach at the Bethlehem Bible College and its extension in the Galilee . They have just finished printing the second book in the Christian education curriculum for religious education in Palestinian Schools. He was able to make a very quick visit to Arizona to speak about Musalaha , managing to exchange the Jerusalem snowfall for the American desert.
