Peace it Together

"One Whole Peace" is offering a free workshop on Spiritual Psychology in Tel Aviv on Feb 6th. The main objectives of the workshops are: 1- to support peace activist to understand their individual roles and responsibilities in transforming the conflict from within 2- to learn how to apply basic spiritual psychology principles to the psychological roots of the existing conflict ... Participants will gain a deep and rooted understanding of applied peace building in the context of divided communities, focusing on their own healing and reconciliation from within with the other. They will be able to apply simple and practical skills and tools in their daily life to keep their center and transform conflict. The introductory workshop will be held on February 6th in Tel Aviv, Liliblum 23, targeting Israeli citizens of any religion or background,18 years old and above. There is also an advanced workshop on February 10,11 that can only be taken by participants that have completed the introductory workshop. This workshop is already more than half sold out from the last introductory workshop and only 10 spaces left for people taking this introductory workshop. For the record, we're passing this on but have never been involved with this organization. For more information go to their website.

Please consider donating to this worthy cause!

Worth sharing! They do such important and great work.

Hey people in Vancouver, the Playback Theatre troupe is presenting a rare public performances on Sunday, June 12, 7 - 8:30pm (doors open at 6:30pm). The theme is "Leaving Home and Coming Home", since stories of refugees seeking safety and the challenges of resettling are filling our hearts and minds, and resonating with our own stories of refuge, loss, and new horizons. https://facebook.com/VancouverPlayback/

Taking Steps in the Path of Peace The Taking Steps project was born out of a need to spread the Parents Circle's message of reconciliation. The first product to come out of this joint endeavor of our Women's Group is the 'Bird of Peace' which was hand embroidered onto sports shoes and became an iconic symbol of reconciliation for the Parents Circle. Women, both locally and internationally, including celebrities like Helen Mirren, Meryl Streep, Tina Brown, Barbara Streisand, ...and Cate Blanchet have already bought the shoes and donated to the project. The second product comes in the form of a patch and laces in which people can adapt their existing sports shoes into the Taking Steps product. http://steps4peace.org/ See more

If you don't want to give up on youth who believe in a just peace between Israelis and Palestinians, check out Windows' latest newsletter and please support them through their new crowdfunding campaign. https://www.indiegogo.com//windows-youth-to-know-to-grow-t

After 10 years of programming, Peace it Together as an organization is closing its doors. In spite of the generous support we obtained over the years, sustainable funding is a huge challenge. With urgent crises in other parts of the Middle East, and without meaningful political action to support a just and sustainable peace between Palestinians and Israelis, funding has been particularly difficult to obtain in the last few years. To continue reading, please see the latest newsletter from Sept 28th.

Three films in the upcoming Vancouver Jewish Film Festival address issues related to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Dove's Cry (Nov 5th at 2:45 at the Fifth Avenue) follows the triumphs and struggles of a Palestinian teacher at a Jewish Elementary school. Dancing Arabs (Monday, November 10th, 7 PM Fifth Avenue) written by Sayed Kashua the story of an Arab boy who attends a prestigious Jewish boarding school in Jerusalem. Under the Same Sun (closing film on November 13t...h at 7:30 at the Fifth Avenue) is a classic what if situation chronicling the partnership between two Israeli and Palestinian business men who try to launch a company that can be of mutual and community benefit. For more information see the festival's web site.

For Vancouver folks interested in social innovation: What are you doing this Sunday??? The Young Innovators Crawl is your chance to meet, mingle, and engage with some of Metro Vancouver’s most creative 30 and unders from the worlds of design, technology, sustainability, social innovation, food, arts and culture. Join @SFUPublicSquare and @RADIUS on October 19 and explore the studios and workspaces of an amazing line up of young innovators and enjoy pop-up exhibits, performances, lively conversation, meaningful dialogues, idea jams, food trucks, (perhaps a few local brews) and more. The Crawl is free and open to all, so bring your friends, kids, and boomers! #YIC2014 http://www.sfu.ca/crawl

Reena Lazar and Bassim Nahhas will be speaking on the Early Edition on Radio one in Vancouver tomorrow (Thursday) at 7:40 AM. The topic: How to talk about this conflict among such divisiveness and polarization.

Grieving for all the victims of the war between Hamas and Israel: All who have died, all who have been injured and whose property has been destroyed, and all who are emotionally impacted. This is NOT the way to peace.

20-26 - ! Peace it Together . 3 , . , . ... . "", . : http://peaceittogether.com/what-we-do/program . ! A film & dialogue program in Canada for 20-26 year olds - last chance to apply! Peace It Together brings together young adults from both sides of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict for a program of dialogue, filmmaking and community engagement. Empowering youth as media makers and change agents. The program begins in and around Vancouver, Canada, from August 9-31, and continues throughout the year once back home. The program offers the participants the unique opportunity to get to know the so called "enemy", and to work in partnerships to create provocative and courageous short films. For more information and to submit an application: http://peaceittogether.com/what-we-do/program Prior film-making experience not necessary - only motivation!

We just heard about a six-day, Art for Social Change (ASC) Summer Intensive Workshop in Vancouver that might be of interest. From August 24th-29th Judith Marcuse is offering six days of workshop activities, dialogue and resources designed to help anyone interested in the arts and creativity as ways to help create social, environmental and political change. Details & registration here: http://ow.ly/yerTm

For those of you in Vancouver, you won't want to miss the celebration tomorrow night, ending the year of reconciliation. Along with the other great acts, will be a special workshop performance of "The Arab and the Jew" by Itai Erdal & Dima Alansari at 8:00 PM. Half the proceeds will fund the next Peace it Together program. Please buy your tickets today. Tickets sold at Highlife Records OR through Eventbrite: ... http://www.eventbrite.ca/e/reconciliation-in-action-celebra See more

We would like to thank all of the Palestinians that applied for the program, we had an excellent turn out this year and we are looking forward to going through all of them. Israel and Canada, you still have some time left!

