Jerusalem, the tolerant city
Part of growing up in life is appreciating life and the small pleasures of it that in our days right now is very hard to find. The concentration of most subjects and topics on the majority of different media channels today are engaged with directing the viewer to topics that revolve around the term "conflict", leaving the brighter side of life in denial. You will find TV channels covering the mass destructions happening to the lives of mankind around the world, and even more focus on the terrorist attacks precisely happening in the Middle East. The media channels have proven the strong influence they have over the personification of the Middle East and more importantly on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to deceive the world of how much the Jewish community has contributed to the world.
The ongoing cold war between Arabs and Israel has imbedded an irrational picture of Israelis in the Arab citizen's mind, ranging from the educational system that is illustrated in the Arab nations early school curriculums to higher education programs, not to mention the Arabic literature's attitude towards the Jewish community since its founding. The lack of resources to describe the Jewish role in the cultural, technological, and scientific evolution of civilization is certainly another factor in the incorrect image of Israel deceived by Arab citizens. It is worth mentioning that at least 173 Jews and half-Jewish ancestry have been awarded the Nobel Prize, accounting for 23% of all individual recipients worldwide from 1901-2006, representing 37% of all US recipients during the same mentioned period. The Jewish community worldwide makes-up approximately 0.25% of total world population and 2% of the US population, numbers that would make you wonder how much would they have to offer if their population was in larger figures.
A reality that not only Muslims, but the whole world must admit its dangerous effects is religion. Disregarding the religion you believe in, all religions are derived from the word "humanity", yet what is practiced nowadays between religion figures mirrors a superficial relationship that only meet up on calendars, and the farthest they can go to is a round table discussion. Hatred and tension have always been fed to each religion against the other whilst tolerance and the state of accepting differences is being extracted from our thinking, brainwashing the poor and average into what we call today the war of terror. While some Arabic countries have already taken a step forward in communicating with Israel and recognizing it as a State, one must also realize that economical and geopolitical agreements will never cover the underlying mentality of an average Muslim, it is only when we start learning religion rather than memorizing religion, that a Muslim mind will be persuaded into practicing the acceptance of the other.
As a Kuwaiti citizen, the chance of reading and listening to the other perspective of other religions than Islam was not an option I had until college. As a Kuwaiti citizen, the thought of sitting down with an Israeli or Jew never came to me until I went to college. Kuwait today does not recognize Israel as a State, but as a Kuwaiti citizen I was offered to pay a visit to Israel, and only then saw, instead of read and heard, religion.
It was the shortest visit to anywhere I have been to, but the most that filled and nourished my mind. My time was mostly spent in the Old City, Jerusalem, a diversified city that represents a wide range of national, social and religious groups. The old city is surrounded by walls that are so steep, constructed as a self defense mechanism from ancient times that consists of four quarters: Jewish, Muslim, Christian and Armenian. The city plays a huge role in Islam, Christianity and Judaism and in some other smaller religious groups, with important places like the Temple Mount and its Wailing Wall, Church of the Holly Sepulchre, Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock. My intention was not there to practice any spiritual belief, but Jerusalem makes any sole want to pray. I prayed in Al-Aqsa, in my sole, on the Wailing Wall, even slid two wishes in the Wailing wall; One to always see the person I marry always happy in her life, and two for every State to have a tolerant lifestyle and a constitution based on humanity. I saw the history we all learned about Christianity, Judaism and Islam and how significant this city was to all three religions. It was a mixture of different cultures, yet each individual had the right to practice his/her own belief with no intrusion and complete acceptance of the other, a privilege that at the present time can be read on papers but is very hard to find in reality.
I had lunch at a restaurant that was built in the late 1800's or early 1900's, even the restaurants have a history over there. I was then taken on a tour around the State buildings, with highest ranking the Supreme Court both physically and mentally, the highest authority being sanctioned on the tip of a hill rising on top of all State buildings. Passing by the Knesset, the House of Representatives, it is the legislature of Israel with 120 elected members, which is derived from The Great Knesset that was established after the return of Jews to Israel from the Babylonian exile in the fifth century. The number of Knesset members was also determined on the basis of the number of members from the Great Knesset, an ideal democracy that one must also highlight.
