Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor
by Yossi Klein Halevi
One of the mid-year RAs provided me their favorite book to
read, and it is a great one! Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor by
Yossi Klein Halevi. The book is a series
of letters that the author composes in an effort to explain the Jewish story
and the significance of the state of Israel to Palestinians, who live on the
other side of the wall. Haveli’s goal is
to provide historical context and move towards peace between the two
societies. The inability of both Jewish
and Palestinians to understand and accept the centuries old divide and offer a
path to a future living together in a peaceful existence is a bitter sword in
the side of both cultures. The book is a
powerful read and provides context, important in this world where we seek to be
understood first. For those who are
unaware of the depths of the divide, read it.
We need more people who seek creative solutions. Religion, power, land,
and politics are dividing points. What
is the commonality? Pain, love of
family/God, historical significance of the land, and recognizing that, while we
may not agree with another’s beliefs, we should all respect that each person
deserves to have their faith’s traditions honored. In many ways, each letter could serve as an
opportunity to understand the history of the conflict, especially what has
happened since 1947. In this era of
divide, reading a book that asks readers to listen is important.
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