ג'וריש

We left Rosh Ha’ayin at 14:00.  At 14:30 we saw Border Police soldiers at the Za’atara junction.  There were also Border Police soldiers there on our way back at 17:30, and a military jeep.

Three Border Police soldiers stood at Ariel plaza.  Palestinian laborers waited for transportation home.  A military jeep was parked at the Haris  junction.

We met the girls’ class at 15:00.  We started with yoga, led by S. this time, without an instructor.  The exercises went very well.  We all enjoyed them.

Between the yoga and English classes we took a break for matza, coffee and haroset Hadas made.  The girls liked the food very much, particularly the haroset.  We started a brief discussion thus:

“Last week we talked about Passover and about Moses. Moses was a hero for the Jewish people. According to the Bible he took them out of Egypt where they were slaves. In the history of many nations there is a hero who was sent by God to save his people

Moses(Musa) is a prophet for Moslems as well. He is is buried in Nebi Musa in the desert close to Jericho. 

What do you know about him?

What other stories would you like to tell?”

The English lesson included a musical activity with Hadas.  She sang a few arias, including Mimi’s from La Bohème, and “Let My People Go.”  The girls successfully and very enthusiastically learned the words and tune, and asked Hadas for an encore:

1.      When Israel was in Egypt’s land,

Let My people go!

Oppressed so hard they could not stand,

Let My people go!

o    Refrain:

Go down, Moses,

Way down in Egypt’s land;

Tell old Pharaoh

To let My people go!

2.      No more shall they in bondage toil,

Let My people go!

Let them come out with Egypt’s spoil,

Let My people go!

3.      Oh, let us all from bondage flee,

Let My people go!

And let us all in Christ be free,

Let My people go!

4.      You need not always weep and mourn,

Let My people go!

And wear these slav’ry chains forlorn,

Let My people go!

5.      Your foes shall not before you stand,

Let My people go!

And you’ll possess fair Canaan’s land,

Let My people go!

Following a discussion of the words of this lovely, timeless song we touched on current events, like the repression and necessity of liberation, including of the Palestinians.

We left at 17:20 after visiting S. at home and receiving a gift of vegetables and talking to her father and mother.

I’d like to add that the class was particularly empowering for the girls and for us because of the song’s words.  Even the most bashful girls, or those who usually avoid reading texts aloud, wanted to sing.  They felt a strong connection to the words, “Let my people go,” which are relevant to the oppression they’re subject to, and our ability to find a way to help them express their pain and frustration is the reason we believe these meetings are so important.  The girls went home in a very good mood.

I myself was in seventh heaven because they liked the coffee I brought in a thermos, which was exactly to their taste.  I was very glad they liked the haroseth.  The Arab tradition of welcoming guests has become part of our classes.  We bring delicacies and coffee from our culture, and some girls bring produce from their garden, and thus we benefit from a fruitful dialogue as we learn about each other’s culture.