Noa Baum is an Israeli-born woman now living in the USA who has found her avocation in telling stories, who came to my attention through her one-woman story-telling show called A Land Twice Promised, about the personal stories of people vying for or sharing the land variously called Israel or Palestine. Stories can change hearts and find a way forward in places where argument is powerless or counterproductive, so Noa's very personal sharing may light for us a more peaceful way forward in a very troubled world.
Palestine
Dancing Peace in Cuba & Around the World
The Friendly Folk Dancers have been "Dancing the World Together" through international folk dance since 1986, and they toured in Cuba in 2010, Rwanda in 2008, Kenya in 1996, and many other place in other years. With a ministry of peace and connection, they've prayed with their full bodies and learned with each step. This program was recorded in Cuba in November 2010.
Religion & Society Exchange - Sahar Taman & Rabbi Jeremy Schneider
Project of the National Peace Foundation and the Islamic Society of North America, Reflections and Experiences of Religion and Society includes essays from the participants in the exchange program between Muslims, Jews & Christians between the Middle East & the US Midwest.
Delegation to the Middle East - Cathy Sultan, Tom Chisholm, Jason Hicks
Cathy Sultan, Tom Chisholm & Jason Hicks were recently part of a delegation to Israel/Palestine sponsored by the Interfaith Peace-Builders, witnessing first-hand the suffering and aspirations of the people both sides of the wall.
Rachel Corrie - Witness In Palestine
The Rachel Corrie Foundation continues the work and witness of Rachel, killed at the age of 23. She was in Palestine as part of the International Solidarity Movement, serving as a "human shield", protecting Palestinians and their homes.
Frances Ford & The War Plays Project
Frances Ford conceived of The War Plays Project, Inc in the period leading up to the US invasion of Iraq, a way to invite people to think of the too-little-thought-of aspects of war. She and the other folks with The War Plays Project have produced a series of short plays going beyond what the mainstream media is willing to consider.
BuildABridge - Peder Wiegner, Adam Beach, Megan Tahquette
A visit with Peder, Adam & Megan in Jerusalem, on site in the Middle East to shoot a film about the Israeli occupation. They hope to provide a picture of the Palestinians to humanize them and their plight in face of the very unbalanced media picture we typically see in the USA. Peder, Adam & Megan are college Juniors and Seniors with studies in Political Science, Anthropology and Film.
Jerusalem Women Speaking tour - Jewish, Muslim, & Christian Middle Eastern tour
Partners For Peace sponsors Israeli & Palestinian peace-working women to speak throughout America, to tell their first-hand stories and call all to peace & justice. Tal Dor, Huda Abu Arqoub and Amal Nassar spoke to students of North High School in Eau Claire this April.
The Hope Fund for Palestinian Students
A visit with the founder of The Hope Fund, a project to help connect promising, but poor, young people from the Palestinian refugee camps with special college scholarships here in the USA. Fahim Qubain, himself raised in the Middle East, found his way up via the education he received at the Ramallah Friends School in, at that time, Palestine, graduating in 1942. He labors on, diligently and remarkably, at the age of 82.
Paul Kaldjian - Geography & Refuser Solidarity Network
Paul Kaldjian is the living product of a rainbow of cultural & religious heritages, Finnish and Armenian, diverse religious groups, all combining to create a person who has a passion for creating personal-international connection. He's a Mennonite, a geography professor at the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, and a board member of the Refuser Solidarity Network, a group that seeks to support Israeli "refusniks" and inform the world about this element of the Israeli peace movement.