Producing a second issue of Shabbat Shalom on peace is a symbolic gesture. It means that peace has not yet been achieved; it also means that we have not abandoned hope.
Debating about peace has never been so needed and relevant. And beyond the local and violent tension in the Middle East, we may even wonder about other programs of peace.
The “impossible” peace between Jews and Arabs stands out like a paradigm that would speak about peace between the nations of the world, peace between religions, and even peace in the family or in my neighborhood. How can we achieve peace? And what about spiritual peace, the peace with God, and the inner peace that brings harmony and balance within ourselves? The dove seems to always escape from our feverish hands.
To catch the fleeting dove, Shabbat Shalom has called for help from many hands: Nobel Prize recipient and Auschwitz survivor Elie Wiesel; political scientist and consultant in international relations Dr. Jane Sabes; founders of peace movements such as Hebrew University professor Shlomo Elbaz for the East for Peace; and peace activist Alan Harber ben Eleazar for the Megiddo Peace Project. The Holy Scriptures have also been consulted. Ancient peace treaties in the history of the Middle East have been uncovered by the archaeologist for this occasion. Words of wisdom, challenging thoughts, and suggestions have been proposed. Will one day our words, our efforts, our cries, and our struggles hit the right chord and catch the fleeting dove?
Image: Feral Rock Dove By Alan D. Wilson, www.naturespicsonline.com
