Art, Friendship and Trust Across the Israeli-Palestinian Divide | FeelBeit Founders
Summary
This episode features Raman Barakat and Karen Brunswasser, co-founders of Filbeit, an Israeli-Palestinian art center in Jerusalem. They discuss how art and personal relationships serve as vital tools for peacebuilding amidst ongoing conflict and trauma. The conversation highlights the power of "soft" interpersonal actions, such as attending funerals across divides, to sustain community resilience. They share their journey of building trust through shared creative work and emphasize the importance of compassion over righteous indignation in navigating deep-seated societal tensions.
Topics discussed
Introduction: The challenge of discussing Israel and Palestine
Meeting Raman Barakat and Karen Brunswasser at Aspen
The power of art and moral courage in small acts
Karen's perspective: Family and the future as sacred
Raman's childhood in Jerusalem and the First Intifada
The mixed population of Jerusalem and daily life
Civil society resilience and human acts of kindness
Contrasting danger with everyday reassurance in taxis
Karen's background: Holocaust survivors and Irish Catholics
From acting to diplomacy: Moving to Jerusalem
The 2014 violence and the inspiration of the arts
Building trust and the challenges of finding the right team
Filbet: A physical space for collaboration and community
Navigating borders and the status of East Jerusalem residents
Friendship as theory and granular relational work
Professional tensions and deepening bonds through work
The critical decision to stay connected after October 7th
Supporting colleagues and attending funerals across divides
Art as a transformative space for holding complex emotions
Responding to criticism and validating hard feelings
The 'No Words' series: Reopening to art and community
Finding hope and the surprise of public engagement
Key lessons: Shared home, trust, and compassion over indignation
Self-love and self-reflection for individuals and societies
Spiritual practices: Deep roots, wide branches, and awe
Reflections on national identity and the gift of society
New collaborative projects and EU grant for partnerships
Closing thoughts on hospitality and compassion
Host reflection: The cost of imagining a different world
The power of tiny signals and moral courage
Humanizing the other and improvising unimaginable worlds
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