In the Middle East, maybe more than in any other part of the world
'situation' has its own cadence, it takes a second to swing outrageous wave
of aggressive hatred to sweep everything and everybody, than within a
second, like let us say Monday, August 14th at 08:00AM - ceasefire! Time to
lick wounds, estimate damage; Time to celebrate and re-gain confidence! And
maybe, maybe time we all long for - the desired awakening towards becoming
peace, living peace! After all, this recent conflict was such a staggering
painful wake up call! I wonder who can ignore it and stay asleep. I do hope
now is the time for centuries of on going unquiet under the water action to
cease! Believe me - it is time already! Right now!

Regional as well as world leaders helped by media, busy now to find out who
won who have lost, who had suffer more, where is the greatest damage, what
are the doubtful achievements and who is responsible! HEY! In war - nobody
wins! And obviously all are responsible for it! We create our own reality! We
all do! When WE will ever learn?

During the last over than 5 weeks I was too busy to write daily journal, and
obviously day by day writing was not my priority, still I would like to
share some of my experiences with you. Maybe good point to start with is my
visit to the north of Israel on Tuesday, day after the ceasefire when I got
urgent phone call from one of the shelters in small town named Shlomi
(meaning 'my peace'.), asking me to come over as the kids, mainly Yafit,
nine years old beautiful girl with whom I spent time, are too afraid and
mistrust to come out of the shelter unless I come to escort them. After all,
they have spent 5 long-long weeks in the shelters without coming out. Going
there this time was different. First of all during all my other visits
seldom I could see another car, mostly I was the only car on the roads, this
time, alleluia! Traffic jammed! People return home! I would never imagine
how delighted I can be while driving bumper to bumper in long slow motion.
usually it is far of being my favorite situation ;-).

                                                                      Shlomi 2nd shelter

Soon after arriving to Shlomi, first I've noticed the silent! No alarm
sirens, no blasts, no rockets' shuddered whistling, not the WUFFFFF BOOM
(that side) nor the BOOM WUFFFF (this side). only silent ornamented with
birds songs! (BTW, they never stop twittering.) the families in the shelter
welcomed me with a song we learnt the previous week, based on traditional
Hebrew prayer which I took liberty to change some of its words, rather
singing: KOL HA'OLAM KULO - GESHER TZAR ME'OD (the world is nothing but
narrow passage) we sang: KOL HA'OLAM KULO - LEV RAHAV ME'OD (the world is
wide open heart) and rather than: VE'HA'EEKAR LO LA'FA'HED KLLAL (and mainly
have no fear) we sang: VE'HA'EEKAR RAK LISMOAH VE LIVTOAH (be in joy and
faithfully trust). Together we came out of the shelter to see clear sky
after such long time for most of them. One family saw for the first time the
ruins of what used to be their home! They well aware now they need to come
together and re-built their life! They can do it!

                                                  Shlomi 1st shelter

From Shlomi I continue to the regional hospital in Nahariya. On my last
visit in there I was visiting with the kids in the shelter when a strong
BOOM shook the whole building. Heavy Katyusha hit the hospital directly on
its upper floors; we couldn't not to feel it, also the kids and all the
brave beautiful angels looking after them. Instantly one of the teachers
started high volume music and the kids after brief confusion start dancing.
As my eyes were in tears I could hardly see it. With no time patients from
the hospital, mainly those got injured during the conflict, citizens as well
as soldiers, joined us watching the little unbelievable great teachers of
ours, dancing and singing as if nothing happened, as if not a whole wing of
the hospital only several meters above their heads was damaged so severely!
Not single eye left dry! Not one face in spits the pain - left with no
smile. As the ruins blocked the entrance to the shelter I couldn't leave so
I stayed for over night with the kids. This time, I found the huge shelter
empty! What a delight! They all went back home! What a blessed relief! After
short visit to the wounded civilians and soldiers starting now long painful
path of recovery and learning how to live with what have left, one arm, no
legs, no eyes! Oh Gosh! They don't complain, mostly in spite the pain they
are grateful for what still left. Soldiers cry after lost friends in the
battle. worried parents try so hard not to tear in front of the beloveds are
struggling to get healed, all this pain! Where do they take the strength
from? I wonder!

