Vol. 1 No. 22, February 2025, Sh'vat 5785

Spirit of the Galilee
Mar 1
11 min read

Planting Trees of Hope in Rahat

Our monthly SOG Spiritual Leaders meeting was held this month on a difficult day in Israeli society, when we heard the news about the four fallen hostages – Oded Lifshitz, Shiri Bibas, Ariel Bibas, and Kfir Bibas – who would be sent back to Israel the next day as part of the first phase of the hostage-ceasefire agreement. We spent the day in the Negev with the Interfaith Forum of Rabbis for Human Rights and the Negev Interfaith Initiative.

We went, during this season of tree-planting, to plant trees of hope in the Bedouin city of Rahat (near the Gaza Envelope), a city that was also hit hard on October 7th (people from Rahat work in the kibbutzim in the Envelope and were also working at the Nova Festival and were victims of the massacre and some even taken hostage (two at least were murdered in captivity), and many missiles fell there as well.

After planting the trees, we held a short interfaith prayer ceremony, ate lunch in the diwan (hospitality tent) of Shiekh Hassan Abu Alyun from the Negev interfaith group, and had sharing circles about the challenges and successes of our groups during these difficult times.

We then went to Kibbutz Dorot, the northernmost kibbutz in the regional council. The Hamas terrorists did not reach their kibbutz, but the people there spent the entire time in their safe rooms and are still traumatized. The woman who hosted us said for months she jumped at any sound, and while before October 7th she never locked her door, now she never does not.

We met with Rabbi Yael Vorgan, who is the regional rabbi (Reform) of the Sha'ar Hanegev region, which includes some of the kibbutzim attacked on October 7th, such as Dorot and some that suffered much heavier losses, such as Kfar Aza and Nahal Oz. She spoke with us about what it has been like to minister to these devastated and traumatized communities.

For example, the days following the massacre, they were burying victims every day. She would show up at the site, not knowing who was going to be buried that day until the list arrived. She would just sit and hold space if anyone wanted to sit with her in silence. "What did I know? What could I say?" she shared.

When people displaced from Kfar Aza were settled in caravans on Kibbutz Ruchama (also in her regional council), they asked for mezuzot for their doors. Within 24 hours, she obtained 220 mezuzot, enough for everyone, a donation from the Reform movement!

She also brought a midrash Leora Ayalon, a woman from Kibbutz Kfar Aza whose son was killed on October 7th, wrote about the need to go out and cry in public so that we can all grieve collectively and support those grieving in their pain. We were all thinking about the difficult day to come, when the four fallen hostages would be brought back to Israel. May this prayer from our tree planting ceremony be answered:

הי רצון שעצים אלה שנטענו יצמחו להניב פירות של שלום.

هناك رغبة أن تكون الشجرة التي زرعنها تنبت ثمارها السلام

אלוהינו - חזק ידי חפצי החיים, המבקשים שלום.

إلهنا -ادعم وقوي أيدي طالبي السلام

כפרוש ענפי העצים, כן תפרוש עלינו ברכת שלומך.

كما انتشرت فروع هذه الشجرة انشر علينا بركتك

טע בנו אהבת האדם ועזור לנו לשמור על זכויות כל תושבי הארץ.

ازرع بنا حب الانسان وساعدنا بالحفاظ على حقوق كل المقيمين بالبلاد

הדרך אותנו בנתיבות שלום,

וכוון עינינו לראות את צלם האלוהים שבכל אדם.

أرشدنا إلى طريق السلام ووجه أنظارنا لرؤية أننا جميعا خلقنا الله

"כי האדם עץ השדה"

لان الإنسان شجرة الحقل

May these trees we planted grow to bear fruits of peace.

Our God - strengthen the hands of those who desire life, who seek peace.

As the branches of the trees spread out, so will the blessing of your peace spread over us.

Plant in us the love of man and help us protect the rights of all the inhabitants of the country.

Guide us in the paths of peace,

And direct our eyes to see the image of God in every person.

"Because man is a tree of the field" (Psalm 34:13)

enjoying a lovely meal in Sheikh Hassan's diwan

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SOG Co-Sponsors Evening of Love Songs in Arabic and Hebrew

SOG co-sponsored this month, along with Rabbi Michal Ratner’s Magid Haruach (a pluralistic initiative of the Megido Regional Council) and the Open Microphone for Shared Existence initiative, a special evening of music – love songs in both Arabic and Hebrew. It was an open-microphone event, with participants of a variety of ages and faiths. The youngest singer was a 16-year-old young woman from Nazareth. Christians, Muslims, Jews, and Druze took the stage and warmed the hearts of everyone there as the wind blew and the rain fell outside.

