Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Video: Jews and Palestinians Break Fasts Of Tisha B'Av and Ramadan Together

When breaking the fasts of Tisha B'Av and Ramadan coincide, what could be more natural than for Jews and Arabs to get together and break their fasts together?

Well, in Tekoa, Israel, Rabbi Menachem Fruman decided that it made perfect sense and arranged for a small group of Arabs and Jews to break their fasts together.

Here is the news coverage on Israeli TV:




Here is a translated transcript of the the broadcast:
A unique end to a day of Ramadan fasting for Muslims on Sunday July 29th 2012, Palestinians sharing the Iftar meal, with Israeli Settlers who are ending the Tisha B’av (9th Av) fast, that marks the Jewish Destruction of the temple.

Set in Tekoa, Settlement, Norhen Judea hills, Local Rabbi Menachem Fruman observes to Fuhad, “you have fasted, so have we, Let us break for bread, together”

The Palestinians marking the occasion, refused to be pictured, lest they be deemed traitors amongst their own men.

The settlers then proceed to explain the Jewish Havdallah prayer, normally recited at the conclusion of the Sabbath, but put back this year, due to the observing of the 9th Av as a Fast day.

One of the settlers then proceeds to ask a young Palestinian, “Is this your first time meeting settlers? Do we seem to be, as you are told? What is the purpose of this meeting?”

Salaam, Peace, he replies.

Amongst the guests is Shimon Palmer, whose brother and nephew were murdered, in a terror attack, last year (http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=1875 )

Noting that this gathering appears odd, Shimon instead chimes that what is strange rather, is the animosity that these two sides have become accustomed to in the past 50 years.

A Palestinian (Fuhad) observes that Jews and Muslims are brothers, Hardly were 2 sons born to Adam, in the Bible, when Cain killed Abel, “We are wary of what occurred then, and we are here to make peace” he says.

Shimon quips, “this is cycle of violence, one hits the other, one kills the other, and I observe, is there someone here who wants to break this cycle and talk”

The meal concludes with a Hebrew rendition of Oum Kalthoum's "Enta Omri”

Rabbi Fruman notes, I hope that all over the world, at every table, we can sit together, and channel our battles with one another through dialogue”
May this lead to good things.

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5 comments:

Unknown said...

Thanks for the credit on the English translation

anon said...

slightly off topic, but what is the abbreviated version of the final bracha in havdala?

Daled Amos said...

Baruch Hamavdil Bein Kodesh L'Chol

anon said...

I didn't mean what is it. I heard it in the video. I meant, why is he saying it like that?. Where I come from, we say hagafen and then baruch ata..melech haolam hamavdil bein kodesh lechol bein....yemei hamaase. baruch atah... hamavdil bein kodesh lechol.

Like a regular motzash without the preliminary pesukim and without ner and besamim.
This guy just said baruch ata ... melech haolam hmavdil bein kodesh lecho.

The rabbi didn't seem to mind. Maybe he didn't want to embarrass him, or maybe there is some source or custom to do it that way, and I am missing something. If you could enlighten me, I would appreciate it. Thanks.

Daled Amos said...

I didn't notice.
I can't listen to the video now, but he would not say the bracha on besamim because it is not Motzei Shabbos. He may have already made the bracha on the aish.

I'd have to listen to the video to say anything more--which I'll do when I get home from work.