New Word -- "Sumud"

These images and links are an introduction to sumud, a Palestinian word and idea as near the traditional concept of non-violence as I have found.  The Arab Educational Institute Center, linked below, serves as an introduction. And these images from another site, The Spirit of Sumud, also linked below, are just a few of many found at that site. Those of us with the "peace movement" of the Sixties always knew about a handful of non-violent activist groups and activities, but it is in the nature of these groups to maintain a low profile -- in part because non-violence embraces what some call a passive approach to their missions, others might use words like cowardly or weak, but the sad truth is that advocates for peace have almost never been heard when the winds of war are blowing.  And as I write this, those winds are blowing still.

This church in Bethlehem has been cut off from Jerusalem just
a kilometer away on the other side of the Apartheid Wall.

Inside the Greek-Orthodox Monastery of St George. In Byzantine times, the hermits once came
together here for mass, to hand over the basketry they crafted during the week
and to receive their weekly rations.

St George's Monastery in Wadi Kelt. In Byzantine times, the caves surrounding the monastery
were populated by hermits who lived from dates and water and sought spiritual
communion with God. On the right of the valley is the aquaduct.

This isolated Bedouin house and goat farm at a rare oasis is only accessible by foot.

These girls hailing from the Elementary Girls School in the refugee camp of Dehaisheh near Bethlehem,
beat their tambourinesat the Artas Festival. In the background, other girls are poised
for the next act, a regional fashion show.

ARTAS AND THE LETTUCE FESTIVAL
Set in the verdant Artas valley, a meeting place for civilizations for millennia,
and heir to a fascinating history, heritage, and folklore, the small but magical
village of Artas is only walking distance from Bethlehem even though it has kept
the atmosphere of the countryside. In April 2006, it celebrated its natural and
cultural heritage at the Twelfth Annual Artas Lettuce Festival. Festivals are an
important part of Palestinian life, bringing together different segments of the
population, now facing increasing fragmentation, due to military barriers and checkpoints.

Opposite the village, the Hortus Conclusus (Closed Garden) church and monastery
tends a rich garden cultivated by the peasants of Artas. Palestinian villages are
often well-known for the special quality of a particular crop. Artas is justly proud
of its delicious crisp romaine lettuce.

~~~~~~~
The following Twitter message became the inspiration for this blog entry.

If this isn't a picture of Palestinian sumud, idk what is pic.twitter.com/cJle6RLi1F
— national mercurity (@onekade) September 20, 2014

This is the Wikipedia definition, which begins a long entry.

Sumud (Arabic: صمود‎) meaning "steadfastness" or "steadfast perseverance" is an ideological theme and political strategy that first emerged among the Palestinian people through the experience of the dialectic of oppression and resistance in the wake of the 1967 Six-Day War. Those who are steadfast, that is those who exhibit sumud, are referred to as samidin, the singular forms of which are samid (m.) and samida (f.). With the passing of the years since 1967, Palestinians have distinguished between two main forms of sumud. The first, static sumud, is more passive and is defined by Ibrahim Dhahak as the "maintenance of Palestinians on their land." The second, resistance sumud (in Arabic, sumud muqawim) is a more dynamic ideology whose aim is to seek ways of building alternative institutions so as to resist and undermine the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories. The ultimate symbol associated with the concept of sumud and the Palestinian sense of rootedness in the land is the olive tree, ubiquitous throughout Palestine. Another icon of sumud that has often been portrayed in Palestinian artwork is that of the mother, and more specifically, a peasant woman depicted as when with child.

Arab Educational Institute Center

It is a delightful irony that the initials AEI are shared by both this Arab Educational Institute and the American  Enterprise Institute, one of America's oldest, most venerable conservative think tanks -- which puts these two organizations at political polar opposites, I'm sure, regarding Palestinian-Israeli politics. The only difference between the two urls is the addition of the word "center" to Palestinian website.

History

The reader is urged drill into the links and discover more about this organization and concept. I have known for some time that there has been a non-violent dimension to Palestinian resistance to Israel's protracted seizure of the Occupied Territories, but I didn't know about this quiet but durable group, a project of Pax Christi (one of the Catholic Church's less well-known traditions).  This is from the "History" section of the site.

AEI–Open Windows is a Palestinian organization that furthers education, peace building and dialogue in the Palestinian cities of Bethlehem, Ramallah and Hebron. After the Institute’s creation in 1986 its locality in central Bethlehem was used for providing classes to Palestinian youth on a broad variety of subjects, including computer programs, business administration and languages. While being forced to intermittently close and open during the first Intifada, the AEI provided complementary and remedial coaching programs for youth while schools were closed. 

In 1997, the AEI opened channels of communication and cooperation with the Dutch Euro-Arab Dialogue From Below/Interchurch Peace Movement - (EAD/IKV) initiative and in 2000 became an affiliated branch of Pax Christi International (a Catholic peace movement formerly headed by His Beatitude Mgr. Patriarch Michel Sabbah). AEI’s main local outreach is a network of some 15 schools in the Bethlehem, Hebron and Ramallah areas. 

AEI appeals to international volunteers to share in its peace work. Its supervising board is composed of distinguished community members, including teachers and headmasters from a range of schools and departments of Bethlehem University. AEI also works closely together with Palestinian NGOs at both a local and national level, especially in the fields of education and non-violent activities.

AEI’s work is growing fast. At present some 9 groups form the backbone of AEI’s activities: four women’s group, four youth groups, and a family/parents group. The youths take part in different projects supported by mainly European development organizations and governments. Several of the projects relate to international computer or face-to-face exchanges. AEI-Open Windows has a Youth House and a School of Communication in which courses on the effective communication of the Palestinian identity and reality stand central.

The Spirit of Sumud

A Web search for "Sumud" returns a string of interesting links and images. Again, the reader is urged to do more homework than my small glimpse here. Here are a few images from this one website to whet the reader's appetite to learn more. 

This young girl looks at the olive grove annexed from its owners
by the Wall near the town of Beit Jala west of Bethlehem.

Children of AEI-Open Windows' kids group are still able
to create hopeful drawings, even when the subject is the Wall.

WADI KELT
The Wadi (valley) Kelt to the east of Jerusalem near the road to Jericho allows the visitor to experience three
climatic zones with caves inhabited by monks during the Byzantine period; springs and natural pools; sand hills,
rocks and steep ravines; birds crying in lone silence; remains of a Roman aqueduct and King Herod's winter
palace; an oasis inhabited by Bedouins, and a monastery.

Here visitors start their walk in Wadi Kilt from the nearby Jerusalem-Jericho road.