it's coming

LAUNCH: Inauguration of the Universal Brotherhood Site at the Elizabeth Square in Budapest!

a message of the Golden Rule dedicated to GENFEST!

Day 1

The way I numbered my days had meaning to me, but probably made you question why?

Well I’ve been writing about my experiences related to Israel-Palestine, specifically the “Coexistence in the Middle East, the name of the summer course that drew me to live, study and experience Jerusalem. 11 was the number of classes we had as each day seemed to leave me questioning more because the situation grew in complexity. However it wasn’t until the end that I pieced the puzzle together, where I realized the answer I knew all along.

Before I say the answer, I’ll start with the question.

How can these two people- Israelis and Palestinians- find peace?

This question led to different opinions and beliefs as I searched for the answer from the outside, but the real answer I found within my own experiences.

Within every experience I’ve encountered persons,

Each person I’ve encountered either an Israeli, Arab, Christian, Jew, Muslim,

I’ve tried to love as a friend, a neighbour, a brother and sister.

I knew the answer all along because peace is possible not just between Israelis and Palestinians, but actually it is the deepest longing of all humanity and the only reason why I along with 12 000 other young people from around the world will amplify at GENFEST 2012 that 

only LOVE can change the world. 

Day 2

Yad Vashem Museum

 “To speak is to live” shared by a Holocaust survivor, when I visited Yad Vashem-Holocaust Memorial Museum.   Those words caught me off guard as living is speaking. However in the circumstances of the Holocaust, an injustice-

To speak is to live.

This Holocaust survivor shared living in “6 years of hell” because he kept silent of his experience, but he ended his story rightfully with saying that to make the world better, we must try

To love one another

That was the first time I visited the Holocaust Memorial Museum, it was to simply understand the foundation of the State of Israel, which 5 million Jews were displaced after WWII. Hearing the testimonies of the survivors and seeing the vivid images of the brutality and torture made me imagine the experience of the Jewish life during the Holocaust. I was determined to return again and I did so with my friend- a Palestinian. If you have understood my previous posts, this would be surprising because for Palestinians to understand how the Holocaust led to the State of Israel is to recognize their homeland “Palestine” being dissolved by Israel. Despite this fact that most people at the museum were either tourists or Jews, my Palestinian friend expressed her desire to share this experience with others-other Palestinians that is in hopes of being able to better understand the “Other”(Israeli).

Understanding is being educated.

and Education is the most powerful weapon which can be used 

to change the world. -Nelson Mandela

Day 3

Love wipes away all fear,

                                Fear is overcome by courage.

with my class in the middle of the desert

From the moment I started this summer course ‘Coexistence in the Middle East’ at Hebrew U, I retreated to my natural introverted self because I only knew one person prior and fearing of not being so academically inclined enough, I never spoke up about my opinions or asked questions. It was not until the end of the course, when I finally had the courage to take the initiative to share my own experiences because finally love for the others defeated my fear of self. 

love for the others is are no longer being selfish but selfless

From media’s perspective, Palestinians are portrayed as selfless mainly as suicide bombers*. However, Palestinians are almost nothing what you see in the media as I had first hand experiences in the Palestine territories such as Ramallah, Taybeh and Bethlehem. Ramallah is the central hub for Palestine, where a Muslim girl told me of her personal choice to wear the hijab**because she believed in dressing modestly in covering the beauty of hair away from men. That would probably shock any typical Westerner and Taybeh is the only all Christian village in all of the Holy Land-not to mention 1% of Israel-Palestine is Christians. I can’t explain to you the generosity I received in being invited to a pre-wedding party, had traditional Arabic food offered to me every 2 hours and being welcomed into my friend’s home. Lastly, Bethlehem was a simple charm, as a Palestinian invited me (and friends) into his Olive Wood Factory and was probably the nicest salesman in giving each of us a gift, despite not all having bought something.

Despite the media’s perspective of being brutally selfish as Palestinians,

I saw their selfless love for the others.

*Fundamentalists who have literal interpretations of the Qu’ran indicating the jihad “holy war,” which is fought at all costs against all non-Muslim namely Jews, Christians, etc.

**head covering for Muslim women

Day 4

Bittersweet feeling I have now that I left the Holy Land. Before leaving, I was thoroughly checked head to toe as well as my luggage because I had an Egyptian visa in my passport. This was not the first after having my bags checked every time I passed through malls, train stations and museums, only this time was it serious. This is totally normal as security is always a top priority for Israeli people. But why?

