The Berwyn Beat, Holiday Edition

By Nate Feldman 

Snow on the Ground at Frank Johnson Park, Berwyn

Snow Returns to the Philadelphia Area 

There was light snowfall in the Philadelphia area in the late afternoon and throughout the evening on Friday, December 20.  According to weather reports, somewhere between 1-3 inches of snow fell depending on where you were living.  Berwyn saw what appeared to be at least an inch of snow, leaving a white blanket covering the area by Saturday morning.  

More precipitation arrived on Christmas Eve with a wintry mix of snow and ice falling during the mid-morning hours.  However, this tapered off by the afternoon, leaving the area with only a semi-white Christmas.  

Kipper the Dog Enjoying the Snow

Brownie the Cat Getting Warm while It Snows

Young Artists Display Work at Philadelphia's Woodmere Museum 

On Saturday, December 14, the Woodmere Museum in Philadelphia hosted its 31st annual KIDS CARE event, in which young artists from local schools draw pictures based on a theme and have their pictures displayed at the museum's Helen Millard Children's Gallery.  This year, the theme was My Favorite Place.  

The museum's website says the children's artwork are "holiday gifts for people with chronic illnesses," and that after the exhibition, the art is sent to the people accompanied by a holiday meal.  

This year, 30 artworks from Berwyn's T/E Middle School were selected for the event.  The students did a collage, and Sara Feldman's work was used as the cover for the event's program packet and exhibition postcard.

Sara Feldman's Collage at the Woodmere Museum

Frozen Jr. at the Upper Mainline YMCA

The Upper Mainline YMCA's youth theatre program performed Frozen Jr., an adaptation of the Disney classic, at Great Valley High School on December 5, 6, and 7.  There were evening shows all days, as well as an afternoon matinee on the 7th.  Both the cast and the audience had a delightful time performing and watching the show.  

Berwyn, PA Lights the Christmas Tree 

More and more holiday lights are glowing throughout the area as we get closer to Christmas and Hannukah.  On Sunday, December 8, Santa Claus arrived in Berwyn, PA via the local fire company to light up the tree at the town's train station.  A large crowd gathered to enjoy the festivities, which was accompanied by dance performances.  

Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade

Thursday, November 28, was the American Thanksgiving holiday, and the city of Philadelphia held its 105th annual Thanksgiving day Parade, the oldest in the country.  There were floats of different kinds, marching bands, people dressed in costumes, and of course Santa Claus marching through the rain on the streets of the city.  The parade begins in Center City and proceeds along Benjamin Franklin Parkway before reaching the steps at the Philadelphia Art Museum.  

In spite of the cold, dreary weather, people came out to celebrate the holiday and enjoy the festivities. 

Cold Weather and Shopping 

Saturday, November 30, was a cold, snowy day throughout many parts of Upstate New York.  For that reason, many people were doing indoor activities, like doing shopping at the Destiny USA mall in Syracuse.  With the holiday season upon is, more and more people will be spending their free time this way.  

The Berwyn Beat, December 16-21, 2024

 By Nate Feldman

Snow on the Ground at Frank Johnson Park, Berwyn

There was light snowfall in the Philadelphia area in the late afternoon and throughout the evening on Friday, December 20.  According to weather reports, somewhere between 1-3 inches of snow fell depending on where you were living.  Berwyn saw what appeared to be at least an inch of snow, leaving a white blanket covering the area by Saturday morning.  

Kipper the Dog Enjoying the Snow

Brownie the Cat Getting Warm while It Snows

The Berwyn Beat, December 9-15, 2024

By Nate Feldman

Young Artists Display Work at Philadelphia's Woodmere Museum 

On Saturday, December 14, the Woodmere Museum in Philadelphia hosted its 31st annual KIDS CARE event, in which young artists from local schools draw pictures based on a theme and have their pictures displayed at the museum's Helen Millard Children's Gallery.  This year, the theme was My Favorite Place.  

The museum's website says the children's artwork are "holiday gifts for people with chronic illnesses," and that after the exhibition, the art is sent to the people accompanied by a holiday meal.  

This year, 30 artworks from Berwyn's T/E Middle School were selected for the event.  The students did a collage, and Sara Feldman's work was used as the cover for the event's program packet and exhibition postcard.

Sara Feldman's Collage at the Woodmere Museum

This Week in Review, December 1-8, 2024

By Nate Feldman

Frozen Jr. at the Upper Mainline YMCA

The Upper Mainline YMCA's youth theatre program performed Frozen Jr., an adaptation of the Disney classic, at Great Valley High School on December 5, 6, and 7.  There were evening shows all days, as well as an afternoon matinee on the 7th.  Both the cast and the audience had a delightful time performing and watching the show.  

Berwyn, PA Lights the Christmas Tree 

More and more holiday lights are glowing throughout the area as we get closer to Christmas and Hannukah.  On Sunday, December 8, Santa Claus arrived in Berwyn, PA via the local fire company to light up the tree at the town's train station.  A large crowd gathered to enjoy the festivities, which was accompanied by dance performances.  

The Institute by Stephen King.  A Mini-Book Review.

This weekend, I finished reading The Institute by Stephen King.  The 2019 novel tells the story of a sinister government agency that abducts children with both telekinetic and telepathic abilities and performs horrible experiments on them until they die.  It was a very suspenseful tale with memorable characters and great action.  I highly recommend it! 

Being Alone on the Holidays

 By Nate Feldman

What’s it like to be alone at the holidays?  Well, it’s hard to say the least.  This is especially true because the holiday season is constantly promoted as a time of family and gathering with friends.  But, what if you have neither of those? 

There was once that song by Simon and Garfunkel called, “A Most Peculiar Man,” which talked about a guy who lived by himself who eventually gassed himself to death.  That’s an old song now, but there are many people in that exact situation.  They are alone with no connection to the outside world. 

Many people would argue that those people need to get out of their shell and make efforts to connect to the outside world.  That may be true in some cases.  There are people who end up alone simply because they won’t try to meet others. 

