During the week of Sept. 21-27, the “Women of Vision: Journey to Hope” tour came to our region of western Massachusetts and southern Vermont, leading a dozen programs, presentations and workshops. We, a group of co-organizers and participants, would like to share our gratitude with Marwa, Shira, Amira and Dorit for those meaningful and generative experiences.

Our community here has felt so parched with polarization; a drought of imagination that too easily erases the pain and hopes of millions of peace-loving Israelis, Arabs, Palestinians, Jews, Muslims and multi-faith people. Your presence as two Palestinian women and two Jewish women (including one who is half Libyan/half Ashkenazi and a master of Hebrew and Arabic Jewish music), brought the reality of Israeli and Palestinian multiculturalism to our community. In addition, you shared a potent model of tending caring relationships through times of hardship, violence, trauma and war.

You brought us water: clear, fresh and sweet. You shared the ceremony that has bonded your larger group of diverse women back home for the past 20 years. Using art, music, movement, stories, candle lighting, tears, and listening, you demonstrated how we might lay down our swords of aggression. Welcoming your grief with such kindness and compassion allowed us to welcome our grief. Your peacemaking efforts to stay connected through vast differences is truly inspirational!

Rarely in public spaces do we encounter such heart-opening presence and direct sharing of feelings. Your simple phrases guiding us to say, “I’m sorry, I love you and please forgive me” touched the depth of our pain. Your powerful and tender singing with lyrics in Arabic, Hebrew and English transformed our hearts as we witnessed the response: “I forgive you, and thank you.” We were transported, as if by a winged horse, to a land of authenticity, blessing and beauty.

So many of us get sucked into the outrage of it all. We can forget the softening and the forgiveness that is so critical. You reminded us that perpetual moral outrage with its trauma response and distress is not our only choice. We have the means to cultivate moral resilience and even courage.

Participating with you allowed us to come away knowing that our love and our light can overcome the violence of despair; and our visionary imagination along with a caring community are master keys.

Longtime activist, singer and songwriter the Rev. Sarah Pirtle had this to say about the Women of Vision tour: “Their presence touched me deeply, showing how to maintain peacebuilding day by day; month by month. They were real and immediate with us; I have been passing their words to other groups I meet with. It’s not enough to be outraged. I won’t forget what I learned from their witness.”

Marwa, Shira, Amira and Dorit — Women of Vision —thank you for cleaving to your vision of peace over these many years. You have brought the gift of hope to our community, nourishing our relationships and strengthening our activism as we move forward.

Jodi Falk of Greenfield, lead co-organizer of Women of Vision tour; David Arfa of Shelburne Falls, co-organizer for the Interfaith Council of Franklin County Greenfield progra; and Kate Mason of Greenfield, co-organizer for the Interfaith Council and All Souls UU Greenfield program.