'Seeing the Struggles' With Their Own Eyes

Arthur Larrabee, general secretary of the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, was one of eight local Christian leaders who participated in the recent interfaith mission to Israel sponsored by Federation's Jewish Community Relations Council. It was a visit that effected both "change and growth" on Larrabee's personal spiritual journey.

He explained that "until this trip, I had tended to disassociate from Israel and Israelis, thinking of then as the 'bad guys.' "

The itinerary for the weeklong adventure, which included visits to places of historical, archeological and religious significance and meetings with a number of Christians, Jews and Muslims who serve as politicians, journalists, clergy and peace activists, altered his perspective.

The delegation spent two days in the north of Israel (Galilee) and four days in and about Jerusalem.

"In our travel and site visits, there was an opportunity to get a sense of the history of the land, the connection of the Jewish people to the region, the intimacy with which Jews and Arabs live in close proximity to each other, and the deeply felt concerns for security," said Larrabee.

He noted that the sights and insights proved transformative: "My experience bears out the lesson we all know, but often forget: it is easy to dislike someone, or an entity, with whom you don't have a relationship. Once a relationship is established something changes," he said, cautioning that "this is not the same as agreeing with another's politics. I come away with a deep appreciation for Israel and her people, even though I may not approve of certain policies of the Israeli government."

Larrabee serves on the Religious Leaders Council of Greater Philadelphia with Rabbi David Straus of Main Line Reform Temple in Wynnewood. Straus, who served as a vice chair for the mission, personally invited Larrabee to join him on the trip.

Said the rabbi: "Traveling together to the land that has such profound meaning for both of our faith communities is always spiritually moving. Visiting the holy sites and walking the very ground where so much defines us as Christians and Jews clearly is a unique experience."

He added that "the opportunity to participate in these trips to Israel is one of the most exciting and rewarding aspects of interfaith work."

Larrabee wanted " ... to see with his own eyes the struggles of those Arabs and Jews who are trying to find a way for both sides to live in peace and security, goals that have eluded both people for much too long."

One of the chief reasons that Larrabee decided to participate was his personal desire "to be in a position to witness to our shared humanity -- U.S. Nationals, Palestinians and Israelis; Quakers, Muslims and Jews."

As an individual, he noted that he wanted to " ... get an in-person sense of the look and feel of this part of the world, what is being said and done there." As a representative of the clergy, he also wondered " ... if Quakers have any additional roles to play in the present conflict."

For Rev. David Tatgenhorst of St. Luke United Methodist Church in Bryn Mawr, the February mission was a type of homecoming. He explained that he lived in Israel for six months in 1976, studying Hebrew on an ulpan (a Hebrew immersion program) at Kibbutz Shefayim, just north of Tel Aviv.

"It was great to go back 34 years later and renew my love for this beautiful country," he said, adding that he was overwhelmed by the tremendous growth of the nation since his last visit.

'Moved to Tears'

Tatgenhorst said that he was "moved to tears" by his tour of Yad Vashem, Israel's Holocaust Memorial, a sentiment shared by Larrabee, who had never before visited a Holocaust museum.

The Methodist minister said he's still pondering issues raised by Rabbi Michael Schwartz, a representative from Rabbis for Human Rights, during a tour of the security fence. "After the talk, we visited places where people had been killed by suicide bombers. This hit me in the gut and certainly made me think."

Both men ranked the chance to discuss their impressions and perspectives on what is happening between Israelis and Palestinians as a highlight of the trip.

"Our talks and encounters deepened my understanding of the many issues and current situation," said Tatgenhorst, who confessed to "feeling challenged to think about contradictory needs and points of view."

These discussions afforded Larrabee an "up close and personal" awareness of the oppression and persecution suffered by Jews for centuries, if not millennia, and an appreciation for what it means to Jews to have a place where they are not only the majority, but where they are at home and where they feel safe."

He also expressed a greater understanding of Israel's need to feel secure in its right to exist: "There are 3 million Palestinians in Greater Israel; 1.5 million live in Gaza, which is governed by Hamas-a group that denies Israel's right to exist. It's hard to appreciate from the distance of the United States what it's like to live with a threat to your existence so close at hand."

Larrabee also stated that the prospects for peaceful co-existence are dim without a mutual concern for justice. "If I were orchestrating the conversation, I would put talk of peace aside and ask first the question: "What does justice require?"

He said he hoped "peace will come as surely as day follows night, when justice for both Jews and Arabs is closer at hand."

Other members of the mission delegation included Rabbi Jay Stein, senior rabbi of Har Zion Temple in Penn Valley and president of the Vaad/Board of Rabbis; Rev. Ajay Thomas, lead pastor of Seven Mile Road in Philadelphia and Shainu Thomas; Rev. Dr. James Pollard, Zion Baptist Church of Ardmore, Neomosha Nelson, director of the Metropolitan Christian Council of Philadelphia; Dr. Carl Tori, Archbishop Ryan High School, Philadelphia; and Rev. Wallace Smith, president, Palmer Theological Seminary, senior pastor, Shiloh Baptist Church, Wynnewood.

For information about upcoming JCRC missions and programs, call Adam Kessler at 215-832-0651 or e-mail him at: akessler@jfgp.org.

Interfaith clergy and community leaders participated in a February mission to Israel. Delegates (front row, from left) included Rabbi David Straus; Pastor Wallace Smith; Dr. Carl Tori; Shainu Thomas and Rev. Ajay Thomas; Rabbi Jay Stein; and (rear row, from left) Rev. James Pollard; Rev. David Tatgenhorst; Neomosha Nelson; Adam Kessler and Arthur Larrabee.