However, this is easier said than done.  Some people have certain social anxieties or conditions (I refuse to call them disorders) which make it very, very difficult to build relationships the way that those with better social skills can.  I know there are people who have made great efforts to build relationships with others only to find themselves alone. 

So, going back to the topic at hand, what should someone who is alone at the holiday season do to solve this problem?  I will say something radical here.  If they want to find people, then attend a public social group through something like the Meetup App or go to a religious service of some kind.  Even if they don’t find lifelong friends, they’ll make a connection.  But, that’s not the radical part.  The radical part is to embrace it.  By it, I mean being on your own. 

This Week in Review, November 24-30

 By Nate Feldman

Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade

Thursday was the American Thanksgiving holiday, and the city of Philadelphia held its 105th annual Thanksgiving day Parade, the oldest in the country.  There were floats of different kinds, marching bands, people dressed in costumes, and of course Santa Claus marching through the rain on the streets of the city.  The parade begins in Center City and proceeds along Benjamin Franklin Parkway before reaching the steps at the Philadelphia Art Museum.  

In spite of the cold, dreary weather, people came out to celebrate the holiday and enjoy the festivities. 

Cold Weather and Shopping 

 Saturday was a cold, snowy day throughout many parts of Upstate New York.  For that reason, many people were doing indoor activities, like doing shopping at the Destiny USA mall in Syracuse.  With the holiday season upon is, more and more people will be spending their free time this way.  

The Sweet Tooth: Thanksgiving Edition

 By Nate Feldman

It is Thanksgiving, and Josh is preparing the dinner table.  He has prepared a roast turkey with stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed sweet potatoes with marshmallows, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and apple pie, and has a box of chocolates.  He gets a phone call.  It is from his friend Julia, who is going to be coming over for dinner soon.

"Hi Julia," he says.  "When do you think you'll get here?" he asks.

"In about an hour," she answers.

"Nice," he says.  "And remind me, what are you bringing with you?" 

"Let's see," she answers.  "I've got roasted Brussel sprouts, a spinach salad, orzo salad and some tofurky.  And what did you make?"

Josh tells her.  "You're stuff sounds really healthy," he says.

"Yes, and your stuff sounds really sweet," she responds.  

"Well," Josh says laughing a bit to himself, "I probably have a bit of a sweet tooth."

"No, not probably," Julia says.  "Definitely!" 

Josh is a bit put off by her tone of voice.  

"Well, you don't have to judge me," he tells her.  "I mean, you're not perfect with everything either!"

"What are you talking about?" she says a bit surprised.

"I mean, you need to work on your social skills.  You are condescending and a bit of a turn off!" 

"Are you serious!" she replies angrily.

"Yeah, and you know what," Josh continues, "you can just stay where you are and eat your health trash!  I will indulge myself in delicious sweets here!" 

"Whatever," Julia says and hangs up.

Josh sits down and enjoys his meal.  

Desert Adventures: Desert Demons and the Magic Torch

 By Nate Feldman

                                                          Chapter 1: Meeting at the Cafe 

It had been eons since Jackson Cohen had seen his cousin Nora when he encountered here at a seaside cafe one late summer afternoon.  They had been best friends during their youth due to their shared love of adventure and imagination.  However, a falling out between their parents (Nora's father was against their marriage) caused them to lose touch.  

At their first encounter, Nora was with two girlfriends, and when Jackson introduced himself, she claimed to have a cousin with no such name and demanded he leave or else she would call the police on him.  

Completely stunned, Jackson returned to his apartment.  Later, he received a message via instagram (apparently Nora had found his profile) that they should meet up the next day at the same cafe.  Jackson now was suspicious of her, but he felt he had to take a chance.  

When they got together the next afternoon, Nora tried to pretend like the whole incident the previous day had never taken place.  Instead, she eagerly talked about her new business venture called Desert Adventures.  Contestants spent three days and two nights in the desert on a mission trying to find something.  Whoever found it received an award of $1,500.  

Nora insisted that Jackson join her on the next Desert Adventure program in which they would be trying to find a hidden treasure.  She promised it would be a great way to connect again.  Jackson was reluctant due to her sudden shift in behavior, but he agreed.  

The Sweet Tooth: A Short Play

 By Nate Feldman

Josh is sitting down at a table for his Thanksgiving feast.  He's eating pumpkin pie with ice cream, candied yams with marshmallows, a bowl of cranberry sauce with Turkey and stuffing.  He gets a phone call from his friend Julia.

Josh: Hello?  

Oh, hi Julia!  Happy Thanksgiving!  

Yeah, I was just sitting down to my Thanksgiving feast.  

I'm having the ushe.  Turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, candied yams with marshmallows, pumpkin pie a la mode, and later I'll get out a box of chocolates.  What are you having?

Vegan turkey, spinach salad, and cous cous?  Sounds healthy!

Josh smiles.  

Yeah, well, I must admit I have a bit of a sweet tooth.  

Josh makes a perturbed face.  

Well, I'm not quite a health nut like you are, but you don't have to look down on me.  

I must say you've got some issues you need to deal with yourself.  

Like your bad social skills!  You're a real turnoff, you know?!

OK, well enjoy your boring health crap while I indulge myself in a delicious meal!  

Josh hangs up the phone and chows down on his feast, defiantly.  

Japanese Uchiwa

 By Nate Feldman

A Japanese Uchiwa

A former student of mine from the Aichi prefecture in Japan mailed me an uchiwa, a traditional Japanese hand-held fan.  Uchiwas are used for cooling oneself, but they are used for other purposes and according to article online can be seen in different dance festivals.  

Monster Hunters, Jess and Paula Meet Manny the Monster

By Nate Feldman

It is almost twilight, and Jess and Paula, the Monster Hunters, are walking through a dense part of the woods.  They are trying to get Manny the Monster to become a part of their Monster Preserve.  

Paula: We'll be there in any minute.  His cabin is just around the corner. 

Jess: And remind me, what is the best way to lure this creature?

