If only more could be like this: Arabs and Jews visit Auschwitz

[jjimm]

This had me in tears.

They hugged each other and sobbed - a group of Israeli Jews and Israeli Arabs together sharing the pain of the Holocaust.

“How many people walked here in this place, how many women cried for their children,” said Hyam Tannous, an Arab, clearly distressed.

For Jewish couple Gabi Salomon and Esti Niman it was a breathtaking moment.

“To see these people on stage,” said Gabi. “If this is not co-existence and peace for heaven’s sake what is?”

He started to cry. “If we can create it here, why can’t we do anything beyond the boundaries of this place? This is not even a dream come true because I’ve never dreamt such things were possible.”

"Soon it’s going to be our turn to listen to their pain. Here there’s a huge difference, we don’t blame each other, here there is another enemy, the Nazis.

“But when it comes to talking about the Arabs and their plight it will be our test, to see whether we can acknowledge the pain that the Palestinians suffer for which we are at least in part responsible.”

It’s only a teardrop in an ocean of hate. But if only…

[everton]

Thirty views and no replies yet? Maybe they couldn’t find the right words? I can’t either, but it’s certainly a very moving story.

A small step, but surely in the right direction. Congratulations to everybody involved – they’re a credit to their cultures.

[Weirddave]

That’s pretty damn special.

A good start.
A very good start.
But so far yet to go…

[Kyla]

Maybe it’s because I am currently undergoing a slight breakdown, but I’m now sitting at my desk at work, crying.

Thank you for sharing, jjimm.

[jjimm]

Bump. I want to share this with more people.

[Lilacs]

jjimm, thanks for sharing this article.

I can’t find the right words to say what I want but it was very moving to read.

[Coldfire]

I can’t believe this thread has so few replies. What a fantastic, tragic, uplifting, devastating story.

"Soon it’s going to be our turn to listen to their pain. Here there’s a huge difference, we don’t blame each other, here there is another enemy, the Nazis.

“But when it comes to talking about the Arabs and their plight it will be our test, to see whether we can acknowledge the pain that the Palestinians suffer for which we are at least in part responsible.”

Just when you think it’s all shot to hell, there’s hope after all.

My hat’s off to the Jews and Arabs who participated in this, and to the Priest who arranged it. Yeah, it’s a utopian message of peace, but once we can see the suffering on the other side of the fence, we tend to see things in true perspective. It goes both ways, and it’s a long and difficult road. But it can be done.

Shalom - As-Salaam-Alaikum.

[Mama_Tiger]

One of the most moving things I’ve been witness to online was two members of a discussion group I was in some years ago, where the son of an SS officer apologized to a Holocaust survivor for what had happened to him.

It’s good to know that there’s hope in the world that things can change. Even if only one teardrop at a time.

[Tansu]

I heard about this on the radio.

It’s an amazing story. I applaud all the folks who took part. Deciding to try to learn about each other and each other’s pain is a very good thing indeed.