Forgiveness as Responsibility
September Newsletter 2025
In Judaism, the month of Elul and Yom Kippur are devoted to personal and collective reflection. It is a season for turning inward, asking forgiveness from God and from one another, and seeking reconciliation and renewal. Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the holiest and most solemn day in the Jewish calendar. Observed on the 10th of Tishrei, it concludes the Ten Days of Repentance that begins with Rosh Hashanah. The day is traditionally marked by a 25-hour fast, abstention from physical pleasures, and five dedicated prayer services focused on confession, repentance, and reconciliation with both God and fellow human beings.
At its heart, Yom Kippur is about teshuvah (repentance) and the conviction that forgiveness and transformation are always possible. Yet Jewish tradition also teaches that sins committed against another person cannot be atoned for by prayer alone; reconciliation with others must come before reconciliation with God. In this way, Yom Kippur serves both as a deeply personal moment of spiritual renewal and as a communal reaffirmation of covenant identity—reminding us that repairing human relationships lies at the very core of living an ethical and just life.
During these ten days of self-reflection, we are invited to ask: what does it truly mean to forgive and repent? In this context, forgiveness and repentance can feel almost impossible—especially when oppression, inequality, and systemic injustice remain ongoing realities, not merely memories of the past. They touch our deepest wounds and unhealed traumas. They require us to face the truth of what has happened and what is still happening, to admit our wrongs, and to confront our moral failures. They call us to recognize that we are part of something painful and unjust. Such work unsettles the ego, dismantles the walls of dehumanization, and demands the courage to embrace vulnerability.
This is precisely the work we engage in with participants at Musalaha. We begin by creating space to surface and share the layers that make forgiveness so difficult: the weight of pain and trauma, the courage it takes to admit wrongdoing, and the struggle to acknowledge complicity in injustice. Only after participants journey through both an inner process and an interpersonal one do we begin to speak about forgiveness. Forgiveness is never the starting point—it is the fruit of a long and demanding journey, shaped by reflection and by the willingness to hold both truth and compassion together. This becomes especially challenging in contexts where the harm has not ceased, where occupation, displacement, and daily discrimination remain ongoing realities.
In this season of Yom Kippur, I feel that the power of forgiveness reaches far beyond ritual. It cannot be something we, as Israelis, approach mechanically. Forgiveness must be lived—both as a spiritual essence and as an ethical practice. It is an energetic shift that opens the way for growth and release, and a moral choice that embraces compassion over resentment. Each act of forgiveness not only transforms our relationships with others but also reshapes the inner space, creating the capacity to listen, to hold pain, and to remain rooted in our shared humanity. Forgiveness also grounds me in belonging. It reminds me of the responsibility I carry toward both Israeli and Palestinian societies, and of our call to be partners in life and peace. Within forgiveness lies the power to affirm dignity, sustain hope, and bring goodness to all.
In this context, forgiveness cannot be separated from responsibility. For Israelis, as the stronger and controlling side, this means acknowledging Palestinian pain, ending the occupation with all its consequences, and committing to systemic change. It requires recognizing that the occupation not only inflicts direct harm on Palestinians but also leaves deep and lasting scars on Israeli society itself. For Palestinians, it means recognizing Israeli fears and traumas and taking responsibility for acts of harm. Ultimately, both people are called to choose life and hope, to share responsibility, and to create spaces of humility that confront the ego. Together, we must commit to walking the long road toward peace through nonviolent paths of justice and reconciliation.
At the same time, I must be clear: I neither ask for nor expect forgiveness from Palestinians while the violence of occupation continues to be imposed upon them. The just and moral path requires first restoring to Palestinians their right to freedom, creating the space to begin healing, to see that justice is being done, and to feel safe enough to open an inner space for such a process. Only then can a collective and emotional capacity for forgiveness emerge. I believe this principle applies to both nations: forgiveness must be understood in light of each side’s realities, political circumstances, and emotional capacities. For this reason, forgiveness is not a single act but a long and ongoing journey.
In these difficult times, when violence and anger seem to dominate, forgiveness becomes even more essential. It is never automatic but a daily choice. Sometimes it means asking for forgiveness, and other times it means offering it—even when the other side has not asked. For me, this was not a single moment but a long and demanding journey. I had to face my pain, acknowledge the struggle, and confront my own responsibility before I could arrive at forgiveness. Yet today, and every day, I choose again to live with forgiveness, empathy, and compassion.
I believe this is my calling: to bring the spirit of forgiveness and responsibility into the world, to help open hearts and heal wounds, and to contribute to building a society that is more just, healthy, and whole.
– Veronica Vigdorchik, Project Manager
Lydd-Ramle Mixed Cities Update:
At the beginning of September, Musalaha brought together 11 Israeli Jewish and Palestinian Muslims and Christians from the mixed cities of Lydd and Ramle to Wadi Rum in Jordan for the first time. After a week of violence and tension in their cities, the desert provided a safe space to step away, reflect, and begin discussing the obstacles that prevent reconciliation.
The weekend centered on two workshops: Obstacles to Reconciliation and Conflict. In both sessions, participants navigated difficult conversations, challenging their abilities to actively listen. A highlight was watching the group grow in respect for one another as they surfaced issues old and new while still learning from each other.
Throughout the weekend, it became clear that these participants genuinely care about Lydd and Ramle and long for a better future for all who live there.