Paula: Let me do the talking.  I can understand Monsterese a bit.  

Jess: If you say so.  But, this isn't any ordinary monster.  Eight people have vanished without a trace in this area.  People are pretty sure Manny is responsible.  It's hard to ignore the chronic violence the community has been facing.

Paula: We have to take a chance dialoguing with him.  People typically panic around monsters as I am sure you know by now.  They get totally stressed out!  We've both agreed that dialogue is the best way to transform a savage monster into a more docile one.

Suddenly, Manny the Monster appears on the right side.  He stares at Jess and Paula.  The two girls freeze.  

Desert Demons and the Magic Torch

By Nate Feldman

Chapter 1

The first time Jackson Cohen attempted to re-connect with his long estranged cousin Nora couldn't have possibly gone any worse.  He approached her at a cafe where she was having lunch with friends, only to have her make a scene, swearing she had no idea who he was and demanding he leave before she called the police.  

The two had been inseparable from childhood into their teenage years.  They were adventurous, imaginative, and both had felt misunderstood by their families.  Nevertheless, an ongoing feud between their parents (Nora's father had never approved of Jackson's father's marriage to his mother, his sister) had led to them no longer communicating.  

Monster Hunters, Introduction

By Nate Feldman 

It is the Halloween season, so there are many monsters coming out in different areas.  You can find them in the streets and on people's properties.  Jess and Paula, two young entrepreneurs, have come up with an idea to solve this problem.  They have created a new business: Monster Hunters.  

For only $20, if you call Jess or Paula, they can come to your place and help remove the monsters from the vicinity.  Jess and Paula are both very experienced in dealing with monsters, and they guarantee that if they are unable to remove the monster, that you don't have to pay them anything.  

The girls, however, are adamant about one thing: they are not running this business to kill monsters.  In fact, they are trying to save them by preventing bloodshed between them and humans.

"We are convinced that there is a place for both humans and monsters in this world," Jess says.  

"We've both been around a long time and will continue to be here," adds Paula, referring to the two species.  

For this reason, Jess and Paula have a second business they are running: The Monster Preserve.  This is an area where monsters can live with one another and don't have to interact with humans.  They can live in their own environment.  Also for $20, humans can come and visit the Monster Preserve and see their favorite kinds of creatures: gremlins, witches, goblins, ghouls, werewolves, and vampires just to name some.  

For passionate monster lovers in the human community, they give people who want to sponsor a monster at the preserve an opportunity to do so for $200 a year.  These people can come and get one-on-one time with their favorite creature and help guarantee it is well-taken care of for years to come.

So, if you want to visit monsters, go to the Monster Preserve, and if you need monsters removed from your area, call the Monster Hunters.  They will make sure you have a spooktacular time this Halloween season! 

MENA 2050 Projects Seeks to Foster Dialogue in the Middle East

 By Nate Feldman

The MENA 2050 project is a grassroots effort to bring together people throughout the Middle East from a variety of nationalities and career backgrounds for dialogue and building a peaceful region.  

On its website, it states that they, "believe in the people of the region's ability to build their future, and that modernization, development, and positive interactions with contemporary civilizations are not concepts that are alien to the Middle East."  

A recent Jerusalem Post profile of the organization ('We Must Coexist': MENA2050 builds peace in the Middle through shared vision by Ohed Merlin) interviewed members from Israel, Egypt, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia about their ideas and the necessity for working together and building a better future.  

The Jerusalem Youth Chorus Releases New Song

 By Nate Feldman

The Jerusalem Youth Chorus, a group of young Israeli, Palestinian, and other background singers has released a new single called Olam Chesed Yibaneh.  The song can be found on various streaming platforms, such as Spotify, Apple Music, and iTunes.  Despite the ongoing war between Israelis and Palestinians, these young singers show the potential of the region if the people can learn to work together with one another.

Eighth Montco Interfaith 5K is Held in Maryland

 By Nate Feldman

The eighth Montco Interfaith 5K was held at the South Germantown Recreational Park in Boyds, Maryland on Labor Day.  

The race goes up and down hills on a series of paved trails through a scenic area.

This annual tradition is sponsored by local synagogues, churches, and mosques around the Maryland and Washington, DC area.  

"We have a lot more in common (with one another)," was the repeated message of the race organizers.

Chicago Area Jewish man and Palestinian Man Run for a Ceasefire in Gaza

 By Nate Feldman

Richard Goldwasser and Anan Abu-Taleb are avid marathon runners from the Chicago area.  The two have been running together.  However, they are now using their running to promote a ceasefire between the Israelis and Palestinians.  Goldwasser, a Jewish American, and Abu Taleb, a Palestinian American, wear a t-shirt that says “Ceasefire Now Hostage/Prisoner Release.”  An article in the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (See “On the DNC Sidelines, a Jew and Palestinian from Chicago are leading a daily run for a ceasefire in Gaza” by Ron Kampeas) says that they are now running every morning at Buckingham Fountain to call for an end to the fighting in the Middle East. The article mentions that they run a four-mile loop between the fountain to McCormick Place with others to spread the word of their message.

Central Cultural Latinos Unidos Builds Bridges between Latinos and Other Cultures

 By Nate Feldman

Central Cultural Latinos Unidos is an organization in Pottstown, PA that helps to build relationships between the local Latino community and their neighbors.  Recently, there was an article about how the organization took young children from the Latin community to French Creek Park to teach them about nature in the area.   

Directors of Israeli-Palestinian Youth Summer Camp Hold Webinar

 By Nate Feldman

Tamar and Mohamed, the Israeli and Palestinian directors of the Parent's Circle Youth Summer Camp, held a webinar today to discuss what has been taking place at their program.  

The Parent's Circle is an organization made up of Israelis and Palestinians who have lost loved ones in the ongoing conflict between the two people.  

Jews and Israelis Show Solidarity with Druze Restaurant in New York

 By Nate Feldman

Last weekend, a rocket from Hezbollah, an Iranian sponsored militant group in Lebanon, killed twelve children from the Druze community in Majdal Al-Shams, a village in the Israeli controlled and hotly contested Golan Heights (Syria claims this territory).  