Said Amos Carmel from Kibbutz Ein Hashofet who participated in the event: “It was such a special evening of Arab-Jewish togetherness. Intriguing, uniting. It gave me hope that we can live together. Uplifting to the degree of love between sectors. Rabbi Leora and Rabbi Michal’s participation broke the stigma that Judaism and Arabs don’t go together. I send heartfelt gratitude and hope for more such events in the future.”

SOG – SPREADING OUR MESSAGE IN ISRAELI SOCIETY

Meeting with Israeli Reform Rabbis

SOG is proud to have taken part in the annual retreat of Maram, the professional organization of Reform rabbis in Israel.

For two days the rabbis toured the Galilee and met with members of our interfaith group:

Artist Eman Baransi, Sheikh Khalil Shedafna, Pastor Nael Abu Rahmon, and Pastor Azar Ajaj. The tour was led by the leadership of Maram and SOG director Rabbi Leora Ezrachi-Vered.

They heard about the challenges of life in the north and how we, as spiritual and religious leaders can support each other and hopefully together bring peace and good relationships.

Meeting with Arab and Jewish Young Leaders

This month Rabbi Leora Ezrachi-Veredi and Muslim activist Ghadir Hani met with two groups of young leaders – the pre-army Mechinat Rabin program and the A’jik youth movement from the northern Arab villages of Mashad, Shefa-Amr, and Ilut – to share SOG’s message of the importance of interfaith dialogue, partnerships, and working together for the common religious values of pursuing peace and respecting all humans as created in the Divine Image – especially now.

Speaking at Memorial for Israel Prize Winner

SOG member Muslim activist Ghadir Hani was the keynote speaker at an annual event in Congregation Nigun Halev in the Jezreel Valley, honoring the memory of Professor Gabi Salomon. Salomon was a recipient of Israel’s highest honor – the Israel prize. His focus was education, especially peace-building education. Ghadir gave a passionate speech about hope, activism, and working together – Muslims, Christians, Jews, and Druze – to amplify the voices of women in general but especially in the conflict.

SOG Members March Against Violence from Organized Crime

SOG members Rabbis Yoav Ende and Haviva Ner-David joined medical professionals, friends and family of the late Dr. Abdallah Awad, and other concerned citizens, in a spontaneous march and protest against the epidemic level of violence from organized crime in the Galilee and in Israel in general.

Forty-five people were killed so far in 2025 in Arab towns around the country, and six in one day on Monday, February 3 – one of whom, Dr Abdallah, was a young pediatrician filling in for another doctor who was the real target. The killer came into the medical clinic and shot Dr. Abdallah in front of his patients, thinking he was the other doctor, who would have also been an innocent victim.

These are usually cases of organized crime gangs demanding protection money from businesses, and if you refuse to pay, they kill a family member (or more than one) who is especially successful and not even involved with the business. Or sometimes it is a family feud, or political dispute within the village.

SOG members have been attending funerals and paying mourning visits to the families of the victims in our area for the past few years. The situation has been heartbreaking and unbearable and has gotten much worse since the current government took power. Until last month, former Minister of Internal National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir was in charge of the police force; he had promised to deal harshly with this problem, but it only got worse.

The morning after Dr. Abdallah was murdered, a group of his colleagues organized a march from his village (Mizra'ah, near Nahariyah) to the police station in Nahariyah, where a protest was held. A call went out for anyone who could, to join. Rabbis Yoav and Haviva answered the call.

“This spontaneous organizing of Arabs and Jews together was especially inspiring, as was seeing the mourners marching in black alongside the doctors in their white coats,” said Rabbi Haviva. “As clergy whose work is also about saving lives, in a less literal and more spiritual way, we considered it an honor and really a moral imperative, to escort the mourners alongside those who work to literally save lives every day.”

SOG Board Meeting

This month, the SOG board met for the second time since Rabbi Leora and Abuna Saba took over as co-directors. They deepened relationships, dreamt together, and planned strategically for the future.

Present were: Dr. Khalid Abu Ras, Guy Paradis, Sheikh Nazem Sirhan, Ekhlas Zabit, Abuna (Father) Saba Haj, Rabbi Leora Ezrachi-Vered, and Iris Solomon. Chair of the Board Aviram Cohen and board member Gil Goryevsky could not participate due to illness. We hope to be together in full form at our next meeting, Inshallah.

Member Spotlight: Imam Imad Al Masri

Imad Al Masri was born and raised in a small town in Mafraq City, Jordan. He grew up in a traditional, practicing Muslim family. “My parents raised me to be a free thinker, encouraging me to read, listen, and then judge what is the right path to take,” he said. “This upbringing had a profound effect on my life.”

