05/04/2026
I am finally in Israel, and so happy to be here.
My husband and I had plans to spend 3 months here starting in March, but the day before our flight, the war with Iran began (it seems every time I plan to bring him here a war breaks out). We were going to come anyway but after they first cancelled and then rescheduled our flights, we showed up at the airport only to be told we wouldn't be allowed in.
Finally, this week I was able to get a flight, and here I am for a month, working with my partners (Silvia and our graduated colleagues) on gathering people and resources for a new program.
Our goal is stronger than ever, especially after our last program. How do we bring people from different perspectives, different belief systems, different cultures, together to meet face to face and in doing so, to learn from each other. And beyond learning from each other- to fight for all of our humanity.
We are learning to walk together. To see that difference is actually something inherently beautiful and enriching about life. It feels like that is an evolution that human consciousness is reaching for. The world is full of difference and always will be. That is part of what makes it so gorgeous and interesting. But It is difference that is often used to tear us apart. I know it doesn't have to be that way. I know there is another path to take and I for one want to be on that path.
It is not a simple project. There are always grumbles and complaints, misunderstanding about the very nature of what we are doing, and that is okay. How could it be otherwise? As humans we know how to fight, to hate, to separate, but to stand together across difference.... that is a whole other endeavor.
This isn't political. It is about life. It is about trying something different than the endless fighting and hatred that seem to be getting worse. If there is another way to be with difference, if we can use it to bring people together, or allow them to live together, then what might the world look like?
We don't pretend to know. We don't strive to be perfect; we strive to keep going. We strive to keep trying. We strive to do our best to do something that is difficult, beautiful, messy, and lifechanging. We strive to be a laboratory that allows something new and unknown to emerge. We have forged a path together, a big group of intrepid humans. Now we want to keep going and bring more people with us, until we are a huge weight of people tipping the scales, changing the direction that the world seems to be moving.
Can we do it? It is just such a worthy cause. We are the keepers of the flame, we are the ones who believe it is worth a try. Travel with us. Come try this path. It is such a profound journey.
Love from this Holy Land.
