Kate's WAIT Pre-Trip to Israel

WAIT was represented within the multi-nation Heart to Heart Peace Pilgrimage from Sept. 10-23 by adult coordinator Kate Tsubata.

Pilgimage participants included clerical leaders from all faiths, as well as NGO leaders and those doing humanitarian work, such as WAIT. Though a non-faith-based educational organization, WAIT serves many faith communities through bringing the life-saving message of abstinence and lifetime partnership as the best prevention for AIDS, and compassionate care for those millions already infected.

Besides visiting many places of historic, religious, national and current interest, the participants gathered to mark the anniversary of the Sept. 11 tragedy, with a joint rally for peace near the U.S. Consulate, and ceremony to honor the millions of Jews slaughtered during the holocaust at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial.

At a beautiful promenade, overlooking Jerusalem, leaders of Judaism and Islam, Christianity and Native American, African American and European American, European and Asian, crossed a bridge of peace to represent laying down the enmity of the past, and embracing as brothers, as sisters, as fellow human family members.

Before the new year celebration of Rosh Hashanah, the 1,200 peace pilgrims attended a special cultural event to connect the issue of peacemaking to the new year, and were entertained by song, dance and inspirational words. It was a magical time, when sound and movement and the human heart seemed to all exist in a harmony that was unforgettable.

Meetings were arranged for WAIT to be introduced to various leaders of the city of Jerusalem, as well as leaders in youth outreach, athletics, and education, both from the Islamic and Jewish faith communities, and others as well. Plans were made for several exchange tours between the WAIT team members from the U.S., and similar youth in Israel. Although the timing and exact itineraries are still in the process of being worked out, the intention is clear—to encourage youth to be problem-solvers, using creativity and compassion and talent to demonstrate solutions for the problems of AIDS, human hostility, and ultimately, lack of knowledge of the true value of each person.

Throughout Israel and the various Palestinian areas, one theme was clear. People want peace, and people want a good, strong and secure life. The holocaust that nearly decimated the Jewish people during World War II may only be a foreshadowing of the current holocaust of AIDS, which is wiping out entire tribes and nations, and is spreading rapidly around the globe, fueled by poverty, war and ignorance. The devastation of terrorism may soon be paled by a terror that threatens every political and ethnic grouping.

WAIT team members are preparing to be a multi-lateral force to fight this current genocide, and are looking forward to training other youth in this life and death struggle. The good news is, when we win, everyone wins.

Many thanks to those who are helping WAIT with donations to allow us to carry out our work.