Building peace across divides
I was fortunate to have taken my first trip to Israel and the Palestinian occupied territories in March 2017. For many years, my desire to visit Israel was driven by a connection to my Jewish background, admiration for the incredible story of redemption that Israel represents for those who went through the hell of the Holocaust and other anti-Semitic pogroms, and by my wanting to witness the legacy of the extraordinary history of this land.
I decided to go when I heard about the annual study tour sponsored by Healing Across the Divides (HATD). Based in Northampton and founded by Dr. Norbert Goldfield, Healing Across the Divides helps develop, fund and sustain public health projects for vulnerable people in Israel and the Palestinian occupied territories. Their goal is building peace through health.
Projects funded by Healing Across the Divides include Beterem, a program that works in both Jewish and Palestinian neighborhoods to decrease rates of child accidents and fatalities. Their cross-generational and cross-cultural model trains grandmothers to become agents of community change for saving lives, while increasing the social status of these elderly women.
Several grantee organizations work to support African asylum seekers in Israel by establishing family planning and other women’s health services and advocating for community members who are HIV-positive. Other projects supported by HATD include promoting empowerment and self-management for people with diabetes, educating women about the importance of breast-cancer screening, addressing domestic violence against women and girls, and drug-abuse prevention programs for teens.
During our trip, we were able to visit many varied communities and see Israel and the Palestinian occupied territories. Weaving back and forth across the separation wall gave us only a glimpse of the daily toll that occupation takes. I learned that there are many stories in this land, and they can all add to our understanding of a very complex region.
Most of all, we were inspired by programs we visited that enable marginalized people to gain the resources needed to live healthy lives in a deeply troubled place. The work of HATD has given us hope at a time when it is hard to feel positive about the prospects for peace and respect for human rights in this part of the world.
On Sunday, Nov. 11 from 3-5 p.m. at Edwards Church in Northampton, Patrick Levy and Nehad Fattah, HATD’s program directors from Israel and the Palestinian occupied territories will talk about the incredible and unique work of this organization. The conversation will be led by Mehlaqa Samdani, executive director of Critical Connections. All are invited.
Stan Schapiro
Northampton