                                            Nahariya hospital

I considered keep on driving to Tzfat, to see my new friends were hiding
from the Katyushas' horror in a small neighborhood synagogue, if not
reinforced concrete - God surely will do. I last visit there only 2 days
earlier when war still was very noisily active. in that little synagogue
amongst others, I had the honor to participate in the very intimate welcome
party for 10 days old tiny baby stayed there with her mother and another 2
very young siblings, the father is still in battle field. My wish for this
baby as well to all the children in the region is to never again need to
spend time in shelters or run away from homes, know no fear of hostility and
hatred.

                                               Tzfat Shelter

In another shelter in Tzfat I met a young mother who told me about her
miracle. I heard of so many include my own miracles. this mother of two, two
and three years old, decided after several days washing in buckets in the
damp crowded shelter, to shower the kids at home. Soon as they arrived to
the family apartment the alarm siren pierced the air. Instinctively and very
rapidly she grasped her two kids all wet and naked to run back to the
shelter only 10 meters away. Soon as they left the little apartment but
already in safer spot Katyusha hit the house! The mother so the kids are
safe, nothing left of the outer walls of that building, nor the bathroom!
God most definitely was also in there!

So many hallucinated events and amazing stories about hope, miracles,
courage, naivety, stupidity, disasters! You name it!

For those of us are living in this beautiful exotic part of the world we
start now another period of time, counting time since last clashes wondering
how long will it take until next time. until, yes, until we all wake up
knowing we have to share this planet as we have no other place to go. that
it is what we have; why not to enjoy it by paying mutual respect and
acceptance. Actually, why not? It is time for all children of Allah, God,
Elohim or whatever name you wish to give it, to start the most important
victory marsh which is no longer than only 15 inches/40 CM, from the head to
the heart, where peace dwells, waiting so ever patiently for us to touch
down! The invitation to stop look all over for what we already have inside
our own being sounds again! Why not to listen? Why not to try doing it
differently? Why not?

Wholeheartedly I want to thank all of you who found it in your heart to
encourage us with your pure prayers also for those of you contributed some
more substantial aids. Your infinite generosity will be paid thousand times
more! Also I wish to thank the children of my home town Kiryat Ono, coming
together during summer vacation to fold paper cranes in order to deliver
them to the kids in the shelters!

I would also invite you to pray for Mother earth forgivness, plants and
animal kingdoms for all the damage while being caught in the Drama! Infinite
forgivness!

10-8-06 Biria memory of yesterday's katyusha

                                              Meiron 10-8-06

What a relief is not to be afraid listen to the radio announcing more names
of those didn't survived the battle, what a relief is not to count 'our'
dead compare with the "enemy's" losses. Each of them no matter nationality,
faith, culture, has a mother, father, children, spouse, siblings and
friends. They all paid with the most precious treasure they had - life!

In all this darkness, focusing my sight, I can see the light getting closer
and closer. My heart sob but my spirit not yet ready to give up!
 
In Oneness and infinite loving gratitude - Hagit

JewChriSlam

Oh Lord, Make me an instrument of your peace;
Where there is Hatred, let me bring Love; Where there is Injury - Pardon;
Where there is Doubt - Faith; Where there is Despair - Hope;
Where there is Darkness - Light;
And where there is Sadness - Joy.

http://www.bridgesofpeace.org
http://www.jerusalempeacemakers.org/hagit/index.html
http://www.jerusalempeacemakers.org/hagit/index.html

Ms.  Hagit Ra'anan
POB 39, Kiryat Ono, Israel 55100

Tel/Fax 972-3-5353496; Mobile 972-52-2533240