It’s been 8 years now since I first encountered Encompass. It seems almost like a different life now, thinking about when my dear friend Ori told me about this bizarre program he was attending and asked me if I wanted to join. Months after that, I found myself, surprisingly, taking the role of the Israeli coordinator.

These 8 years have been amazing, full of challenges, sometimes full of anxiety and despair, sometimes filled with joy and hope. Most of the time I had them all dancing together, as it usually is in the impossible field of work we got ourselves tangled up in. Needless to say I’ve grown a lot in these 8 years, and I had the graceful opportunity to be part of the growth process of dozens of other youth, to see how much courage, belief, beauty and greatness resides in the hearts of young people living in Israel today.

Encompass was a wonderful work place that taught me a lot about how people can work together, we did some revolutionary things together. We gave the opportunity of dialogue to people who may not find it anywhere else. And by that, planted seeds of reconciliation in places they don’t usually get to, and in my eyes – where they are needed the most. I’m proud and truly grateful to have been part of this work.

But Encompass was not only about what we could offer young people. It was, for me, a constant reminder of hope. During my time with Encompass I was involved in various other social and political struggles and initiatives, alongside the ones that take place inside one’s soul. Being an activist in a place that needs so much healing, witnessing the injustice and suffering, can be not only exhausting but sometimes even dangerous. One can lose his hope for change and his faith in his fellow men and women. Meeting new candidates every few months was a safety net that showed me again and again that there’s always a hidden stream of love, opening up our frozen hearts just when the time is right. It might sound like a cheesy metaphor, but I really don’t have any other explanation as to why these young people would decide to go against everything that’s been shouted at them from the media, education system and politicians, and choose to get outside their walls and walk the unknown path to peace. Many times, these blossoming hearts kept mine warm. In the end, I was given more than I gave.

I’m leaving with a smile and a warm heart, knowing this small sacred flame we hold will still be there, offering itself to anyone who wishes to light themselves up again, slowly building up its way to all the sleepy hearts around us. I’m proud and grateful to have taken part in this. Thank you.