Eliyahu McLean talked about the Jerusalem Peacemakers’ mission.

POLINA OLSEN/Jewish Review

Jerusalem Peacemakers spread message of hope

By POLINA OLSEN, Contributing Editor

article created on: 2011-12-01T00:00:00

You might not see it on the nightly news or read it in the mainstream press. But, a grassroots groundswell in the Holy Land is giving peace a chance. Led by the Jerusalem Peacemakers, a group founded by Eliyahu McLean, Haj Ibrahim Abu El Hawa, and the late Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bukhari, they look inward for ancient Middle Eastern conflict resolution with spiritual leaders and mystics leading the way.

On Nov. 19, more than 150 Portlanders gathered at the First United Methodist Church to hear McLean and Izzeldin Bukhari, the sheikh’s son. The evening—titled “Stories of Hope from the Holy Land” —left many resolved to help find a peaceful solution to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. Part of a two month speaking tour around the United States, Congregation P’nai Or, the Interfaith Council of Greater Portland, St. Mark Presbyterian Church and other individuals and organizations sponsored the Portland appearance.

“While World News broadcasts terror and grief, Eliyahu lifts people into a place of conviction that peace is possible,” Rabbi Debra Kolodny of P’nai Or said before event. “Despair breeds lethargy. Inspiration breeds action. Eliyahu activates people to support on-the-ground activity.”

After a Havdalah service lead by Kolodny, Pastor Barbara Campbell of St. Mark Presbyterian Church and Harris Zafar, Outreach Coordinator for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s Portland chapter, McLean stood up to talk.

“Negotiators try to apply western concepts of how Arabs and Jews should come together,” he said. “The approach of Jerusalem Peacemakers is to tap into Middle Eastern peace wisdom. In the biblical tradition, there are teachings about how to forgive. In the month of Elul, Jews ask forgiveness for wrongs done to other people. In Arab culture, reconciliation meetings, or sulha, center around the cup of coffee. If even your worst enemy invites you for a coffee, you have to come. How do we take these traditional rituals and expand them?”

McClean gave examples of Jerusalem Peacemaker’s projects like the “Abrahamic Reunion.” Here, people of all faiths meet in Arab and Israeli towns to feast, pray and have discussions. “We secure permits for Palestinians to come into Israel,” McClean said. “Sometimes they just want to travel around like tourists. They want to go to the zoo.”

The “Jerusalem Hug” has become an annual Peacemaker project. “In Jerusalem we have a tyranny of certitudes,” McClean said. “Each thinks their love is the only love. So, we form a human chain around Jerusalem and pray for peace. It started with a few hippies and new agers. One by one, people walked by and saw something beautiful was happening. Palestinian shopkeepers, Christian nuns, even some Israeli soldiers joined our circle. Soon, a human chain from Jaffa Gate to Damascus Gate held hands and prayed for the healing of Jerusalem. Jerusalem Peacemakers is a family to bridge hearts and bring people together especially in that part of the world where you only hear about conflict.”

Izzeldin Bukhari, son of late Jerusalem Peacemaker founder Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bukhari, divides time between his new home in Portland and Jerusalem. “I visited Portland and fell in love with the spirituality of the people,” he said. “There are a lot of people like us, and we are growing more and more. We are sick of the extreme right wing of both sides. Peace is not impossible.”

The Jerusalem Peacemakers also spoke at Temple Beth Israel in Eugene, Nov. 30 and are scheduled to appear at Havurah Shir Hadash in Ashland on Thursday, Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit jerusalempeacemakers.org.