Absolutely fascinated by how organized and authentic the State of Israel is, my visit leaves me with no space but to thank my fellow friends Ron, Oded and Sharon for helping me through my journey and easing the regulatory process of entering Israel, a trip that I shall never forget in my life. As a friend said, "I have been exploring Israel for the past 60 years, yet still there is a lot more to see in Jerusalem." On my next visit, I am sure that I will learn a lot more from Jerusalem, the tolerant City.
The ongoing cold war between Arabs and Israel has imbedded an irrational picture of Israelis in the Arab citizen's mind, ranging from the educational system that is illustrated in the Arab nations early school curriculums to higher education programs, not to mention the Arabic literature's attitude towards the Jewish community since its founding. The lack of resources to describe the Jewish role in the cultural, technological, and scientific evolution of civilization is certainly another factor in the incorrect image of Israel deceived by Arab citizens. It is worth mentioning that at least 173 Jews and half-Jewish ancestry have been awarded the Nobel Prize, accounting for 23% of all individual recipients worldwide from 1901-2006, representing 37% of all US recipients during the same mentioned period. The Jewish community worldwide makes-up approximately 0.25% of total world population and 2% of the US population, numbers that would make you wonder how much would they have to offer if their population was in larger figures.
A reality that not only Muslims, but the whole world must admit its dangerous effects is religion. Disregarding the religion you believe in, all religions are derived from the word "humanity", yet what is practiced nowadays between religion figures mirrors a superficial relationship that only meet up on calendars, and the farthest they can go to is a round table discussion. Hatred and tension have always been fed to each religion against the other whilst tolerance and the state of accepting differences is being extracted from our thinking, brainwashing the poor and average into what we call today the war of terror. While some Arabic countries have already taken a step forward in communicating with Israel and recognizing it as a State, one must also realize that economical and geopolitical agreements will never cover the underlying mentality of an average Muslim, it is only when we start learning religion rather than memorizing religion, that a Muslim mind will be persuaded into practicing the acceptance of the other.
As a Kuwaiti citizen, the chance of reading and listening to the other perspective of other religions than Islam was not an option I had until college. As a Kuwaiti citizen, the thought of sitting down with an Israeli or Jew never came to me until I went to college. Kuwait today does not recognize Israel as a State, but as a Kuwaiti citizen I was offered to pay a visit to Israel, and only then saw, instead of read and heard, religion.
It was the shortest visit to anywhere I have been to, but the most that filled and nourished my mind. My time was mostly spent in the Old City, Jerusalem, a diversified city that represents a wide range of national, social and religious groups. The old city is surrounded by walls that are so steep, constructed as a self defense mechanism from ancient times that consists of four quarters: Jewish, Muslim, Christian and Armenian. The city plays a huge role in Islam, Christianity and Judaism and in some other smaller religious groups, with important places like the Temple Mount and its Wailing Wall, Church of the Holly Sepulchre, Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock. My intention was not there to practice any spiritual belief, but Jerusalem makes any sole want to pray. I prayed in Al-Aqsa, in my sole, on the Wailing Wall, even slid two wishes in the Wailing wall; One to always see the person I marry always happy in her life, and two for every State to have a tolerant lifestyle and a constitution based on humanity. I saw the history we all learned about Christianity, Judaism and Islam and how significant this city was to all three religions. It was a mixture of different cultures, yet each individual had the right to practice his/her own belief with no intrusion and complete acceptance of the other, a privilege that at the present time can be read on papers but is very hard to find in reality.
I had lunch at a restaurant that was built in the late 1800's or early 1900's, even the restaurants have a history over there. I was then taken on a tour around the State buildings, with highest ranking the Supreme Court both physically and mentally, the highest authority being sanctioned on the tip of a hill rising on top of all State buildings. Passing by the Knesset, the House of Representatives, it is the legislature of Israel with 120 elected members, which is derived from The Great Knesset that was established after the return of Jews to Israel from the Babylonian exile in the fifth century. The number of Knesset members was also determined on the basis of the number of members from the Great Knesset, an ideal democracy that one must also highlight.
Absolutely fascinated by how organized and authentic the State of Israel is, my visit leaves me with no space but to thank my fellow friends Ron, Oded and Sharon for helping me through my journey and easing the regulatory process of entering Israel, a trip that I shall never forget in my life. As a friend said, "I have been exploring Israel for the past 60 years, yet still there is a lot more to see in Jerusalem." On my next visit, I am sure that I will learn a lot more from Jerusalem, the tolerant City.
posted by أبجديتي @ 10:14 AM
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