To show solidarity with the victims, many Israelis and Jews in New York City have visited Gazala's Restaurant, which is owned by Gazala Halabi, an Israeli Druze woman living in the U.S.  According to an article in the NY Jewish Weekly publication, it's the only Druze restaurant in New York.  (See At Gazala's, New York City's only Druze restaurant, Hezbollah attack on children draws solidarity diners by Julia Gergely).  

The Druze are an Arab religious minority spread out between Israel, Lebanon, and Syria.  They are known for showing loyalty to the countries they reside in.  Druze serve in the Israeli army.  

Israeli-Palestinian Restaurant Majda Closes Down

 By Nate Feldman

For the past 14 years, the Majda restaurant in Ein Rafa, Israel served authentic Middle Eastern food.  It was also a symbol of co-existence as its owners were an Arab-Jewish couple, chefs Yakub Barhum and Michal Baranes.  However, with business struggling, especially in the wake of the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinians in Gaza, the couple have decided to close down their restaurant and relocate to France. 

An interesting article about Majda was written in 2019.  It was about the late TV chef Anthony Bourdain, who visited the restaurant during a visit to the Middle East.  While eating there, he said, "You could almost believe for a minute or two that some kind of peace, some kind of reconciliation, a meeting of the minds, sanity, is possible after you visit Majda."  For more, read "Anthony Bourdain and the Magic of Majda," at https://azjewishlife.com/anthony-bourdain-and-the-magic-of-majda/.  

While the closing down of Majda seems like a defeat for coexistence, it also reveals what is possible when given an opportunity.  

Article about Ella Waweya, an Arab woman in the Israeli Defense Forces

 By Nate Feldman

An article in The Jerusalem Post titled "Meet Ella Waweya, the IDF's top Muslim woman, speaking out to the Arab world," by Ohad Merlin is an interesting profile of something less discussed about the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which are Arabs that serve with Israel's Army.  

Major Ella comes from Kalunsuwa, an Arab town in Israel proper.  She has been serving in the army for the past 10 years.  Her most prominent role is serving as a spokesperson for the IDF in its communications department with the Arab world.  

The interviewer asks her a number of questions ranging from how her family dealt with her enlistment, her role in communicating with Arab media throughout the Middle East, and other experiences she has had to go through.  

Other places where you can learn more about Major Ella include videos on You Tube, such as "Israeli women and Arab-Israeli women are breaking the glass ceiling in the IDF" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8FVSsAxNP8&pp=ygURbWFqb3IgZWxsYSB3YXdleWE%3D  

Nate's Frightenin Films, Episode 1 (Revised Edition)

By Nate Feldman

This is my revised edition of Nate's Frightenin Films, Episode 1.  In this episode, I play two songs, Halloween Night and Haunted House.  I also show the first scene of a story I am working on, Doomsday USA.  In this scene, Josh, the main character, introduces his camp where humans and monsters build relationships with one another.  

"The Future," a Film Review

 By Nate Feldman

The Future is a 2023 Israeli film starring Reymond Amsellem and Samar Qupty.  Set somtime in the future, the Israeli Minister for Space and Tourism has been assassinated by Yafa (Qupty), a young Palestinian woman who has been arrested by the authorities.  This event occurs as Israel is planning a mission to the moon.  

Meanwhile, Dr. Nurit Bloch (Amsellem) from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem is part of a department that has created an algorithm which predict a person's future actions.  This invention has been created specifically in mind to predict who is going to commit acts of terrorism.  It is for that reason that she is perplexed by Yafa's actions.  Yafa does not seem like the type of person to engage in political violence, and they were unable to foresee her as an assassin.  

For that reason, Nurit brings Yafa to her home to begin a series of interrogations to get to the bottom of her motives.  This initiates a series of dialogues between the two which slowly creates a slightly better understanding between the two.  

A subplot of the film is Nurit's ongoing relationship with Maor (Dar Zuzovsky), a younger woman who she wants to be a surrogate mother for a child of hers.  But, something that begins to trouble her is the idea of raising a child in a country where violence seems to be a part of both its present and future.  

This film is a beautifully acted story which has even more meaning in the wake of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict that has intensified significantly since October 7 of last year.  

Jewish and Palestinian Professors Teach Journalism Class at Columbia University

 By Nate Feldman

In the last couple of months, Columbia University has been an epicenter of protests against Israel by Pro-Palestinian students that have engulfed the country in response to the ongoing war in Gaza.  Nevertheless, despite the tensions on campus, there is a Journalism course taught by Ari Goldman, a self-described Zionist Jew, and Greg Khalil, a Palestinian.  CBS news did an interview with the two about their course and their views both on the conflict and the need for empathy when discussing it with people of differing opinions.  For more information, watch Palestinian professor and Jewish professor co-teach class at Columbia University.  

19th Israeli-Palestinian Memorial Day Event Calls for an End to Violence

 By Nate Feldman

Today, the 19^th joint Israeli-Palestinian Memorial Day Ceremony was held.  The event was an initiative of Combatants for Peace, former soldiers that are calling for people to lay down their weapons, and the Parents Circle-Families Forum, a group of bereaved Israeli and Palestinian parents calling for an end to fighting between the two sides. 

There were Israeli and Palestinian speakers recalling the violence against both sides, from the Hamas attack against Israel on October 7, 2023, and Israel’s ongoing war against Gaza.  Nevertheless, there were calls for an end to violence.  One Israeli mother who lost her son in the Hamas attack called for an end to revenge and fighting between the two sides.  A Palestinian woman talked about losing her brother and twenty members of her family in the current conflict.  Yet, she acknowledged that Israeli people had lost relatives as well. 

There was a musical performance by Yael Deckelbaum and Layan Hawila on guitar and oud titled “The Prayer for the Mothers,” which was sung in Hebrew, Arabic, and English.  The song talked about the desire of mothers who wanted peace. 

