All posts tagged: Gaza war

America’s faith in war is a spiritual crisis — not just a political one 

America’s faith in war is a spiritual crisis — not just a political one 

Published by Sam Flores

(RNS) — We need to talk about war. The United States is back at war, this time in Iran, and as the war plays out, we will be having important and necessary conversations about the ongoing conflict. These conversations will happen in churches and schools, around dinner tables and at places of employment, and every one of them will be important. But the current and ongoing war in Iran is not being fought by otherwise irenic nations in a world generally marked by peace. The bombing of Iran — and the inevitable Iranian retaliations against targets in Israel and elsewhere in the Middle East — is taking place in the context of a global landscape marked by wars in places like Ukraine, Gaza, Venezuela, Somalia and Yemen. This means we have to look beyond Iran or any other individual conflict and talk about war itself. We need to ask if military violence is ever justifiable, if militarism is ever reasonable and if warfare ever brings healing and peace. With clear-eyed honesty we need to reckon …

Jerusalem Day’s ugly turn dishonors the city’s name — and Judaism

Jerusalem Day’s ugly turn dishonors the city’s name — and Judaism

Published by Sam Flores

(RNS) — Jerusalem Day marks Israel’s capture of East Jerusalem, including the Old City and its holy sites sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims, in the 1967 Six-Day War. There was a time, not long ago, when many Jews marked the day as a time of joy and gratitude to God for being allowed once again to worship at the Western Wall, the remnant of the ancient central Jewish Holy Temple’s retaining wall, from which they had been barred since 1948. Many Jews still solemnly observe the day that way. Sadly, though, of late, the Jerusalem Day “Flag March” through the streets of the holy city, a once peaceful, heartfelt affair, has been marred by the actions of ultranationalistic hooligans. Last Thursday (May 14), before the march began, young men began chanting anti-Arab and anti-Islam slogans. Scuffles between Jews and Arabs broke out, and chairs were thrown by members of each group at the other. An Israeli-Palestinian coexistence group moved in to try to stop the confrontation, with limited success. Arab residents and shopkeepers, many …

Israeli interfaith peace march offers alternative to ultranationalist Jerusalem Day events

Israeli interfaith peace march offers alternative to ultranationalist Jerusalem Day events

Published by Sam Flores

JERUSALEM (RNS) — Hundreds of religious leaders and peace activists walked together through the streets of Jerusalem on Monday (May 18) for an interfaith peace march — a 4-year-old event that took on added urgency this year against the backdrop of ongoing war and mounting intolerance in a city venerated by Jews, Muslims and Christians.  The Interfaith March for Human Rights and Peace is one of many initiatives spearheaded by the Interfaith Forum for Human Rights that brings together Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Druze and other activists and a coalition of 30-plus organizations. Singing “We Shall Overcome” and carrying placards with the word “Trust” in Hebrew and Arabic, participants traveled to the march from across Israel, aiming to bridge religious and ethnic gaps at an especially volatile time in the Middle East.    Druze Sheikh Younis Amasha, director of the Forum for Religious Leaders in Israel, urged the marchers to speak “with one voice” to proclaim that “human life is a sacred value and there is no place for hatred, extremism and violence.” He also called …