Well, an Israeli guy I met outlined it clearly, “We are afraid of them (Arabs, Egyptians, Palestinians, etc)-

Fear is our worst enemy.”

In a larger context, we as humans seem to be motivated by two emotions:

Inevitably the reason for the conflict here in the Middle East and above all problems throughout the world is that instead of trying to love, fear is the much easier choice.

fear and love.

 I’ve experienced both in the Israeli people as I visited Sderot, a city  in fear of missile attacks from Palestinians on a routine basis, but on an occasion I attended a Shabbat dinner (Jewish tradition every Friday).  This Jewish family (Israelis obviously) has been inviting strangers and friends into their home for over 30 years for a 3 course meal, songs and prayer. Despite being squished with 50 other people in one house, it was incredible to see their love for others and generosity towards each person.

How will you choose to act?

...out of

fear and love

Day 5

we waited and waited on the 14 hr journey

My journey to Jerusalem was nothing like what I expected-thinking that it would be pretty smooth this time from Cairo to Taba, it turned into a roller-coaster ride. What was suppose to be a 6 hour journey ended up being more than double because police cars were obliged to follow the bus for tourist protection. In short, North Sinai has been facing difficulties as terrorists from Gaza have killed 17 Egyptian soldiers as the terrorists tried to enter Israel through underground tunnels from Egypt. But in reality, this tourist protection is probably more affiliated with the Bedouin kidnappings, which are taken a bit too seriously.

Not to worry, there was not really anything I could do,
but remain patient despite having barely slept.
In the midst of waiting, I had the chance to  hear from a Palestinian traveling on the bus,
who shared his words about the situation between his people the Palestinians and the opposing Israelis.

He emphasized that they must love one another to find peace.

Not surprising I've heard these words from him- a Palestinian, also from a Holocaust survivor, another Israeli who lost his daughter to suicide bombings and many have mentioned similar thoughts.

i admire Gandhi
he found PEACE.

Just like my longer than expected journey to Jerusalem,
life is not merely arriving at the destination,
but rather the journey.
The journey to love one another as oneself
is the journey towards peace as the destination.

Day 6

Coming to the last day in Egypt after an unforgettable 10 days of traveling through the "dangerous" Sinai to getting stuck in Dahab for a night to snorkeling as I admired the life underwater then finally arriving in the crazy city of Cairo then enjoying the relaxation of the seashores of Alexandria, standing above the famous Giza pyramids, riding the Nile river on the slowest boat ever, smoking shisha in the Khali el Khalili markets and finding the best drink ever: 4 EGP (60 cents) Guava milkshake!

Above all the memories of the places are the people I spent it with because without them
it wouldn't be nearly the same.
Despite the different culture,
background, age, ethnicity,
where there's love, there's life.
and life is living each present moment to its fullest.

for me, fullest is defined
not in doing much, but doing less
not in being much, but being less

less for oneself, but more for others.

I'm constantly reminded of these words especially when I'm trying to figure out travel plans, it's easy to simply lose myself in thinking of the next location I need to be and the next person I need to meet, while forgetting the place and the person in front of me.

"He who lives in the present, lives eternally." (Ludwig Wittgenstein) 

Day 7

traveling in Sinai from Taba to Dahab to Cairo

A few days ago as I was sitting comfortably on the couch, I heard news of 15 Egyptian soldiers being killed in the Sinai region of Egypt due to terror attacks, then the next day a Canadian male using another Egyptian's identity was arrested in affiliation with the terrorist attacks. What a great time to be in Egypt, well at least I'm in Cairo at the moment. To say the least, getting to Cairo from Jerusalem was one crazy story as the journey to Eilat was smooth, crossing the border wasn't a big deal at Taba, getting the visa took some time, but then from Taba (Israel-Egypt border) was where the adventure started. You had many Egyptians telling you that the road from Taba to Cairo was closed and now looking back I know understand why. Not only because of some Bedouin kidnappings a few months ago (they are extremely friendly people), but because of terrorist attacks that happen near the Gaza Strip which is near North Sinai region.

When you are constantly bombarded with news stories that literally tear your heart into pieces,

you wonder when will they, Egyptians, Palestinians, Israelis find peace?

