Good work by the Jewish Community Centre

Letters

This letter was originally sent to Gerry Zipursky, executive director of the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver (JCC), and is reprinted with permission.

Dear Gerry,

As a longtime member of the JCC, and an active participant in the mainstream Jewish community in Vancouver, I would like to express my sincere congratulations, pleasure and relief at your decision to allow the Peace Walker Society to hold events at the JCC. My understanding of the goals of this society lead me to believe that its members are truly committed to promoting peace in the Middle East through listening, dialogue and mutual understanding between traditional enemies. They are not "pro-Palestinian" anymore than they are "pro-Israel." They are pro-peace, and believe that the only way to get there is to sit down with each other and interact as human beings. I agree 100 per cent.

I attended the Compassionate Listening Project on March 27 and was thrilled to be able to meet in the JCC with like-minded members of the Jewish community. The film and presenter brought the message that we must listen to each other. We don't have to agree necessarily, but we must listen respectfully, in order for change to happen. I found nothing at all offensive or anti-Israel in the presentation. In fact, the opposite; their love for Israel was very obvious to me. My only regret was that there were no members of the Palestinian community in attendance.

So, I thank you and look forward to future such events at the JCC.

Yasher Koach!

Rhea Lazar
Vancouver

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