Rachel’s Words

To contact the organizer of this event or get information on similar readings, write to us at info@rachelswords.org

On March 16, 2006, I decided to hold a reading of Rachel’s Words in my very small living room. I had invited over thirty people. Most could not make it or did not want to make it. Present were two dear friends with whom I have breakfast every Wednesday morning. Fran and Lucy are very open-minded, caring women, though not necessarily well-informed about the situation in Israel/Palestine. But over the past few years, we have been talking about it, particularly since my trip back from the Occupied Territories and 2004. Thus I knew that they would attend with interest. Also present were my good friends Stacey and her husband. Stacey had traveled with me and both she and her husband are well-informed in world affairs; my dear friend, Barbara, who has been educating herself about the I/P situation since it became so important to me was happy to come. My friend Norma also attended. She sits in the middle ideologically, seeing both the Israeli point of view and understanding the plight of the Palestinians. My husband was, of course in attendance. As I was about to begin the reading, the only guest who had not arrived was my Israeli neighbor, Ana.

Ana had recently moved in to my building. She had had no idea of my trip to the West Bank with Women of a Certain Age, or of my son and daughter-in-law’s work in Palestine, or of the notorious publicity my family had received because of my son’s work. She paid a shiva call when my mother died, soon after she had moved in, and she was always very friendly.

Earlier that morning, Ana and I were riding down in the elevator together. As we walked out of the building together, I said, “I have no idea where you stand on the Palestinian/Israeli situation.” (I was choosing my words carefully.) She immediately responded smiling, “I don’t want to talk about it, I prefer not to.” I proceeded to explain some of the background of the theater issue and about Rachel’s death and told her that I was having a reading of Rachel’s emails that evening in my apartment. I could tell she was sort of listening, though her brain was probably reeling. I knew I must have stunned her with my request. She said, “You know, I don’t know how you feel about the situation either.” I quickly thought of a non-threatening truthful answer, “I am for all people’s human rights and I detest violence and I would like to see peace with justice and an end to the Occupation.” She smiled, “Ah, yes, but it is very complicated.” And then, to my surprise, she said, “I think I would like to come. Perhaps I will. What time is it?”

The evening was called for 7pm. Everyone, except Ana, had arrived early and was mingling. I stalled until 7:30 before announcing we would begin, hoping she would come. Just as I began my opening comments, the doorbell rang and in walked Ana. She sat down, after introductions, and then said that she would like to say a few words. She spoke of being brought up in Israel and having to leave because of her family being attacked by Arabs. She clearly wanted to let us know where “she was coming from.” She then added, “It is too bad this girl was killed but she was in the wrong place; she did not belong there.” At once this opened a heated debate. Norma tried to calm things down. Fran and Lucy sat quietly stressed. I was just about to feel defeated, the evening way off track, when I said, “I would like to read Rachel’s letters now.”

I read all of the materials sent to me. The group was mesmerized by Rachel’s words. There was no discussion in between the readings. As soon as I finished the readings, absolute silence filled the room. And then Ana said, “I must apologize for what I said earlier about Rachel.” She went on to explain that when she walked in, she knew of our compassion for the Palestinians. Perhaps some of my guests had been speaking informally and she had been standing outside the door listening. She had come in armed and defensive and apologized for her outburst. She told us she was very moved by Rachel’s words and that her death was a terrible tragedy. What followed was a wonderful dialog, which lasted well into the evening. My living room had become a safe place for an exchange of different points of view, thanks to Rachel’s words.

This entry was posted on Friday, February 16th, 2007
Filed under Event Reports.
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