The Words of the Jordan Family
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The Words of the Jordan Family |
Jerusalem, Israel -- UPF-Israel hosted people from Ghana and Benin for a Middle East Peace Initiative trip December 16 to 22. Rev. Paterne Zinsou, a sub-regional director of UPF-Africa brought two guests from Ghana and eight from Benin. Among them were a former Minister of Health from Ghana, the Consul of Israel in Benin, and several Christian and Muslim religious leaders.
The welcoming event took place at the Jerusalem Gold Hotel on the evening of December 16. Four Israeli Ambassadors for Peace gave welcoming addresses: Rafael Olivier -- a teacher of interfaith programs, Dr. Shelley Elkayam -- CEO of Research Institute Impact SE, Prof. Eldad Pardo -- a renowned specialist about Iranian culture, and Mr. Igor Meskin. All spoke about the peace process with Prof. Pardo emphasizing how the Middle East Peace Initiative has positively influenced the situation in Israel since 2003 starting at the bottom and gradually reaching up to higher levels in the society. He added that the revolutionary thought of UPF Founder Rev. Sun Myung Moon provides the best way out of the Middle East conflict.
On Friday December 17, the group visited the Yad Va'Shem -- the Holocaust Museum. After lunch at the Jerusalem Theater they visited the birthplace of John the Baptist and other sites in Ein Kerem. The day came to a wonderful conclusion with Kabalat Shabat (the traditional Jewish ceremony of welcoming the Sabbath) conducted graciously by Rabbi Doron and Mrs. Rosa Shmueli.
The next day, the group shared an interfaith meeting and after breakfast received an orientation by Mr. Hod Ben Zvi, the National Advisor to UPF-Israel. This included guidance on being a peacemaker. It was followed by a talk on Israel-Africa relations by Dr. Arie Oded, a former Israeli Ambassador to Africa. Next the participants visited the traditional Christian holy sites, including the Mount of Olives, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Via Dolorosa, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Western Wall, Mount Zion, King David's Tomb, and the Last Supper Room.
Following an interfaith meditation and breakfast on Sunday, the group visited Jericho and then Qumran, having an opportunity to visit shops there and have lunch. In the afternoon they went into the Dead Sea. In the evening Prof. Glaubach gave a talk touching on political issues but mostly sharing his heart with the guests and explaining how the Ethiopian Jews came into existence through King Solomon's wife, the Queen of Sheba. Rev. Paterne who had been leading this group had to return back to Benin for important UPF activities there.
On Monday, following the normal morning activities the group headed north to Galilee to visit the Jordan River and feel the power of its waters. They continued to Tabcha, Capernaum, and up to Ein Gev Kibbutz for a Peter's fish lunch overlooking the Sea of Galilee and the beginnings of the Golan Heights. Later they continued to Nazereth, with a short stop at Cana, and the Church of the Annunciation in time to hear the last mass of the day before returning back to Jerusalem.
After the morning activities on Tuesday, the group went to Bethlehem and later was hosted in Ramallah by Mr. Kamal Thabet, Secretary General of UPF-Palestine. They met with the Palestinian Minister of Religion and had lunch together. In the evening after dinner there was a closing ceremony, Ambassador for Peace certificates were presented, followed by a beautiful time in which everyone shared their experiences and their determination to bring a lot more guests for the next Middle East Peace Initiative program in April.
On December 22, most of the group returned to their countries. Although the group was small but gave us the opportunity of meeting each one personally; there were opportunities for a very special relationship to develop with each person and sense the quality of each participant's heart.