We need to touch people

Before my first journey on the Abraham path in Palestine in 2013, I came across a man by the name of Dr. Jacob Bronowski who was quite a famous scholar in Britain and had made a series of films “The Ascent Of Man” for the BBC. When he came to the end of the series, he made a strange move. He brought his team with the cameras and microphones to Auschwitz. There he stood on a patch of grass between the remains of the old barracks, dressed in a suit, and talked about the dangers of absolute knowledge. 

At the end he stepped forward into a puddle that made his shoes wet and made him look a bit crazy. He asked what we should learn from all the horrors of people overestimating knowledge and power. To give an answer he bowed down into the puddle got some of the black mud into his hand, came up and said this maybe were the ashes of his ancestors who died here (He was of Polish and Jewish origin). To never repeat this he said, “We need to touch people”.

We need to touch people - that was my goal when I went into Palestine for the first time. I did not have a political idea or opinion, I just wanted to stay with the people, share some time of their lives, stay in their houses, eat with them and know who they were.

It all went very well. I met many friendly people in Palestine, the "West Banks". Some of them became my friends over a longer period (with Facebook being helpful to keep us in contact).

It is not a matter of holding a certain opinion, not a matter of solidarity with a certain case. It is just a matter of sitting together and really touch one each other. You can do this while eating a meal or while walking together for some miles on your way. You do not have to touch the other people’s heart; it is enough to touch their elbow.

It worked well, and tonight I am thankful for Nedal who brought us here and thankful for his friendship. Moreover, I am thankful that Nasser is here and Ali our Bedouin host and of course all my German friends.

We need to touch people and I thank all of you to allow me to touch you and to touch me in response.