Activist helps keep the peace between Israeli Jews and Palestinians

 By Nate Feldman

The Israel21c website had an interesting profile of Mohammed Darawashe, the Director of Strategy at Givat Haviva's Center for Shared Society, an organization dedicated to building relations between Jews and Arabs in Israel.  

In an article titled Arab-Israeli conflict-resolution activist helps keep the peace by Elana Sharp, it is described how after the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, there were calls by the militant organization for Israel's Arab citizens to join the fight with them, but there were efforts by activists, such as Darawashe to help prevent a full-out war between Jews and Arabs throughout the country.  

One very important thing he helped spearhead was getting Jewish and Arab mayors to issue joint calls for peaceful relations between the two populations.  According to the article this led to a "collective decision by Arab citizens that what happened on October 7 does not represent (them)."  

In addition to this, the Givat Haviva center offered a place of refuge to 300 residents of Israel's south to escape the area of fighting for a couple of months.  

The article also mentions that Darawashe himself was personally connected to the October 7 tragedy.  His cousin, Ahed Darawashe, who worked as a paramedic, was killed by Hamas while attempting to assist attendees of the Suprnova music festival which was attacked.  

Coexistence Corner Shop at the Quakertown Farmer's Market

 By Nate Feldman

The Coexistence Corner Shop at the Quakertown Spring Craft Show

On Saturday, May 4, the Coexistence Corner Shop had a space at the Quakertown Farmer's Market Spring Craft Show.  The shop sells postcards and magazines.  

The postcards are of famous local places, such as Philadelphia and Valley Forge, as well as the "Coexistence" card which has a dove in the middle of the symbols of the Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, and Hindu faiths.   

The magazines included The Ghost and Goblin Gazette, a fictitious news report from a haunted town as well as the Coexistence Corner Magazine which has stories and a news report about what people from around the world like about pumpkins.

For more information about items from The Coexistence Corner Shop, contact nfeldman82@gmail.com.  

Leaders from Neve Shalom/Wahat Al Salam Hold Zoom Call

 By Nate Feldman

Nir Sharon and Samah Salaime, two individuals from the village of Neve Shalom/Wahat Al Salam, a place in Israel where both Jews and Palestinians live, held a zoom call on Monday with supporters of their town's mission.  The two are co-directors of the Neve Shalom Educational Institutions.  

Among things they discussed were an art gallery with works produced by Jews and Palestinians.  The artwork reflects the populations' feelings about the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.  

My Multicultural Life, Part 1

 By Nate Feldman

As a person who has a father from a Jewish family in New York City and a mother from a Pennsylvania Dutch one from the bucolic Northwestern section of Lehigh County, PA, it should be no surprise that I have a fascination for how people from different cultures interact with one another.  

Growing up, I had no particular allegiance to either of my parent's backgrounds, although I was much closer with my Mother's relatives and was more likely to celebrate Christian holidays, such as Christmas and Easter than the Jewish high holidays or Passover, things my father had pretty much moved away from in his adult years.  I never had a bar mitzvah, and I was not a member of any synagogue growing up.  With that in mind, because of my name, Nathaniel Feldman, I was always identified as Jewish in most social settings, so I grew a sort of affinity for Jews although I had very little understand of the religion and its traditions.  

Spending my childhood in the mostly affluent Main Line suburbs of Philadelphia, I imagined myself with a white suburban girl (Christian or Jewish).  Those were predominantly the girls I had crushes from elementary school to high school.  For a variety of reasons, I never really had a girlfriend growing up, however.  I had at times severe emotional issues that probably didn't help, but in general, I was just never a good fit for people in my area.  

When I was a college student, I became interested in people of other cultures.  In the beginning, I was especially interested in South Asian culture.  When I was 19, I met a Pakistani woman online who was living in a suburb of Atlanta.  I took an Amtrak to Georgia over spring break, and we began a short relationship.

American Friends of Neve Shalom/Wahat Al Salam's Spring Newsletter

 By Nate Feldman

The American Friends of Neve Shalom/Wahat Al-Salam, a village in Israel where the inhabitants are both Jewish and Palestinian discussed different activities and initiatives taking place right now.

The letter mentioned a program called Youth Building Ties, which will invite 120 youth to take part in workshops to encourage dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians.  The workshops will teach these youth how to create positive dialogue and interaction and give them the chance to bring these skills back to their respective communities.  

Jerusalem Youth Chorus Performs in Boston

 By Nate Feldman

On Sunday afternoon, I watched a livestream performance of the Jerusalem Youth Chorus, a group of Palestinian and Israeli singers, as well as individuals from other backgrounds, from East and West Jerusalem, at an event in Boston, Massachusetts.  The event was a joint collaboration between the Emmanuel Church and the Central Reform Temple in Boston. 

The group of singers is currently touring the United States and Canada as a part of “A Different Song” Tour.  The purpose of the tour, and of the organization as a whole, is to, as they put it, sing “for peace, justice, inclusion and equality.”  The singers were accompanied by the Acapella group of Northeastern University.

In spite of the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinians in Gaza since October 7 of last year in which tens of thousands have been killed, the singers have continued meeting and performing with one another.  Members of the choir mentioned how their friendship and care for each other have helped them through difficult times.

The songs at the event, sung in English, Arabic, and Hebrew, focused on themes, such as love, togetherness, and ending conflict.    

If you are interested in learning more about the Jerusalem Youth Chorus, visit their website at: www.jerusalemyouthchorus.org.

 

Interfaith Iftar between Muslims and Jews in the UK

 By Nate Feldman

A recent article in The Guardian, a British newspaper, talked about an interfaith iftar, or breaking of the fast in the Islamic month of Ramadan, that was put together by the local Muslim and Jewish community in Bradford, England.  (See "We Stand Together": Bradford Muslim and Jewish leaders join forces for Ramadan Event by Morgan Ofori)  This joint initiative was meant to bring the two religious communities together, especially at a time of heightened tension due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza that has killed tens of thousands of people.  

