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Charter for Compassion
On 12th November the Charter for Compassion was unveiled to a world that sorely needs it. The initiative of the Charter was launched by the acclaimed author Karen Armstrong when she won the TED prize in February 2008. Over the past 18 months thousands of people from very diverse backgrounds have contributed to the formulation of the Charter, with a Council drawn from different faith and ethical traditions overseeing the editing and drafting of the final document.
Jean Zaru, Clerk of Ramallah Monthly Meeting and author of Occupied with Nonviolence, a Palestinian Woman speaks, was a member of the Charter Council, and contributed from her long witness to the Quaker Peace testimony in the troubled land of her birth. Read about her contribution and hear her speak on the Charter’s official site.
Commemorative plaques in English and Arabic will be hung in the Meeting House, Annex and Friends’ Boys’ School in Ramallah. Upon receiving delivery of the plaques Jean said “I started reading the words on the plaque in Arabic and my tears would not stop running. Tears of joy and of sadness. I live in Ramallah and have lived here all my life. It was never as difficult as it is now. I pray that Compassion will transform our hearts and minds and communities so we can build a culture of peace and justice for Palestinians and Israelis, and for the rest of our broken world. Having the plaques in the Friends Meeting and the Friends schools in Ramallah, that have witnessed for over a century in our land, may enlighten us all to commit ourselves again to a spirituality of compassion.
Spirit of compassion, we are thirsty for you in a thirsty land. Let’s start acting together.”
