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Journey to the Holy Land I lost it. I finally dug deep into my consciousness and was overwhelmed by emotions. This was not what I had envisaged my visit to the Holy Land would be like, except here I was taking it all in on the fourth day. I knew I could manage the stereotypes, the semi-strip and body searches, the judgments etc., but I didnt foresee my reaction to the innocent faces of beautiful children, of this land we call holy. I watched the fear and naivete in their eyes, the relief when they felt safe and the joy when situations permitted. Children shouldnt live in constant fear. We must find a 21st century solution to alleviate the lives of children all over the world. I travelled to Israel and Palestine as part of a diverse group. Members of our group came from all walks of life. We visited sites holy to our unique group, which was multi-faith, multi-cultural and multieverything-else-you-can-think-of. The purpose of my journey was to visit holy sites to learn and familiarize myself with the history of the three religions and attempt to understand the conflict in Israel/Palestine. The former was straightforward and understandably the latter, not so much.

In six days, we visited the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. We shared a morning boat ride in the Sea of Galilee to Capharnaum. Visited the Centre for Arab-Jewish culture in Haifa, a city of mixed population where Jews and Arabs, people of different religions and ethnicity, live together in mutual respect and tolerance. In Hebron, we paid our respects to Ibrahim (Abraham) and his family. Together we visited Jenin in the West Bank and met with the governor; we also visited Gush Etzion, a settlement in Judea, and met with the mayor of the settlement. At both instances we had a chance for a question and answer session, although there was never enough time for all the questions we wanted to ask. In Tel Aviv, we toured Old Jaffa and in Nazareth we visited the Basilica of Annunciation. I saved the best for last, Jerusalem: Oh, Jerusalem (I feel like Im about to create a mini O Canada anthem). It was as if I were drinking from the fountain of history. Coming into direct contact with the past was both intoxicating and exhilarating. Before dawn broke, I stood outside Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa Mosque and kept repeating the words I stand in awe of you. We reflectively walked through Yad Vashem, a memorial to victims of the Holocaust: the childrens section was painful to us all. I personally was in need of a hug and without hesitation received one from a family member. This is what our group was, a family: A family who only met and came together a month prior to the trip. While abroad, we participated in the old ritual of breaking bread in a kibbutz, shared experiences with one another, looked out for and offered comfort to each other at the hour of need. We visited sites where members of our group used different entrances, and we visited other sites together. Experiences of discrimination were rampant but we stayed true to our course. Our group attracted a lot of attention and people were intrigued by its diverse makeup. We made a conscious effort to focus on our similarities rather than our differences: that we value living in peace and tolerance as the alternative isnt an option; that life in Canada made it possible for diversity to flourish.

Our group, In the Path of Abraham was led by an imam, a minister, a priest and a rabbi. I dont think Im alone when I say it was an experience, unlike any other. It was frustrating yet inspiring, challenging yet fascinating, and above all, it was the most memorable journey I've ever undertaken. Zainab Omar November 22, 2011