Jerusalem, Israel - Israeli rabbis, civic leaders, and leaders of the Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Druze communities gave high praise to the Middle East Peace Initiative (MEPI) efforts at a banquet in Jerusalem on May 17, 2013.

Former Knesset Member Ran Cohen told the gathering, “I am very surprised to see all of you here in Jerusalem. It has very special significance for me. Compared to all of the government’s efforts to bring peace, UPF is making more progress than any government agency. Our conflict is not only between nations, not only between religions. The only way to make peace in this age is through UPF. It means coming to Jerusalem with peace in our hearts, peace in our minds,” Cohen said.

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See also reports of events on May 15 and 16.

One of the most striking experiences for many MEPI participants is the degree to which historical resentments can continue to affect people today. Some of the most memorable encounters are with people who have found ways to let go of such resentments.

It is the role of the mother's heart to soften the environment, to open the hearts, and to move people so that they can go beyond their hardened views. At times it is more convenient to hold on to the familiar sufferings than to fully assume responsibility for one’s self and community.

The renowned sixteenth-century Kabbalist Isaac Luria taught that God created the world by forming vessels of light to hold the Divine Light. But as God poured the Light into the vessels, they catastrophically shattered, tumbling down toward the realm of matter. Thus our world consists of countless shards of the original vessels, entrapping sparks of the Divine Light. Humanity’s great task involves helping God by freeing and reuniting the scattered light, “raising the sparks” back to divinity and restoring the broken world.