Leonard Cohen Show in Israel Dedicated to Peace and Overall

Thousands of people gather in Ramat Gan's stadium in Israel, waiting with anticipation for the beginning of one of the biggest music shows that Israel has ever known. Leonard Cohen, the legendary singer chose to end his concert tour in Israel. "He's from our generation, and he is a great singer…" But what does Leonard Cohen symbolize? "Romantic, love, good things…" Before the show, outside the stadium, several bereaved families of Israelis and Palestinians, gathered together for another event. What took place was a ceremony of grant giving by "The reconciliation fund of tolerance and peace" which Leonard Cohen established this year following his decision to arrive in Israel. [Robert Kory, Leonard Cohen's Personal Manager]: "I've heard so many stories that break my heart and so it is our honor to serve." A well-known Israeli author David Grossman lost his son in the second Lebanon war. [David Grossman, Popular Israeli Author]: "Some of the people who stand here today experienced something that would leave them wounded and scarred for the rest of their life." Grossman talks about the change in perception due to the tragedies experienced on both sides. "I feel that this deep crack within us... that allows us to understand better the values of compromise, of concession or forgiveness."

Ali Alouawwad from Ramallah, who lost his brother during the conflict represented the bereaved families' from the Palestina side. [Ali Alouawwad, Palestinian Representative, Ramallah]: "You have to understand one thing... that people don't reconcile, not because they don't want peace. People cannot deal with the daily suffering. They don't know where to put the anger. Nobody's giving them another option." Alouawwad, like his other associates at the conference, made a bravely decision – to manage the personal and national pain in a nonviolent way. "Boycott, it is one part of a very huge, long and strong process of nonviolent resistance. But I also believe, that I cannot boycott a good heart, a heart like Leonard Cohen's." Similar to the world view from Leonard Cohen's music, these courage's families are determined to work with forgiveness and understanding despite or maybe because of the tragedies they've been through. In their hands Leonard Cohen intrusted his reconciliation fund of tolerance and peace. NTD, Israel.

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News & Politics

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