In December I will be going to Israel on a 19-day trip in the heart of Jerusalem to take part in a collaborative program between Hashomer Hatzair: Achvat Amim and Rabbis for Human Rights. Achvat Amim engages with community justice struggles at the intersections of Jewishness, feminism, racial justice, and solidarity. Their Winter Solidarity Program provides young adults with a framework to engage in meaningful partnerships with Israelis and Palestinians working to build a future of peace and justice for all.

I will be living communally in Jerusalem, taking part in a critical and democratic learning process, volunteering with peace organizations working to build a more equitable future, and engaging in interfaith spaces with Jewish educators in Jerusalem. I believe the program will provide me with the amazing opportunity to build connections in Israel and explore Jerusalem within a Jewish spiritual framework. It will also enable me to develop crucial community-building skills and give me the chance to work with and learn from fantastic organizations and individuals.

For as long as I can remember, I have felt the Jewish ancestral struggle for freedom and liberation in my blood. I feel the resilience of a people that have endured thousands of years of pain, oppression, and forced displacement. I also feel the joy of the Jewish people. It is all of these experiences and emotions that make me proud to be Jewish—to continue fighting for the liberation of all people. It is not in spite of but rather a direct result of my Judaism and the values instilled in me that I feel so compelled to take part in this program. This opportunity will allow me to learn firsthand about the ongoing struggle for self-determination and liberation while standing in solidarity with communities in the West Bank as they face the same violence, oppression, and displacement my ancestors faced. Any donation to help fund this trip is much appreciated. 

In Solidarity,
Dari