Permanent link for "Israel and Gaza: Is there a better way?" by Douglas Kindschi, Sylvia and Richard Founding Director, Kaufman Interfaith Institute, GVSU on May 7, 2024

The violence and death of innocents continues in the Middle East. Over 1,200 Israelis were killed, and hundreds taken hostage by Hamas on October 7.  The response from Israel has led to over 34,500 Palestinians killed in the retaliation. 

Here in the U.S., many are responding in the form of protests, advocacy, education, and donating to humanitarian causes. At the Kaufman Interfaith Institute, our priority, in our West Michigan community and on our Grand Valley State Universitycampus, is to prevent and counter Antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other related forms of religious-based that are surging across our country because of this geopolitical conflict. This continues to be our approach and our highest priority.

Yet, we are not alone in pursuing empathy and understanding amid this crisis. Others have undertaken a similar approach in response to this terrible suffering, the likes of which too often leads to more conflict and violence. One example involves someone who has been on our campus before. Aziz Abu Sarah is a Palestinian who grew up in East Jerusalem and experienced as a 9-year old child the capture of his older brother on suspicion of throwing rocks. His brother was arrested, beaten, and when finally released died from internal injuries to his body during the torture.  

Aziz grew up with a hatred of Jews for the death of his brother, but later he decided to study Hebrew since that was the only way to get ahead in that culture.  For the first time he met teachers and students who were Jews. They didn’t know his story and he didn’t know theirs. As he got to know them better he realized that the continual hatred on both sides was not the way to peace and justice. Revenge doesn’t lead to justice, just more hate. He decided it was his choice to find a different way. He and a new Jewish friend founded a travel company that puts Jewish and Palestinian guides together to explore and learn about both communities in that part of the world. You can learn his story in the short video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-4j-S3U5Fo&t=231s

Aziz recently became friends with another Israeli, Maoz Inon, who lost his parents and many childhood friends in the October 7 attack on the communities near the Gaza border. Aziz and Maoz had only met briefly once prior to the attack, but Maoz said that Aziz was one of the first to respond to him with condolence following the attack and thatcontact was important to him.

Aziz in turn responded with his surprise on how this Israeli was also grieving the death of so many Gazans. He said to Maoz, “you’re not only crying for your parents, you’re also crying for the people in Gaza who are losing their lives, and that you do not want what happened to you to be justifying anyone taking revenge. You do not want to justify war. And it's so hard to do that. So much easier to want revenge, to be angry.” 

Aziz continues that he needed more time after his brother’s death from Israeli soldiers.  He wanted revenge, and it was onlyyears later after getting to know Jews that he realized that could choose instead to find ways to partner in understanding difference and not be angry and hateful.

Maoz agrees, saying “that the first step in reaching a shared society and a shared future is knowing the other side's narrative. … And I learned so much in the recent months from speaking, dialoguing with Palestinians, I learned that we must forgive for the past. We must forgive for the present. But we cannot and should not forgive for the future.”

Aziz says heknows of countless victims in Gaza, including a friend who lost 50 members of his family. He responds to Maoz, “We are angry. I am very angry. Every time I read the newspaper, I'm angry. Every time I talk to one of my friends in Gaza, I am angry. But the thing is, I do not let anger, and we do not let anger, drown us in hate and wanting vengeance.

 “People look at us and think we are divided because you’re Israeli and I’m Palestinian, Muslims and Jews,” he tells Maoz. “But if you must divide us, people should divide us as those of us who believe in justice, peace, and equality, and those who don’t — yet.” 

You can watch the 17-minute Ted talk at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0juLRi90kRg

 

Let us all seek understanding instead of vengeance and work together for justice and peace.

[email protected]

Posted by Kyle Kooyers on Permanent link for "Israel and Gaza: Is there a better way?" by Douglas Kindschi, Sylvia and Richard Founding Director, Kaufman Interfaith Institute, GVSU on May 7, 2024.