Embracing Israel/Palestine
by Rabbi Michael Lerner
A major modern conundrum is how the Arab/Israel conflict remains unresolved and, seemingly, unresolvable. In this inspirational book, Rabbi Michael Lerner suggests that a change in consciousness is crucial. With clarity and honesty, he examines how the mutual demonization and discounting of each sides’ legitimate needs drive the debate, and he points to new ways of thinking that can lead to a solution. Lerner emphasizes that this new approach to the issue requires giving primacy to love, kindness, and generosity. It calls for challenging the master narratives in both Israel and Palestine as well as the false idea that homeland security can be achieved through military, political, economic, or media domination. Lerner makes the case that a lasting peace must prioritize helping people on all sides (including Europe and the U.S.) and that real security is best achieved through an ethos of caring and generosity toward the other. As many spiritual leaders have taught, problems like these cannot be solved at the same level at which they originated-one must seek higher ground, and that becomes a central task for anyone who wants a sustainable peace.
Learn more and purchase this book here
Jerusalem PeaceMakers December 21st
$15 in adv. $20 at the door. No one turned away for lack of funds.
Eliyahu McLean is the director of the Jerusalem Peacemakers, a network of religious leaders and grassroots peacebuilders in Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Eliyahu was initiated as a 'Rodef Shalom', 'Peace Pursuer' by Reb Zalman Schachter Shalomi.
Eliyahu's work with Palestinian Sufis is written about in the book "At the Entrance to the Garden of Eden: A Jew's Search for God with the Christians and Muslims in the Holy Land" by Yossi Klein Halevi.
Sheikh Ghassan Manasra is the director of the Islamic Cultural Center in Nazareth, a center promoting tolerance and interfaith dialogue. Ghassan is an ordained sheikh, and an expert in Quran, Islamic law, philosophy and theology. He is the son of Sheikh Abdel Salaam Manasra, the head of the Qadiri Sufi order in the Holy Land. Ghassan lives in Nazareth with his wife and five children and has an MA in Arabic literature from the Hebrew University. Ghassan is a Fulbright scholar who taught about Islam at the Catholic University in Washington, DC in the fall of 2008.
Jack Kornfield is one of the leading Buddhist teachers in America. A practitioner for over 40 years, he is one of the key teachers to introduce mindfulness and vipassana meditation to the West. His approach emphasizes compassion, lovingkindness and the profound path of mindful presence. He will be opening this event with a meditation.
Learn more about the Jerusalem Peacemakers at www.jerusalempeacemakers.org