The article mentioned that Bradford has both a large Muslim community and a Jewish community that dates back many years.  The participants of the iftar stressed the commonalities between the faiths and the history of the communities working together through different issues.  

The Seasons of the Year, 2023-2024

 By Nate Feldman 

This year, I have done a collection of videos, each focused on the different seasons of the year, which I am titling Coexistence Corner Presents: The Seasons of the Year, 2023-2024.  

The first one is done in the style of a news report about the blossoming of forsythia flowers during the early spring months.  There is also a story about a large storm system that affected the United States in late March-early April of last year.  

The second video is a recording of the first act of a play I am working on called Doomsday, USA.  In this story, Josh is from a town where humans and monsters are the inhabitants, and he has created a summer camp, Camp Doomsday, to help the two species build relationships with one another.  In the first act, he is promoting the camp to the general public.  

The third video focuses on places to see great fall foliage during the Autumn season.  I was able to travel to different parks throughout Pennsylvania and Maryland and found some amazing sites.

The final video came from January of this year when the Philadelphia area saw its first significant snowfall in almost two years.  I have different clips of the scenery accompanied by a collection of piano pieces I have composed which I call The Winter Medley.  

In addition to posting this video online, I am planning to show it at different events.  

Spring Flowers and Dialogue

 By Nate Feldman

Great Places

After a soaking rain on Saturday, it was clear skies on Sunday.  I ran at the Struble Trail in Downingtown, PA.  The Brandywine Creek, which runs alongside the trail was sparkling in the sunshine.  The lake at Marsh Creek State Park, just a little bit away, was also shining.  

The spring flowers are out in Harrisburg, PA.  Walking at Riverfront Park in the downtown area, you can see trees with white, pink, and red blossoms out, many in full bloom.  

Coexistence Corner

* NBC News had an interesting article about Palestinian Bedouin that are inviting Jewish Israelis to Iftar dinners during the holy Islamic month of Ramadan.  Despite the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinians in Gaza, the leaders of this event feel that events like these are essential for the future of the region.

The event was hosted by Muhammad Abu Qwaider and coordinated with the Negev Coexistence Forum for Civil Equality.  

The article highlights the challenges many Bedouin, a semi-nomadic group of Arabs who live primarily in the Negev desert of Israel, face.  Many of their villages are not recognized by the Israeli government, however they are Israeli citizens.  For that reason, plus the fact that 1,500 Bedouin are members of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), makes many other Palestinians see them as traitors to their cause.  

The article also mentioned the Jewish Israelis who attended the dinner and some of their work in promoting better relations between Jews and Arabs.  

To read the article in full check out this link: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/ramadan-meal-palestinian-bedouin-invite-jewish-israelis-table-rcna144908, or check "At a Ramadan meal, Palestinian Bedouin invite Jewish Israelis to the table," by Chantal Da Silva.   

*The Jerusalem Youth Chorus, a choir made up of both Israelis and Palestinians teenagers from Jerusalem, is doing a tour of major cities in the United States and Canada from March until April.  Stops include Los Angeles, Washington, DC, Boston, and Vancouver.  

This program has been bringing youth together from the predominantly Jewish West Jerusalem and predominantly Arab East Jerusalem for the past decade and have performed at several high-profile venues.  

More Sunny Weather and Blooming Flowers

 By Nate Feldman

During problematic times in one life, regardless of what may be causing them or what may be happening to a person, it is difficult to remember some of the positive things going on.  One thing I do to help myself is to make a list of good things that are happening around me or that I am experiencing.  If you are able to think of at least three good things that are happening to you, and if you think clearly enough you know these such things exist, then this is what you should be focusing on and trying to build upon. 

Here are some positive things that have happened  during the past week: 

The Outdoors

Sunday was another warm, spring-like day with mostly sunny skies.  Many people were walking, running, and biking on the Struble Trail in Downingtown, PA.  With the nice weather, the Brandywine Creek was sparkling brightly.

The Cherry Blossoms and Forsythia bushes appear to be in peak bloom in the area.  I have taken some nice photos of the flowers in the area.  

I took Kipper, my Golden Retriever, to Teegarden Park, and he played excitedly with other dogs there while I had small conversations with their owners.  

Giving to the Community 

The Kimberton Whole Foods Market in Downingtown, PA rounds up your purchase to donate to the Downingtown Library.

Peace and Dialogue 

The Interfaith Philadelphia organization will be holding a series of events for children grades K-5 on Sundays in April where they can learn about different people's religious traditions.  

Family

I discovered some pictures of my daughters Sara and Sofia when they were very young.  It's very heartwarming to see these photos after all of this time.  

Sara and Sofia are away for the next couple of weeks in Clarence, NY, where their mother and step-dad live, but I have been able to speak with them throughout the week and have had good conversations.  

Personal 

I heard from two Japanese former students of mine, Yuki and Miki.  It was nice to re-connect with them after a while.  Yuki mentioned wanting to come back here, and I talked about coming to visit him and other former students in Japan.

I have begun corresponding with Joackim from Uganda.  We met on the Penpal World website and have been exchanging photos and videos from our country as well as having discussions about our lives. 

I went to a meetup event for a new group called the Ardmore Area Book Club.  I met a lot of new people and we chose a book, The Last Animal, to read for our next meeting.  Afterwards, we went to a local cafe and talked with one another. 

Forsythia flowers and Cherry blossoms just about at peak bloom in PA

Sara (top) and Sofia (bottom) 

Doomsday, USA, Scene 1

By Nate Feldman 

SYNOPSIS: Josh, an idealist, has created his dream summer camp, where both humans and monsters of all kinds come together to interact with one another and form lifelong relationships.  His dream, however, is challenged when a menacing creature begins attacking and killing people at his camp, leading to further problems between humans and monsters in the community. Can Josh and his staff overcome their differences to defeat this creature?

Characters

Josh

Ghazel

The Cameraperson

The Creature 

Scene 1: Josh is doing a promotion for Camp Doomsday, a program he co-founded and co-directs.  He is in his office at the camp with Ghazel, a witch and his co-director, and a cameraperson.  Josh is sitting behind a desk with a placard with the words "Camp Director" written on it.  The wooden walls behind him have promotions for co-existence between humans and monsters.  Beside him is Ghazel, a witch, and Josh's co-director.