Who am I kidding to say they...
it's not they...but me, you, WE, US.

pictures describe better than words

by way of LOVE rather than indifference...
as yesterday I was waiting to enter the Egyptian museum, when a few Egyptians approached me asking to do a survey. After they had finished asking me about my opinion, I started to ask them about their experiences after the revolution (Egyptian regime of Mubarak was overthrown last February 2011). 
They believed in what I had mentioned earlier that there hasn't been much that has changed


because they reiterated that change is not around you.

change is in me, in you, in US.

But I forgot to mention that when they first came up to me, I had to change myself in not thinking that they were just another few annoying salespeople that roam everywhere in Egypt, 

but changing the way I thought by not judging... 

The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking.

 It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.

 (Albert Einstein)

Day 8

streets of Khali el Khalili markets

Being in Egypt is one crazy experience as every time you enter into a car, it feels like you're gripping for your life on a roller coaster ride. The streets have no lines, parking space is made, traffic lights are rare, crosswalks are on the road and basically  green means go and red means go but be careful. Also being here in Ramadan (40 day Muslim fasting period from 3 am to 6:45 pm no water no food) is even better when you have to take a sip of water or a snack privately because in public it is offensive.
The city comes alive when the hustle and bustle of the city overwhelms you

as your heart desires for the silence and peace experienced in the desert.

Staying in a bedouin tent in the midst of the desert is probably one of the most underrated experiences as food is eaten together while sitting down and sleeping is on floormats. Bedouins portrayed in the media are kidnappers, but they are actually very welcoming as they offered us tea and coffee (homemade) and cooked an amazing breakfast with eggs, cheese, tomatoes, eggplant, hummus and fruits. 

More importantly in the desert there's just endless silence.

There in the desert I could finally cancel out all unwanted noise and listen to the voice within

sunrise in the desert

I felt almost like nothing- a speck of dust in the desert 

where change has occurred as a gradual and slow process.

I closed my eyes to escape into the night as these words  become illuminated...

“Everybody thinks of changing the world,

but no one thinks of changing themselves.” (Leo Tolstoy)

Day 9

Swimming in the dead sea is definitely a unique experience where even the worst swimmer will survive because you can’t help but float on top. When I had the chance to experience this it wasn't the most pleasant experience when the water is over 40 degrees Celsius and you have to be careful not to get water into your mouth or eyes. Being stupid, I accidentally wiped my face leaving my eyes burning until I went to rinse them in tap water. 

You might wonder how and why this floating ordeal occurs. In the Holy Land, there’s two main bodies of water: Sea of Galilee and Dead sea-connected by the Jordan river. The Sea of Galilee receives water through the natural cycle and gives water to the Dead sea, but along with the water is the salt that flows into the Dead Sea leaving it with 30% salt content allowing the swimmer to never sunk. 

The Sea of Galilee has life because it receives and gives, 

where the Dead sea is "dead" because it receives but does not give. 

This basic explanation can translate into something greater,

meaning in life that the simple eye can understand through observing nature.

Life is forgiving love

simply put,

"To live is a rare thing, most people only exist" (Oscar Wilde)

Day 10

Justice or just US?

1948- 2000: Palestine (green) and Israel (white)

justice is the struggle for Palestinian freedom since 1948 when their Naqba started: the forceful evasion of Palestinians out of Israeli partitioned land.
just US is the struggle for the Israeli security since 1948 when their Holocaust passed as their dream of a Jewish state occurred named as Israel in the surrounding of 22 other Arab countries. 

Many hear of the Holocaust as I envisioned the story before my eyes when I went to the Yad Vashem museum- a Holocaust Memorial Museum, when a survivor told us of the torture day in and day out he experienced. However in the end he said, "we must try to love one another to make the world a better place."

On the other hand is the Naqba which is forbidden to be taught in Israeli schools and public demonstrations aren't allowed. So I’ve had the chance to visit many of my Palestinian friends and family from Jerusalem, Taybeh (near Ramallah), Haifa and Bethlehem. 
From speaking with all them, they share this common secret.







An elderly lady told me of her father being stabbed when he refused to leave his house and land, when a Jewish family knocked on their door and asked them to leave. Another friend shared with me of her grandparents who were forced to abandon their farm lands and home. You might hear of the pains of the Holocaust, but the Naqba is one that I've been able to see through my own eyes in their stories here in Palestine.


Each Jew, each friend, each Muslim, each neighbour has his/her story...
and it's the sharing of the suffering and pain
that unites these two people with two histories together
as one human being with one story...

is it Justice or Just US?

separate or better together?