Jerusalem Hug 2013

The Jerusalem Hug promotes peace, freedom and joy to all people in Jerusalem. Focusing on love, respect and unity between all people, participants surround and embrace the ancient walls of the Old City of Jerusalem meditating, singing, dancing and praying for peace and compassion for all humankind.  

The Jerusalem Hug begins with an open space gathering that includes blessings, greetings, listening circles and workshops facilitated by peace activists from around the world. After the gathering, participants proceed to the Damascus Gate, joining people from the various faith, ethnic and cultural communities of Jerusalem, in a “Planetary Dance” ceremony of healing and community renewal. Each participant will be invited to share a dedication for a person/cause/situation that needs healing. This personal dedication is a powerful experience. Participants are invited to run, walk, or simply stand in a series of concentric circles, creating a moving mandala. As the participants move to the steady heartbeat of the drums, they become one collective body.

As the sun begins to set, something exceptional will occur. The “collective body” will begin to encompass  and embrace the walls of Jerusalem. Each step, each embrace, each hug, becomes a prayer for healing and peace. When enough people move and embrace together with a common pulse and a common purpose, a profound force can take over. People stop moving as individuals and begin to move as parts of a larger body, a group spirit.

After the hug, the participants will gather in an ancient moat along the walls of the Old City for an interactive drum circle, sacred chants, crystal bowl meditations and songs for peace.   The Jerusalem Hug is a power that can renew, inspire, teach, forgive and heal. Let Jerusalem be a city of connection, the heart of the world where unity and peace will be a fact.