Woman to Woman

Sulha Women's Circles

Melila Hellner-Eshed

If you were to look at these photographs from our gatherings over the past five weeks, you would see a diverse group of Palestinian and Israeli women meeting together by the Dead Sea for four and a half hours each week.

Younger and older Women, from refugee camps and towns across the West Bank, alongside Israeli women from different communities.

You would see us conversing, praying, dancing, meditating, participating in workshops, and finding ways to talk about what is often so difficult to speak about as women in our societies.

Militarism, occupation, nationalism, and patriarchy, as you may know, do not foster an atmosphere that is attentive or open to hearing and feeling the experiences of women living through this conflict and these years of war and violence. Creating such a space is precisely what we seek to do in our women’s gatherings.

And I think many people looking at these images would say: It is impossible for this to take place in these times. This cannot be real. But I want to tell you: it is real! We truly meet! And what we have managed to share, to give one another, and to heal in one another has been profoundly moving and sacred.

What I feel most strongly is this: moments of being together in our full humanity — woman to woman — are treasures no gold could buy.

Great pics, and yes, please listen to what our dear Sausan Abu Shamma, participant and translator has to say of our experience:

Please help us continue these precious peacebuilding activities and sustain these spaces of encounter, healing, and hope. Donate now at Sulha.org.il/donate.