This morning, I took my youngest grandson, all of 9 months old, to the medical center for an appointment because his parents were at work. Even though I firmly believe that I would never forget him in the car, I make a point of putting my phone and pocketbook on the floor in the back of the car (and as I have a key-less car, I place the key in the bag in the backseat with him).
I parked the car in the shade, opened the back door so that it would not get hot in the car and as I explained to him what I was doing - because I firmly believe in speaking to babies all the time and to this little one in particular because I want him to hear English - I opened the trunk and got out the carriage. As I was taking the baby from the car to put him in the carriage, an Arab was sweeping the street nearby.
Maale Adumim has won many awards for its beauty and for its cleanliness. Baby in my arms, I wished the Arab good morning. And he responded by wishing me a good morning back. Nothing exceptional there...but it continued.
He wished me an easy fast, knowing that Yom Kippur is coming in just a few days. He wished me a quiet day - which in Israel is synonymous for a day without terror attacks. Yesterday there was an attack and three Israelis were murdered.
Like the elephant in the room - those things we think about but don't say, he continued by saying "It isn't in the Torah and it isn't in the Koran," he told me. "We need to have peace. We will have peace."
I told him that I hope he is right and he answered that we have to make peace and again wished me a good day.
I don't know where he lives. I don't really know if he was a Beduoin or an Israeli but what I do know is that conversations like this do so much to restore my hope for the future.
Do I believe there will be peace between Jews and Arabs in the future? Sadly, the answer is still no...but do I hope there will be? More than you can ever imagine.
I parked the car in the shade, opened the back door so that it would not get hot in the car and as I explained to him what I was doing - because I firmly believe in speaking to babies all the time and to this little one in particular because I want him to hear English - I opened the trunk and got out the carriage. As I was taking the baby from the car to put him in the carriage, an Arab was sweeping the street nearby.
Maale Adumim has won many awards for its beauty and for its cleanliness. Baby in my arms, I wished the Arab good morning. And he responded by wishing me a good morning back. Nothing exceptional there...but it continued.
He wished me an easy fast, knowing that Yom Kippur is coming in just a few days. He wished me a quiet day - which in Israel is synonymous for a day without terror attacks. Yesterday there was an attack and three Israelis were murdered.
Like the elephant in the room - those things we think about but don't say, he continued by saying "It isn't in the Torah and it isn't in the Koran," he told me. "We need to have peace. We will have peace."
I told him that I hope he is right and he answered that we have to make peace and again wished me a good day.
I don't know where he lives. I don't really know if he was a Beduoin or an Israeli but what I do know is that conversations like this do so much to restore my hope for the future.
Do I believe there will be peace between Jews and Arabs in the future? Sadly, the answer is still no...but do I hope there will be? More than you can ever imagine.
Dear Paula,
ReplyDelete" he continued by saying 'It isn't in the Torah and it isn't in the Koran,' he told me. 'We need to have peace. We will have peace.' "
I think it is in the Torah: Peace will!
For all!
"The word that Yeshayah-yahu the son of Amoz saw concerning Yhudah and Yerushalayim.
And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of YY 's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of YY , to the house of the Elohim of Yaakov; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of TZiyon shall go forth the Torah, and the word of YY from Yerushalayim.
And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."
(Isaiah 2. 1-4)
This is my expectation.
This is my confidence.
Peace is Peace with YHWH!
First, Judah!
First, Jerusalem!
Enemies of Israel will be smashed.
All.
Iran / Persia will learn soon.
But also Europe and its papal church in Rome, as well as their still renegade "sister"-churches.
They are enemies of YHWH in their hearts, and will go against Israel to subdue it.
This will be their end.
Not humans ... YHWH will do that.
Because - Israel is the property of YHWH.
Then will be the peace of which Amoz heard.
So I think in my heart.
I expect that.
And I'm waiting for it.