I am Abigail Shore, almost 18. I have just completed my matriculation exams and finished my high school studies at Thelma Yellin School of Art, in Theatre and Machshevet Israel (Jewish thinking) orientation studies.
To begin with, I came across Women Wage Peace at their main events to which I’ve arrived usually with my family. I volunteered to make phone calls before the March of Hope and have enjoyed being part of this exciting movement. Yet, I did not quite understand it and could not see myself, as a young person, getting involved in it.
With time, I joined the Young Cell ‘whatsup’ group which has just opened. We were working on the main event, preparing for Poetry Salam at the Buscula club, led by Yuval Haklai and Noa Gur-Golan and I was happy to help with that. The event was a success; 300 people attended and made the evening a stimulating and meaningful experience.
From that moment, everything seemed to move very quickly and, to me, it seemed just right. I felt hopeful and driven to act and take part in building the Young people Cell. I felt that I must open my eyes and take responsibility for the reality in which I live, and it seemed to me that being in the movement was the right thing to do.
Together with Reut Lewy, and under the leadership of Kadia Moses, Head of the Diversity Team, we organised the first meeting for young members at Tel-Aviv University. I wasn’t too disappointed at the poor attendance as we felt that, at least, we were doing something. We wanted to believe in change. Now, after only three months, we had our third meeting of the Young Group in Tel-Aviv, and 60 young women and men have attended!
The Young Cell is developing and growing: The Strategy Team is working and leading our various activities (meetings in Jerusalem, welcome meetings in Tel-Aviv, lectures and more events planned for the near future). We have over 300 members, we have our own e-mail address, facebook and Instagram and an active Creative Team.
Obviously, I am a regular at the movement’s events; I go to lectures, I attend the ‘Drive in Peace’ project. I have taken part at the event with the female ambassadors for the International Women’s Day, went on the Peace Train and was one of the 12 speakers for the movement on the stage in Beit She’an. I have attended the meal at the end of the Ramadan fast in Lod. I belong to the 100 Team – the leading team of the movement – and am exposed to all the thoughts, ideas and debates within it, as well as participating in planning future activities.
I have taken part in demonstrations and a variety of political events in the past, but Women Wage Peace is a different movement. When people hear of the movement they say: “what’s your message? You are saying nothing.” I understand what they mean; even I am not always confident. We are so used to a reality in which everything is framed and defined. We are used to building walls between us and fortify ourselves in camps with fixed idea, where each camp is positive the truth is on its side.
Our movement starts with a more modest and truthful position; we are not offering a particular solution to peace! None of us has made peace between nations and peace has many shapes and directions. It’s the job of the leaders to do everything they can to reach a political agreement which is honouring and acceptable to both sides. Moreover, the movement, unlike others, unites rather than divides, between the Centre, the Right and the Left, between Jews and Arabs, settlers and Palestinians. The movement gives me much hope and belief. I find here more room for dialogue and acceptance, understanding rather than hatred and division which today we can find in many places in Israel. When the movement represents the diversity of women in the country, we will be able to create peace among ourselves and a better reality for all people.
Each of our movement’s meetings opens with the question – “why are you here?” what happens afterwards, as amazing as it is, does not get any better. This opening, for me, is exciting and meaningful. So, I am here because I do not wish to lose hope, because I know that peace is complicated and weighty, but it is possible! And it is my responsibility to find a way to do anything I can in order to minimise violence and hatred.
Translated from Hebrew by Sarit Bloom
