Religion. Depending on where you stand on the issue it is either the bane of our existence or the path to redemption. Like many things it is easier to point the finger of suspicion and doubt at people we think are different from us.
Much has been said about Israel and Palestine, and the inability of its inhabitants to come to a consensus and a peaceful resolution after decades of war and occupation. And no city on earth faces more worldwide scrutiny then Jerusalem where three great monotheistic faiths have historical ties. To Jews it is the City of David, site of Solomon’s Temple, the Western Wall and the eternal capital of the Israelite nation. For Muslims the prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven at the Dome of the Rock. After Mecca and Medina, Jerusalem is the third most sacred place in Islam. For Christians, Jerusalem is where Jesus taught, celebrated the Last Supper and where the crucifixion and the resurrection took place. However, we should not think that divisions among people and religions happens only in the Middle East or places other than the U.S. As Americans, we have an unfortunate tendency to look at our actions as justified and the actions of others as wrong and even heretical. Our own history as a country has shown that demonizing entire portions of our society by subjecting them to harsh, physical and emotionally inhumane treatment and even death did nothing to protect our safety and served only to diminish us as people of faith.
Recognizing our own failures at effective communication in the Israel Palestine issue and wishing to find common ground, Congregation Sukkat Shalom and Juneau People for Peace and Justice set out to try to come to a respectful understanding. That dialogue led to a year-long effort that included Northern Light Congregation and Perseverance Theatre to bring the play “Wrestling Jerusalem” to Juneau. The play, written and acted by Aaron Davidman shows the complex nature and complicated history of the city many claim is the most spiritual city on earth — Jerusalem. The play provides no solutions to the age old conflict. No astounding resolutions are revealed. What does happen through the transformative experience and dialogue of over a dozen characters is the audience is allowed to see and hear about life from a variety of different perspectives, experiences, history and religions. And even more astounding is that with a few changes in inflection and phraseology we can see our own struggles as a country and community.
You can say that a few groups who were searching for common ground and working together to bring a play to Juneau may not be a big deal in the whole scheme of things. But where else do we begin if not with ourselves? There is nothing we can do to undo past transgressions and acts of sheer madness committed in the name of god here and around the world. But, we do not need to keep repeating those mistakes. We should educate ourselves beyond the 15 second sound bite. We can stand up and say “no more” in the face of bigotry and hatred and not let it overrun our common decency ever again. We must recognize that reason evades us when fear takes over. It’s complicated, true, but faith can and should unite us, not drive us apart.
If you have not seen “Wrestling Jerusalem,” the final showing is this afternoon (Sunday, March 6) at 2 p.m. at the Juneau Arts & Culture Center.
Shalom, Salam, Li-k’ei, Peace.
• Chava Lee is the the Congregation President of the Congregation Sukkat Shalom.
