Keeping the Faith
A group of Israeli Jews prepare for Shabbat. It is Friday evening and people arrive carrying food, speaking
Hebrew, greeting each other with "Shabbat Shalom" and sit together to celebrate. This scene is familiar in Jewish communities around the world but this one is different because we are all in a Bedouin community in the West Bank and the people gathered include, Israelis, internationals and local Palestinians. This group includes Jews, Christians and Muslims but all are welcome. The group stayed overnight to protect villagers and the next day dealt with sheep, goats, camels and settlers trespassing on Palestinian land. They also had to deal with unsympathetic Israeli police and some activists were violently assaulted by one of the 7 illegal settlers, accompanying the herds. In the middle of the chaos an Israeli Jewish activist started singing softly in Hebrew, to a very young settler (maybe 8 or 9 years old). The child looked mesmerized and just for a moment his face looked peaceful and he started to smile. A reminder that human connection is possible, even in this situation.
Every day in the community of Ras Ein Al Auja, Israeli activists from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, international Jews and those of other faiths, do non-violent, unarmed, civilian, protective presence, to protect this Bedouin community from aggressive, illegal Israeli settlers. The settlers trespass, causing damage and harm to local people, tryng to intimidate them into leaving the land, as they did successfully, only a few months ago, in nearby Mu'arajatt.
A few days after the Shabbat gathering the
village had a visit from a group of Jews from Neutori Karte, an ultra orthodox, anti zionist, group from Jerusalem. They came to show solidarity with the Palestinian community and the activists trying to protect them. They were happy to be photographed holding the Palestinian flag, a "Free Palestine" placard and one that declared "Anti-zionism is not anti-semitism". Members of the local community met and chatted with the group and were pleased to hear them condemn the actions of the illegal settlers.
Each of the Jewish activists has their own story about why they choose to defend Palestinians. They often describe a "light-bulb" moment where they looked at the actions of the Israeli Government or a soldier or listened to a friend and realized their values no longer aligned with those of their community. Some were brought up by parents who had always questioned the morality of how the occupation impacted Palestinian communities. It takes courage to take a stand that challenges the position of the majority of your own community.
Around the world, since October the 7
th 2023, many Jews have protested and condemned the actions of the Israeli Government in Gaza and the West Bank.
As a result of the continuous presence in the village, by Israeli activists, numerous villagers speak Hebrew and most of the Israelis speak some Arabic. Many of the Israeli activists have been challenging illegal settlers and the Israeli occupation, all over the West Bank, for years and some joined just after October 7th, 2023.
Activists who are able to communicate in Hebrew to soldiers, police and settlers improve the efficiency and strength of the activist teams. It is interesting to witness both activists and settlers using Jewish religious beliefs to justify very different behavior.
It is a rare and beautiful thing for Palestinians to know and trust Israeli Jews, to see them going through hell to protect them. It is perhaps, particularly important for the children of the village to witness this. The presence of activists, especially Israeli Jewish activists, gives hope and shows what is possible. It is a true example of love, compassion and real humanity and of course, their faith, in action.