Later, when they heard about the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, he, his father, and his brother chose to listen and read more about it. His mother supported their choice but did not take the step of converting. “Most people turned their backs on the Ahmadi approach and community. But we were intrigued and kept an open mind, and that helped us realize this was the path for us.”

“I converted from traditional Islam to Ahmadiyya in 2010. I ended up here after I was certain that this is the sect that can show the truth of Islam, a religion of peace and love,” he added.

“What attracts me the most to my community is its motto “Love For All Hatred For None”, and its strive to establish peace through justice. One important principle of the community is empathy for all human beings, let them be Muslims, Christians, Jews or Non-Religious.”

After Imam Imad made the final decision to convert to the Ahmadiyya sect of Islam, he read more about the religious leaders of the community. “I read about the sacrifices of those imams who used every possible means and traveled to the farthest corners of the earth to spread the truth about Islam. They worked tirelessly to establish justice and build bridges of love and empathy between peoples and nations. This deeply impressed me and made me see them as true heroes.”

With this inspiration, he sought permission to study at the Ahmadiyya Institute for Training Imams, and was accepted. He began his studies in Ghana in 2014, and graduated in 2021.

After graduating in 2021, Imam Imad was appointed as an Imam in Israel.

“In the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, imams are part of a project known as Waqf-e-Zindagi (Devotion of Life). This means dedicating their lives to serving the community and humanity, wherever the Caliph—the worldwide head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community—directs them. My posting to Israel was based on his guidance and vision,” he explained.

When asked about how living in Israel since October 7th has been,” he answered: “This has been a deeply challenging and emotional experience. The recent events have caused immense pain, fear, and uncertainty for everyone—Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and others alike. As an Imam, my heart aches for the loss of innocent lives and the suffering endured by all communities. In such times, our role becomes even more critical: to be a source of comfort, to call for peace, and to promote understanding.

“The future here, I believe, holds potential for healing and progress, but only if we collectively embrace dialogue and reject hatred and violence. As a religious leader, I hold onto hope—hope that humanity and compassion will prevail, and that this sacred land can become a beacon of peace rather than conflict.”

Despite the challenges of being here now, Imam Imad says Israel is now his home. “When I came here, my intention was not bound by time but by purpose. As long as there is a need for spiritual guidance, community service, and fostering peace, I plan to remain. This is my home, and I am committed to contributing to its betterment for as long as Allah permits.” Soon after arriving, Imam Imad married an Israeli member of the Ahmadiyya community, so his roots have become strong here.

Being a member of Spirit of the Galilee is integral to Imam Imad’s theology. “Allah says in the Holy Quran that the purpose of dividing people into nations and tribes is not for them to despise or boast over one another, but rather so that they may come to know one another,” he explained.

“Interfaith gatherings are a reflection of the best of humanity—the willingness to listen, learn, and connect beyond differences. These spaces allow us to come together as people who share the same fundamental values of love, compassion, and respect, despite our varied paths to God.

“They are vital because they help break down barriers of misunderstanding and mistrust. In a land where divisions have often been highlighted, interfaith dialogue reminds us of our shared heritage and common humanity. Such gatherings plant seeds of peace and understanding that can grow into movements of change.

“Spirit of the Galilee embodies this vision beautifully. It’s a movement that captures the essence of coexistence and mutual respect, anchored in the history of this region—a place where prophets walked, preached, and built bridges of faith. The Galilee has always been a symbol of spiritual harmony, and through initiatives like this, it continues to inspire hope for a future where diversity is celebrated rather than feared.

“In these gatherings, we not only share words but hearts. And from this unity, I believe, comes the strength to transform challenges into opportunities for peace.

“I sincerely pray and hope that the world soon realizes the vital role of justice in establishing lasting peace—a principle the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has always emphasized. True peace cannot exist without absolute justice. The Holy Quran commands us to uphold justice, even when it goes against our own interests. Similarly, the Tanakh also emphasizes the importance of justice and its central role in society. The Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, taught us that justice is the very foundation of a peaceful society—without it, conflict and unrest will never end.

“Under the blessed leadership of Khilafat, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community continues to champion justice as the key to global peace. Our beloved Khalifa, Mirza Masroor Ahmad, tirelessly reminds world leaders that injustice breeds war and destruction. He teaches that true peace is never achieved through force but through Justice, dialogue, and mutual respect.

“As Ahmadis, we are not just taught about justice—we are called to live by it. In our families, communities, and workplaces, we must rise above personal biases and ensure Justice for all, regardless of race, religion, or nationality. If we uphold justice in every aspect of life, we can show the world that a just society is the only path to true and lasting peace.”

Please donate to Spirit of the Galilee so we can continue our important work bringing an interfaith voice of justice, equality, and peace to the Galilee.