Plea For Peace
| PLEA FOR PEACE – Akron Beacon Journal Opinion Column Oct – 27 – 2024 |
| Plea for Peace Letter It has now been a year since the events of October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a major attack on Israel, killing 1,195 and taking 251 hostage, escalating the long-standing conflict between Palestinians and Israelis. As of October 2024, around 97 hostages from that attack are still believed to be held in Gaza, including both civilians and military personnel. Tragically, the Israeli government has confirmed that 33 of these individuals are presumed dead. Meanwhile, upwards of 40,000 Palestinians have lost their lives in Gaza. In the West Bank, more than 680 Palestinians have also been killed, including a significant number of women and children. Now, the dying has begun in Lebanon. The impact of this conflict is not confined to distant lands. Here at home, in Akron, we feel its ripple effects, as it fractures the fabric of our own community. Anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim hate have surged, seeping into national politics and even into the local gatherings that once brought our Jewish and Muslim neighbors together. Relationships that were once built on trust and dialogue are strained, and the divisions between us feel deeper than ever. But we cannot lose hope. We must stand firm in our commitment to end this cycle of violence, retaliation, and hatred. Rather than placing more conditions or demands before sitting at the negotiating table, we must seek peace that goes beyond temporary ceasefires. Both sides must release the burdens of past disappointments and take a genuine step toward lasting peace. This peace is not just for today, but for the children and grandchildren of all communities. The divine figures we pray to—whether in mosques, synagogues, churches, or temples—are not gods of vengeance, but of compassion and hope. Our shared humanity calls us to build a future where love and reconciliation prevail, so that future generations may live free from fear and division. This journey toward peace begins with dialogue. In the Middle East, there are leaders who are ready to step forward and put an end to the violence. They must be supported, and we must remember that for centuries, Jews and Muslims lived side by side in the Holy Land. This shared history proves that coexistence is not only possible but has been the foundation of these lands before. Now, we need leaders and communities to reclaim that spirit of unity, to rebuild the bridges of trust, and to lead us toward a future where peace is not merely hoped for but realized. Here in Akron, we must take up the mantle and lead by example. We need to revive the evenings of interfaith dialogue that once served as the cornerstone of relationships built over the years. Our Jewish and Muslim communities have shared love, understanding, and respect in the past. If we cannot find peace here in our own neighborhoods, how can we expect those abroad to do the same? The member communities of the Akron Area Interfaith Council have the power to heal these divides and show the world what love, forgiveness, and reconciliation look like. Before we call for peace in the Middle East, we must first put our own house in order. The time is now. Let us come together once more, as friends and neighbors, take up our dialogue and shared events again, and walk the path of love that leads us all toward peace. Rev. Dr. Thomas J. BodieAkron Area Interfaith Council |