The conflict between Israel and Palestine has made global news, and millions of people worldwide have been affected by the tragedy, including the Westminster community. Many members of the Westminster community have Palestinian and Jewish ties.
8th Grade Grade Chair and English teacher Catherine Zidow has personal connections to both sides and feels all of the lives lost and families torn apart are horrifying. “My heart breaks for them; it is so scary and awful . . . the violence on both sides,” she says. Zidow has been friends with a Palestinian who, through “20 years of friendship . . . has really educated [her] on her family’s perspective and experience in their displacement.” Through this friendship, Zidow has a unique position where she can experience the turmoil and pain of the Palestinians displaced by the conflict and the pain and fear of the Jews, for whom the bloodshed in their homeland has hurt.
Zidow says she doesn’t support the violence in both countries and wants people to know that not all Palestinians and Arabs are fighting in the conflict. She emphasizes that “50% of the population in Gaza are young children who are parentless because of different violence that has occurred in over the last . . . hundred years of that conflict.” Zidow stresses that she has immense sympathy for both sides affected and wishes it would end before more lives are lost.
Similarly to Zidow, Upper School teacher Rabbi Bill Rothschild has a strong tie to the conflict. Rothschild’s family in Israel has been fighting in the army for three generations. “The folks in [my] family who are in the Army are now at the grand nephew stage,” he says. Rothschild has four family members currently involved. Rothschild agrees with Zidow regarding refugees and has “a lot of sympathy for refugees.” Rothschild acutely feels the pain and turmoil in his homeland and believes this violence is getting out of control. “Feeling bad is not an excuse for sending men out with machine guns and instructions . . . to murder and behead somebody else’s little babies,” he says.
Days after the initial attacks, Westminster President Keith Evans sent out a message to the Westminster community, expressing the support and sympathy Westminster has for those who have been impacted. “We are joining together on campus to provide support and prayers in response to the many ways the diverse array of families in our community have been impacted,” he said. “Join me in praying for everyone whose lives have been shattered and who seek peace in the midst of violence.”
Faculty have not been the only ones who sympathize with the people affected by the fighting. 8th grader Jaina Alexander wishes the pain would end. “I really feel sad for those who are suffering, and I think what’s going on is not fair. I wish the violence would end,” she says. Fellow 8th grader Mckenzie-Love Jordan echoes this statement and believes that “No one should be hurt over land, and especially over religion [which] was supposed to cease and stop conflict and tell you right from wrong.” Jordan doesn’t quite know what to think. “[I feel] confused about the violence, especially what happened in Gaza lately,” she says. “It’s been really, really confusing for me, especially because I don’t really know who the good guy is and who the bad guy is [because] they both have really good points and messages, and it’s both their sacred land.”
All in all, students and faculty can agree that they wish the violence would end and people would stay safe. “Reaching across to the other side and understanding each other’s humanity is the most important thing,” says Zidow.