Sabine Lichtenfels - in the Name of Grace
In a meditation, she received five pictures for peace for the Middle East. She and her team sent the images to many people in Israel and Palestine. There was a strong resonance and soon she was invited to Israel, to speak at demonstrations and peace events. Since then Sabine has been visiting Israel and Palestine for numerous times and has established a growing network.
In 2003 the first peace camp took place in Tamera with Israelis and Palestinians. From the many touching accounts from participants the play “We refuse to be Enemies” arose, a play that shows both sides of the conflict as seen through the eyes of an alien and at the same time shows possible peace perspectives. Together with musicians from Israel, the students of the Peace School Mirja toured the play in Germany and Switzerland. In 2005, she led the first pilgrimage with 50 international participants through Israel and the Westbank. On this pilgrimage they performed the theater play as well.
The idea to show the play also in Israel and Palestine developed and in 2005 the time had come. In the framework of the first pilgrimage - with fifty international participants trough Israel and the Westbank – this goal was fulfilled.
It was a journey that opened many closed doors between the people and inspired many to a new will and courage for peace. About her experience, Sabine Lichtenfels wrote the book Grace – Pilgrimage for a Future without War. The film maker Angelika Reicherter shot the documentary movie “We Refuse To Be Enemies”, which was shown in many cinemas in Germany.
Following the pilgrimage a core group formed itself fort he development of a Peace Research Village in the Middle East. The group continues to grow and its members are presently in Tamera studying to deepen their knowledge of community building.
During the pilgrimage 2005 the Global Grace Day took place for the first time. Ever since Sabine Lichtenfels invites a growing number of groups from all over the world to this commemoration day on November 9th, for meditation and actions. The day of the Crystal Night in Germany and the fall of the Berlin Wall shall turn into a day for a global peace perspective.
In 2007, a second pilgrimage took place; 180 participants walked through Israel and Palestine. The group walked under the guidance of Sabine Lichtenfels for more than 320 kilometres across the desert from Elat to Jerusalem.
In 2008, Sabine Lichtenfels went on a pilgrimage with several hundred people in Colombia, together with the inhabitants of the peace village San José de Apartadó, a farmer village in non-violent resistance, which is threatened by armed groups. This last pilgrimage was also the start of the Global Campus: An education initiative for creating peace villages.