– Veronica Vigdorchik & Salim Munayer, Project Managers
Young Adults Muslim-Christian Update:
Our second workshop this month, led by facilitator Natali Taweel, equipped participants to turn their experience and knowledge into outreach. In groups, they worked diligently on their homework and presented practical, effective outreach ideas aimed at making an impact in their society. From thirteen proposals, they narrowed the list to two for planning and implementation. One project involves visiting schools to share stories of children in Gaza, highlighting how they live and why we must care. The Young Adults named this project “Think of Others.”
– Saleem Anfous, Project Manager
Palestinian Women’s Update:
This past month, our Palestinian women’s group held its first outreach, Our Green Roots – جذورنا الخضراء,marking the completion of nearly a year-long program. The women have shown remarkable commitment, cooperation, and creativity, and chose to reconnect with the land through plants.
The outreach brought together 36 women from across Palestine: Bethlehem, Eilabun, Baqa, Nazareth, and more.
Despite their differences in location and religions, they discovered shared interests in Palestinian plants and traditions. The program included an icebreaker on favorite plants, a presentation on local herbs, a tasting station, and an embroidery workshop highlighting its meaning for Palestinian identity. A moment of silence was also held for Gaza, honoring the absence of women from there.
At the end, participants exchanged gifts in a unique way. Each woman gifted hers to someone who inspired her during the outreach. It was a beautiful display of generosity and encouragement. We are proud of our participants for the dedication and teamwork they demonstrated in making Our Green Roots possible.
– Hiba Allati & Aseel Rian, Project Managers
Muslim-Christian Civil Society Leaders Update:
For the first time since the desert trip, the Muslim/Christian Civil Society group held an overnight workshop instead of a one-day session. We chose to stay in Ramallah at the beautiful Locanda Farah, a Palestinian house built in 1904 that has been converted into a boutique hotel. It was the perfect location for our session on History and Narrative led by Dr. Salim Munayer. Through team bonding activities and spending the night in a new city together, the participants formed stronger bonds than ever. The workshop was intense at times, but it allowed participants to speak freely in a safe space, which formed even closer relationships. I am excited for the upcoming workshops. Every time, the sessions and the group’s spirit grows better and better.
-Tamar Haddad, Project Manager
Musalaha Academy:
Learn and engage with Musalaha’s Curriculum of Reconciliation and become the urgent change you want to see amidst deep injustice.
The Musalaha Academy is Musalaha’s new digital learning platform set to launch early 2026. Through interactive courses, videos, and practical resources, participants become active learners in Musalaha’s unique model of reconciliation which is rooted in faith, shaped by 35 years of trial and error, and tested in some of the world’s most challenging contexts.
Whether you are a student, educator, community leader, or peacebuilder, the Academy offers tools to deepen understanding, challenge assumptions, and equip you to put reconciliation into practice in your own community.
Musalaha is currently looking for volunteers to test the Academy learning platform during the Beta Launch in October 2025. Interested? Please reach out to [email protected]
Musalaha at Geneva Peace Week:
On October 15, Musalaha’s founder, Dr. Salim Munayer, will present our Six Stages of Reconciliation at Geneva Peace Week, a leading international peacebuilding forum. We are honored to share a model that has proven effective in our context.
Sessions will be in English and available online for free. Online participants will receive the links by email. To join or connect:
Artistic Recommendation:
The Sea
2025 | Drama | 1h 33m
The Sea is a Palestinian-Israeli drama directed by Shai Carmeli-Pollak that tells the story of 12-year-old Khaled, a Palestinian boy from a village near Ramallah. When he is denied entry to Tel Aviv on a school trip because of a permit issue at an Israeli checkpoint, Khaled sets off alone, determined to see the sea for the first time.
Meanwhile, his father, an undocumented laborer in Israel, abandons work and risks arrest to search for him. The film is in Arabic and Hebrew, and it is produced through a collaboration between Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers. The Sea offers a restrained yet powerful portrayal of the everyday challenges of life under military occupation.
The Sea won multiple Ophir Awards, including Best Picture, and was selected as Israel’s official submission to the 2026 Oscars. Its selection, however, sparked political controversy. Israel’s Culture Minister criticized the film for allegedly portraying Israeli soldiers negatively and vowed to withdraw public funding from the Israeli Film Academy. Despite the backlash, the film has been widely praised for its artistic merit and its human-centered depiction of complex realities.
Review of Reconciling Justice by Salim J. Munayer
Robert Cohen, a Jewish writer living in the United Kingdom, reflects on reading Reconciling Justice. Cohen’s interfaith experience shapes his deep appreciation for the book’s exploration of identity, faith, and reconciliation. Readers can find his full review here:
Please join us in praying for:
- That during this season of the High Holidays, hearts would be open to forgiveness and repentance.
- That violence would end, a ceasefire be reached, food provided for all, and hostages released.
- The Mixed Cities group, that they would bring meaningful change in Lydd and Ramle.
- The Young Adults, that they would have wisdom and motivation in their outreach.
- The Palestinian women’s group, that their outreach would continue to have lasting impact.
- The Muslim-Christian Civil Society Group, that they would grow closer together and engage in deep conversations that lead to change.
- Musalaha Academy and Salim’s speaking engagement at Peace Week, that Musalaha’s curriculum would continue to make a positive impact.