We spent the day in and around Hebron with an extraordinary man, Yehuda Shaul, a founder member of a group called ‘Breaking the Silence’ (ex-Israeli soldiers who talk about their experiences in the occupied territories). It was one testing day, made even more ‘interesting’ because the place was swarming with religious Jews from all over the country come to celebrate Sarah (Hebron being the place purported to be the tomb of Abraham and Sarah). We were threatened and intimidated by some of the settlers, because Yehuda was known to them.
We then trekked up a steep hill to have a peaceful lunch with a volunteer from the ‘Youth against Settlements’ group (a Palestinian organisation whose founding principle is non-violence) up at their community centre, overlooking the city and surrounded by settlers. It was quite a contrast.
We thought we knew what to expect – but of course, we didn’t.
The approach to the tomb – soldiers and religious Jews
The yellow flag represents Chabad messianism, or Lubavitch messianism. Wikipedia says this generally refers to the passion among adherents of the Chabad movement regarding the coming of the Messiah and their goal to raise awareness that his arrival is imminent. In addition, the term also refers more specifically to the belief that Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, Chabad’s seventh leader, is the Messiah.
Issa Amro, Youth Against Settlements
Yehuda Shaul, Breaking the Silence
Young man trying to intimidate by taking photos and shouting
Sadly the Hindutva fanatics are leading India down the same road and slowly and surely destrroying the secular foundation of our country just as has happened in Isreal
It’s both appalling and sad to see the rise of such intolerance
Absolutely – far too much of this stuff.
All very sobering – must have been a thought-provoking day. Not nice being shouted at though.
They were mostly shouting at our guide and telling us not to listen to his lies. Nasty atmosphere though – can’t imagine what it must be like to be a Palestinian and put up with that crap every day.
At least we’ve had very little of it – others have to put up with this constantly, as we were reminded yesterday when two young people (from an organisation called CPT)N who were standing near us rushed off to go and record an incident of Palestinians being abused.
After what happened at the holocaust you would think that the religious Jews would want to live in peace but they are so fanatical and brainwashed by their religion.
Indeed they are – they also seem to operate outside the law in terms of claiming ‘their’ land.
I am not sure the brainwashing is the religion – it’s more those who interpret beliefs and are messianic about certain things.
What a difficult experience! Very tricky. All forms of fanaticism and absolutism are really equally abhorrent. We have such awful histories of what they do. It would be nice to think such dispositions were in decline but the opposite seems to be true at present… Have a peaceful time! G
Well, today we went to some v beautiful gardens built by the peace loving Baha’i community and had a delicious lunch in a Druze village – both very different, and peaceful, experiences
Thanks Gabriele – and it’s so sad that so many people don’t subscribe to this fanaticism.
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Hi Miriam and Sue. I wonder if any of your other followers share my experience of having found themselves no longer receiving email updates of your latest postings. Since the one of the soldiers in Jerusalem I’ve not had anything and have had to trawl back to that posting to access the more recent ones. Seems suspicious – or perhaps it’s just a techno blunder on my part… Sounds as if you’re continuing to have an interesting time…. Can’t wait to hear more on your return. Diana
Tech not my area of course but could the email alerts be slipping away into your spam folder?
Hi Diana. Thanks for the feedback. From the list on the website, you are following us as a WordPress user (others follow us through email). I think Sue’s right – maybe check spam? And if that doesn’t work, try subscribing via email (by pressing the button on the side) and seeing if that works. Otherwise, not sure what the problem is.
Look forward to talking more when we get back.
Miriam. XX
Really enjoying your posts Sue & Miriam. Looking forward to connecting with you when you are back. Sounds both a fascinating & enjoyable trip.