Palestine, if you haven't already applied, today is the last day you can do so because of the long processing time for visas! Apply here http://peaceittogether.com/what-we-do/program

Applicants are pouring in quickly and it's only been a week! But we still want to see some more of you Canada! Apply here http://peaceittogether.com/what-we-do

We are happy to announce that applications for our 2014-2015 program are now open! Apply now! http://peaceittogether.com/what-we-do/program

For those of you in the Region, there will be a joint memorial event on May 4th at 9 PM at the Israel Trade Fairs Centre in Tel Aviv. Here is the fb event page for info in Hebrew and Arabic: https://m.facebook.com/events/625494917537775/ "The event, now in its 9th year, will feature testimonies from bereaved Palestinian and israeli families." Also a variety of artists performing.

Check out some of these great films from South Africa this weekend at the Vancouver South African Film Festival. There is a film about Abie Sachs on Saturday night, and he'll be in attendance.

Got a short film you want to share with the rest of Canada? Submit to the CBC Short Film Faceoff by April 4, 5PM local time.

Peace it Together alumnus Julien Thomas continues to inspire us with by bringing people together through interactive art and creative dialogue spaces, here in our own backyard. Next week he'll be giving a "Hot Talk" at Hot Art Wet City. Way to go Julien!

What happens when creative people work together to create something new? See a preview of the film "Design and Thinking" here: http://designthinkingmovie.com/ Free screening and discussion next Monday, March 24. Be sure to register.

Chutzpah! 2014 is underway! This annual celebration of Jewish arts and culture in Vancouver features a great line-up of dance, music, theatre and comedy shows, at various venues throughout Vancouver. On now until March 9. Single event ticket prices range from $20-$42.

We believe peace and justice cannot be separated. We cannot create a new future, until we heal from the past. Learn more about our principles for peace building, at http://peaceittogether.com/who-we-are/guiding-principles

Check out the Palestine and Israel program at this year's Just Film Festival: http://justfilm.ca/films-topic/palestine-israel/ 50% off for students, seniors and low-income earners! Feb 28-March 2... Festival Passes: $35 / $30 before Feb 21 All shows at Langara College (100 West 49th Avenue) See more

Dialogue helps us understand each other. But we know that talking is not enough. We must take real action on the ground to create change. Learn more about our principles for peace building, at http://peaceittogether.com/who-we-are/guiding-principles

We believe Palestinians and Israelis can work together in fair and inclusive ways, address the power imbalances between them, and become partners in peace work. Learn more about our principles for peace building, at http://peaceittogether.com/who-we-are/guiding-principles

Can you imagine a new reality in Israel-Palestine? Learn more about Peace it Together's new vision and principles for peace building, at: http://peaceittogether.com/who-we-are/guiding-principles

What do we believe in? What is our ultimate vision for peace? How will we get there? Click here to read "Learning to Lead" Peace it Together's Strategic Plan 2014-2019: http://peaceittogether.com/what-we-do/strategic-plan

If you are a student or recent grad in Vancouver, and want to work or volunteer in the social change sector, mark your calendars for this nonprofit networking event in March (and be prepared to rise and shine!)

Talk this Thursday, January 16: "Hope into Practice: Jewish women choosing peace despite our fears" by Penny Rosenwasser. 7:30PM at the Peretz Centre for Secular Jewish Culture... 6184 Ash Street, Vancouver (Between Canada Line 41st and 49th Ave stations) Suggested Donation $10 (all welcome) Co-Sponsored by Independent Jewish Voices-Vancouver, Building Bridges Vancouver, Spirited Social Change, and InterSpiritual Centre of Vancouver Society

She Who Tells a Story, an exhibit featuring the work of 12 Middle Eastern photographers, "shatters stereotypes with works that are provocative, beautiful, mysterious, and surprising, all at the same time."

"How could I go around the world talking about peace and reconciliation if I wasn't willing to walk the walk?" In 2014, let us resolve to practice radical empathy. Let us resolve to lay the groundwork for a just and secure peace, making a bold commitment to reconcile injustices, understand one another, and move towards healing. It requires strength to move toward reconciliation and away from violence and domination. In 2014, let us move closer and closer towards this goal, together.

It's not too late to help make our next program a reality, in summer 2014. Give before midnight tomorrow and your donation is tax-deductible for this year.

So many people have volunteered their time, energy and insights to Peace it Together this year, from our volunteer Board of Directors and tireless contractors (who kept on working long after their contracts were up!), to our eager interns who worked for months in our office and all the new faces who volunteered one or twice for special projects. All of this work helps us continue to empower young peace builders who continue to enrich their communities through their ongoing peace-building efforts and initiatives. These young leaders inspire us most of all with their passion and dedication to building a just, secure and sustainable peace. To everyone who has helped in big ways and small, and for everything you have done this year - thank you!

More bad news out of the region - flooding in Gaza - while power outages remain in parts of Ramallah, El Bireh and Bethlehem, as well as East Jerusalem. ANERA is a leading development organization improving the lives of Palestinian refugees and poor families in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon. They are currently providing much-need aid and support on the ground. To learn more and how you can help, go to: ... http://www.anera.org/stories/gaza-is-drowning/ See more

Sending warmth to those in Palestine and Israel who may without it tonight, and hoping for a swift end to the storm. Stay safe!