Cameraperson: Are you guys ready to do the video?

Josh and Ghazel (in unison): Absolutely! 

Cameraperson: OK, on three.  Three, two, one!    

Josh: Hi!  My name is Josh and I am from the town of Doomsday, USA, the only place in the world where half of the inhabitants are humans, and the other half are monsters.  And when I say monsters, I mean all kinds.  We have witches, werewolves, and warlocks.  There are vampires, gremlins, ghouls, and goblins.  You name the monster, it’s in our town.

As you know, humans and monsters have been in conflict for ages, and we in Doomsday have not been spared the carnage.  It was just last year that a group of monsters attacked a human community, ransacking the place, killing thirty individuals while devouring their brains.  In retaliation, a group of humans formed a posse, attacking monsters throughout town, killing hundreds.

I’ve known violence and fear all of my life, but I don’t believe it has to be this way.  That is why I am the co-founder and co-director of Camp Doomsday, the only summer camp in the world that welcomes both young humans and monsters.  We teach young people and creatures of all kinds to live together in harmony.  And we practice what we preach.  Our staff is made up of both humans and monsters in a variety of positions, showing that cooperation between the two species is possible when given the opportunity.  I'd like to welcome my amazing co-director, Ghazel.  

Ghazel: Growing up as a witch, I was taught to fear humans.  But, when I met Josh, I realized it was possible to live together with them. Our camp enables humans and creatures of all kinds to learn about one another’s traditions and breakdown stereotypes and misunderstandings. 

So, if you are a human or a monster, and you have young children, register them for Camp Doomsday this summer.  The place where monsters and humans co-exist.

Cameraperson (stops recording): And that’s a wrap!  Great job you guys!  

Josh (motioning for the others to leave): Thanks!  It’s about time to get ready for dinner.  (Pointing to the cameraperson)  You can join us for dinner and see what a meal at our place is like.

Everyone exits to the right.  When they are all gone, a creature with two dark eyes, no mouth, and sharp claws enters and looks around.  It goes up to one of the sings promoting co-existence behind Josh's desk and tears it with its claws.  It then walks slowly throughout the cabin and then heads back out.

Sunny Weather and Cherry Blossoms, Week March 10-16

 By Nate Feldman

*The weather

After a rainy, blustery weekend, the sky cleared up for a mostly sunny and warm workweek in the Philadelphia area.  Daylight Savings Time began on Sunday, so people now have an extra hour to enjoy the sunshine.  The temperatures also warmed up to spring-like weather, with highs in the mid-70s in the middle of the week.

Sunny weather in Berwyn, PA 

*The Outdoors 

The Cherry Blossoms in Clark Park in Philadelphia began turning bright pink, showing that spring is just around the corner.  The Forsythia bushes also started turning yellow with their flowers popping up everywhere.

I went with Kipper, my golden retriever, to Teegarden Park, a local place where dogs are allowed to roam with their owners.  He had a lot of fun playing with other dogs.

Cherry Blossoms at Clark Park, Philadelphia, PA 

A forsythia bush with bright yellow colors in Berwyn, PA

*Local News

The Tredyffrin-Easttown Middle School in Berwyn, PA performed its annual play this week.  The middle school actors starred in Singing in the Rain, Jr..  The show took place on Wednesday for elementary school students, Thursday during the day for the middle school itself, and Thursday and Friday evenings as well as Saturday afternoon for the general public.  

*Peace and Dialogue 

Interfaith Philadelphia, an organization dedicated to inter-religious dialogue in the Philadelphia area, is hosting an event on April 16, from 2-4 PM, titled "De-Escalate Conflict by Complicating the Narrative: Civil Conversation Workshop."  This program will focus on how people of different religious, cultural, and or political viewpoints can engage with one another in a meaningful way.  The event will be held at Gwynedd Mercy University.  

An Australian news channel did a report on the Neve Shalom/Wahat Al Salam village in Israel, a town where 50% of the inhabitants are Jews and the other half are Arabs.  The village has a school where Jewish and Arab students study together.  Its curriculum is both in Hebrew and Arabic.  The reporter interviewed teachers and students at the school about their perspectives of studying together, especially in light of the ongoing war in Gaza.

  

You can watch this video and learn more about the village at this website: https://www.oasisofpeace.org/.  

Another news report about the village and its activities was done by the Israeli news channel i24NEWS English, which can be found on You Tube (Community built on coexistence navigates difficulties of post-October 7 reality).  

*Personal News 

In my personal life, my father and I are planning to see a minor league baseball game in Allentown, PA at the end of March, the first time I will see a game there.  I talked with two guys I know at the local YMCA while I was working out.  They were good conversations.  

My daughters performed in the aforementioned school play and did great!  On Thursday, my sister, her husband, and my nephew joined my mother, father, and myself in watching the play.  My sister told me she would like to check out the Ryers Farm for Aged Equines, a local farm that takes care of older horses.  I saw the play again on Friday, and on Saturday, my former wife and her in-laws were there.  I had a good conversation with her father-in-law, and she even bought me a soft pretzel and a drink.  

Great International Films

By Nate Feldman

Here are some reviews of different international films I have watched, both which focus on relationships between people of different cultures.

Movie Title: Ghampani

Year: 2017

Country: Nepal

Ghampani is a 2017 Nepali film about two villagers from different castes and ethnic backgrounds falling in love and the turmoil that this creates between their families.  Phurba, a local school teacher from a Tamang family, is in love with Tara, a daughter of a local Brahmin with significant standing in the village, who has been away studying in the capitol city of Kathmandu.  When she returns to the village, Phurba is there to walk her from the bus station to her home, showing that they have been in love for a while.  Their families have been close since they were young children, and their fathers still regularly socialize over chess matches.  However, the idea that these two would fall in love has never really crossed the minds of either family, so they have kept their romance a secret.  

