Jerusalem 2000
Shekhinah Epiphany
On the last dawn of the old millennium, a procession will descend from the Mount of Olives towards the (closed) Gates of Mercy at the Old City walls. The procession – which will be lighted by beacons – will carry with it two Torah Tablets – the result of 12 days of joint studies for the three monotheistic religions and environmentalists. The subject of the joint study will be a Teaching of Wholeness for all humankind, concerned with the Shekhinah (the feminine divine immanence) and symbolized by the Tree of Life. When arriving at the Gates of Mercy, the Tablets will be placed opposite the gates. In parallel, there will be released balloons that carry the messages produced through this study. The procession will inaugurate a world-wide operation: an Internet site which will collect during the millennium year statements of concern and hope from all humanity and will process them as a New Torah from Zion for the coming millennium.
The Process at the Academy of Jerusalem Chambers: During 12 days, about 70 participants will undergo several phases: first they will articulate wishes and dreams for the future of humankind. Then they will act as editors for each other’s statements in order to reach agreements and understandings concerning joint hopes, concerns and dreams, which will be expressed on “The Tablets of the Teachings of the Tree of Life”. Poets will process the messages that become agreed, to coherent verses and by musicians into appropriate music. The unified messages will be put upon the Tablets and carried towards the Gates of Mercy.
The Public Event, East of the Old City of Jerusalem: Two events will take place: on the last dawn of the old millenium, the Tablets will be brought and the discreet messages will be released upon balloons as a request to heaven. In an additional event, a week later on Epiphany Day 6.1.2000, we shall repeat the rites at greater length, when the messages are worked into poems of reconciliation, with a preliminary musical performance.
The Continuation on the Internet: During the two millenium years, 200 and 2001, there will operate on the www.thehope.org site a virtual model of Jerusalem, to which every human being could send her/his hopes and pleas for the next millennium. (Those interested could use our services to put copies of their statements into the crevices at the actual walls of Jerusalem). In the site there will take place a multi-user game concerned with ritualistic editing (based on lessons from the twelve day operation at the Academy) the discreet statements into coherent messages and works of art that issue from them.
Continuation a Year Later: We shall repeat in greater numbers the rites against the Walls of the Old City and a procession into the city, after the messages will become more integral, comprehensive and coherent through the contribution of the Internet participants from all around the world. The improved edition of the Tablets will be dedicated to the City of Jerusalem as an artwork of gathering revelations (Kibbutz Giluyim) from the whole world to Jerusalem.