End the Suffering: Global Days of Remembrance and Action
October 6, 7, and 8
#EveryLifeAUniverse
Nonviolence International invites you—communities, congregations, institutions, and individuals throughout the world—to commemorate the one-year mark of October 7th in a way that renews our resolve for justice and peace. Let us remember and honor the sacredness of every life, grief for those lost over decades of violence and oppression, and acknowledge those who are in pain today: those who have lost loved ones, are injured, abducted, displaced, whose homes have been destroyed, and who suffer from hunger and illness.
Through our grief and remembrance, let us renew our commitment to never give up on justice and peace between Palestinians and Israelis
As we reflect on the motto, "Every Life, A Universe," we find a profound and unifying message rooted in both the Torah and the Qur’an, sacred texts that elevate the inherent dignity and value of each individual life.
Torah Foundations: Every Life, A Universe
In Jewish tradition, the Torah teaches that to save a life is to save an entire universe. This principle, derived from Leviticus 24:17 and echoed in the Talmud, reflects the immense value placed on human life. Each person has the potential to impact the world in immeasurable ways, and thus the loss of a life represents the destruction of that potential. When we honor the motto "Every Life, A Universe," we are reminded of the Torah’s call to cherish and protect life, recognizing the ripple effect each person has on the broader fabric of humanity.
Qur'anic Foundations: The Sanctity of Every Soul
The Qur’an echoes this sentiment in Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:32), stating that "whoever kills a soul... it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one—it is as if he had saved mankind entirely." In Islam, this teaching reinforces the sacredness of every life, emphasizing that the well-being of one individual is intrinsically linked to the well-being of the whole of humanity. The Qur'an invites us to see every person as a part of the larger whole, making the preservation of life a communal responsibility.
We invite you for three days of remembrance and action by doing the following:
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Wear a black ribbon or armband during these days. We want to see people all around the world, in our cities and towns, workplaces, and educational institutions, wear black ribbons or armbands in order to create the collective consciousness of grief for lives that haven been lost. You are also welcome to write "Every life, a Universe" on your ribbons or armbands.
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Organizing community vigils, sit-ins, sharing circles, walks, events, fundraisers, days of fasting, and humanitarian efforts for each of the days;
On October 6th, you are invited to remember the decades of the past and decry the mistreatment and suffering of Palestinians caused by Israeli policies of expulsion, imprisonment, apartheid, siege, and occupation.
On October 7th, you are invited to remember and decry the violent attacks by Hamas and others, including the hostage-taking, and the death of over 1,000 Israelis in a single day.
On October 8th, you are invited to remember and decry the launch and continuation of Israeli attacks on Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, the killing of over 40,000 individuals, the injury of over 80,000, the displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians and the abduction of thousands from their homes and families.
Here is the Youtube video of how the global online event happened on October 6th:
Here is the Youtube video of how the global online event happened on October 7th:
Here is the Youtube video of how the global online event happened on October 8th:
Use the hashtag #EveryLifeAUniverse on your social media, change your profile picture to the our event's black ribbon attached below, and share your activities on the following Facebook page so others can join you and for all of us to know what you are doing on the Facebook Event Page.
Join us in your own way to say that violence, whether in defense or for liberation, is not the answer. Only nonviolence, which dismantles systems of oppression and violence and calls for collective justice and equality, will ensure that Israelis and Palestinians can live together in safety, peace, and justice.
Goals:
- To create global momentum that transcends the dichotomy of right versus wrong and unites us in a collective call to end all suffering. Our aim is to move forward toward achieving peace and justice for everyone.
- We seek to establish a unified ritual space where we can come together to acknowledge and process the past. This includes confronting grief, grievances, and the structures and systems of oppression that have perpetuated suffering across decades.
- Our objective is to reframe the Israeli-Palestinian crisis in a way that fosters a shared vision of equality, justice, and reconciliation. By doing so, we hope to encourage and mobilize collective actions to end the suffering.
- We want to remind everyone that we are the change-makers we have been waiting for. If we don't act now, the suffering will continue and intensify.
Please read a short article by our co-director, Sami Awad, about Oct 7th with a focus on nonviolence, which can be found on Waging Nonviolence.
You can join our facebook event page and add your event there
Explore our Tool Kit on how to participate in the Global Days of Remembrance and Action, filled with actionable steps and resources: Tool Kit
If you would like to co-sponsor and have your event promoted through our network, please register using the following link: Google form
We are not alone in our commitment to honoring Every Life, A Universe. Others Every Life A Universe share our vision, working toward the same goal of celebrating human dignity and fostering peace. We encourage you to learn more about their efforts as we continue to grow our collective impact.
Here were the campaign co-sponsors:
- Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA)
- Prayers for Peace Alliance (Philadelphia, USA)
- Jefferson County Palestine Solidarity (Washington State)
- Epigenetic Alchemy
- Center for Jewish Nonviolence
- Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom (SOSS)
- Lindsay Stanek
- Combatants for Peace (Palestine/Israel)
- Euphrates Institute
- Peace Catalyst International
- Beyt Tikkun: A Synagogue without Walls & the Network of Spiritual Progressives
- Network for Spiritual Progressives
- Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace (PCAP)
- Fellowship of Reconciliation (USA)
- Parents Circle-Families forum (Israel/Palestine)
- American Friends of Parents Circle (USA)
- American Friends of Combatants for Peace (USA)
"Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and right doing, there is a field. I'll meet you there." —Rumi