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Before many of you jump down my throat for writing this.. I went last night to hear Sarah Tuttle-Singer speak about her new book, NOT because I agree with her political or religious views or how she sometimes expresses herself on Facebook, but because like her, I love Jerusalem, find the people who live here fascinating and believe that there will only be a future for the city if we learn to respect those who are different to us.

Also, no, I’m not bothered or threatened by hearing views or ideas different to mine, maybe as a result of my education and how I was brought up.

Furthermore, as a writer myself, I respect Sarah as a gifted and engaging writer who often focuses on and develops the human side to issues and life in Israel, so often neglected here, when anger and passion takes over, leading us to forget who we really are and that we all children of a Divine Being.

If there is one thing I learnt from what Sarah said last night, it was the importance of retaining our sense of humanity and sensitivity to the, ‘other’, despite the complexity and intensity of Jerusalem.

That, despite the fact that Jerusalem is such a diverse and emotional city with tragically so much blood spilt on both sides ( I’m referring to innocent lives), we as Jews must remain human. If we don’t, then we have detached ourselves from a fundamental value of Judaism and Jerusalem will not be the city of peace and harmony which our prophets dreamt of.

The bottom line is – Jerusalem’s challenge to all of us is to be human despite the complexity.

Here are some photos from last night I wanted to share that capture the atmosphere:

 

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