The Way Forward

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A Message from Peaceful Presence Studio

At Peaceful Presence, we honor the dove—our symbol of peace. But we also recognize the lion—rising when necessary to defend life and hope. These two are not in conflict. They are on the same team.

If a regime calls for a country to be wiped off the map, chants “Death to Israel,” and, at the same time, builds nuclear weapons, it must be stopped. This isn’t a political opinion—it’s a moral responsibility.

I am a peace lover. A card-carrying kumbaya yogi. But I don’t believe in just kicking the can down the road.

Israel has incredible potential and so much it wants to give to the world. But when hatred is taught—when children are raised to see others as evil and worthy of death—it steals the future from all of us.

Most people, deep down, want to live, love, learn, and connect. I believe—as we do in the U.S.—that a person or a people is innocent until proven guilty.

But when hate is embedded in education, culture, or media, it leads to demonization, dehumanization, and ultimately violence. And that violence often comes full circle.

We must interrupt the teaching of hate.
We must speak for friendship, for shared humanity, for the ancient truth that every human being is made in the image of God.

In the United States, our media silos—CNN, Fox, MSNBC—and even more so, our social networking platforms—often push us to extremes. They fuel division to gain loyalty.

But what happens next? People fume. They rage. And some act out.
Guns are drawn. Fires are lit.

There are reports that bots intentionally stir division, weaponizing our pain against each other.

If we don’t stop this, the consequences could be catastrophic. I don’t say that lightly. The potential for destruction is real.

So what can we do?

We must renew our commitment to connect across differences.
To listen. To understand. To love our neighbor as ourselves.

That is the hope for the future.

The Jewish people may need to rise like a lion—for self-defense and survival—
but our ultimate goal and vision must never be forgotten:
Shalom means Peace.

The Promised Land is a world where love, opportunity, abundance, and kindness prevail—and all recognize that we have one common Creator.
 

Let’s work together to build that world.
As we continue our efforts, we will find help and success that appears to be miraculous.