Things are complicated by the arrival of Kamal, a new and extremely mischievous police inspector, in town, who has interest in Tara and persuades her father to arrange a marriage between them.  Phurba and Tara want to avoid this at all costs, but they do so at the risk of alienating their families from them.  Kamal, aware of Phurba's secret relationship with Tara, taunts him about his plans to marry Tara.  Things boil over when at a village celebration for the local school, Phurba assaults the police inspector after seeing him act inappropriately around Tara.  Phurba, now wanted by the police, and Tara  make a choice to run away from the village together and get married.  But, can their love overcome the societal forces around them?

This film beautifully shows the life of villagers in rural Nepal and gives the viewer a deep appreciation for the different cultures and traditions among people there.  It also shows the challenges of people in a mutli-ethnic society co-existing despite different values.  Anyone who is interested in learning about Nepali culture and seeing a charming love story that has both beautiful love scenes as well as a lot of humor will definitely enjoy this film.  

 

Movie: Tel Aviv on Fire

Year: 2018

Country: Israel/Palestine

Tel Aviv on Fire is a 2018 satirical drama by Palestinian director Sameh Zoabi about a Palestinian soap opera writer and the relationship he forms with the Israeli commander at the local checkpoint he must cross to go to work every day.  

Salaam Abass, an East Jerusalem Palestinian, has begun working for his uncle, a soap opera producer based in Ramallah, on his TV show "Tel Aviv on Fire."  The show revolves around a Palestinian woman prior to the 1967 Six Day's War being sent on a mission by Palestinian fighters to get top secret information from an Israeli general.  Salaam is there to help with the character's Hebrew, but he is eventually promoted to full-time writer.  The only problem is he has no writing experience, so he begins consulting Assi Tzur, the commanding officer at the checkpoint Salaam crosses through to get from Jerusalem to Ramallah and back on a daily basis, for ideas with his script.  Assi offers his assistance in return for Salaam bringing him the best hummus possible.  This begins a bizarre, often humorous relationship between the Palestinian soap opera writer and an Israeli soldier controlling his movements.  Assi, whose wife is a devoted fan of the show, insists the Palestinian spy in the story fall in love and marry the Israeli general.  Salaam, however, realizes such a plotline would offend the Palestinian backers and audience of the story.  But Assi is willing to do everything possible to make sure the story turns out as he envisions.  

Tel Aviv on Fire is an incredible movie which remarkably gives insights on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict while remaining humorous and depicting characters from both sides of the conflict in a sympathetic light.  The film itself is a model of co-existence with well-accomplished Palestinian and Israeli actors working together.  The movie, both in the fictional and real world, shows that while the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict may be difficult to resolve, little bits of coexistence and peace are already there.  

 

Doomsday, USA Play, Scenes 1 and 2

 By Nate Feldman 

Doomsday, USA

Scene 1: Josh is standing in front of a cabin and woods.  There is a sign saying “Camp Doomsday” beside him.

Josh: Hi!  My name is Josh, and I am from Doomsday, USA, a pristine, prosperous, but sometimes PETRIFYING town where, oh by the way, half of the inhabitants are humans, and the other half are monsters. 

And when I say monsters, I mean every type you can imagine.  Witches, warlocks, werewolves, and vampires.  Gremlins, ghouls, and goblins.  You name the monster, it lives in Doomsday.

As you know, humans and monsters have been in conflict with one another for ages.  Just last year, a group of monsters attacked a human community, ransacking the place and massacring thirty individuals along the way, devouring their brains.  In retaliation, a group of humans formed a large posse that went around town hunting down monsters, killing hundreds before it was all over.

This kind of back and forth has gone on for many years.  However, I don’t believe this has to be the case.  

I am the co-founder and director of Camp Doomsday (Josh turns around and points at the sign and the surrounding area).  This camp brings human and monster children together at a scenic location in the woods to explore nature and play games together, as well as to break down stereotypes of one another.  Camp Doomsday enables young humans and monsters to build long-lasting friendships.

Our staff at Camp Doomsday is reflective of the population of our community as a whole.  We have an equal amount of humans and monsters employed in a variety of positions.  We lead by example and show that with effort, monsters and humans are able to cooperate with one another and live in harmony.

So, whether you're a human or a monster, if you want your child to have the summer of a lifetime and make new friends they could otherwise never meet, reach out to us as soon as possible, and register your child for Camp Doomsday, the place where humans and monsters co-exist.  

 

Scene 2: Billy, a young male in his late teens/early twenties, and Ghazzel, a witch of similar age, arrive at a cabin in the middle of the woods. 

 Billy: So what is this place exactly?

 Ghazzel: Just an old cabin in the woods.  It must have been a camping spot. 

 The two embrace and kiss one another.

 Billy: Do you think Josh knows we are together? 

 Ghazzel: I’m not sure.  I think so.  He should understand.  Did you know his former wife was a witch herself? 

 Billy: I guess that’s what has got him into all this coexistence stuff. 

 They smile at one another. 

 Billy: What would your family think if they knew about us?

 Ghazzel (looking down for a second and then back up at Billy): Well, my father is open-minded.  After all, he let me work at Camp Doomsday for a reason. 

 Billy: There is a difference between being a counselor to young humans and having a romance with a human.

 Ghazzel: Yeah.  My brothers I must admit would have an issue.  A lot of warlocks are possessive of witches.  They don’t like us with any other creature, even fellow monsters, not just humans.  So, they’ll probably transform us into something hideous. 

 Billy: Or just kill us. 

 They embrace and kiss again. 

 Ghazzel: And what about your family?  Won’t they think I’m putting an evil spell on you?

 Billy (sarcastically): Aren’t you?  But, seriously, they’ll be fascinated.  That’s all.

 A rustling sound is heard in the woods.  Billy and Ghazzel look in the direction of the trees.

 Billy: We’d better get inside.

 Suddenly, a zombie jumps out from behind a tree.  Billy and Ghazzel shout.  Everything goes dark.