From Yokneam to Neve Shalom via Jerusalem Circus

July 16
Our show today is in St.Louis' sister city of Yokneam. We are performing at a day camp on their outside basketball court. We find a place to hang the trapeze. It is hot and sunny. Some of the kids here (and this happened also in the Arab village and in Acco) ask our Africa-American performers if they are from Africa.

The Galilee Arches do great despite the sun, heat, hot mats and some with no shoes (lots of hopping).

We go from there to a monastery called Muchroka on the top of Mount Carmel that has a stupendous view. Kellin says it is like being in an airplane without the plane. We have a picnic lunch here of cold cuts, bread, pita and hummus.

We head for Jerusalem and a visit with the Jerusalem Circus, the first Jewish Arab youth circus in Israel. Their director, Elisheva, and I have been e-mailing each other since 2001 when Circus Day Foundation did Circus Salaam Shalom with some of the Jewish and Muslim children in St. Louis. It is exciting for both of us to meet our counterparts in person.

The Jerusalem Circus kids are waiting for us in their gym. We do some mini-performances for each other. The Arches do minitramp, Menar does her trapeze, we do our big final pyramid and we see their juggler, rolla bolla, contortionist and trapeze performers.

Mostly the kids just want to interact and work together. So, we let them mingle circus-style. Trapeze, rolla, lyra, tumbling, juggling and partner acro are shared. It is over too soon since our bus driver is not allowed to be on the road over 12 hours.

We stop at a local mall to eat in their food court. As much as our kids have been anticipating McDonald's, they all agree it is not as good here. Some of the kids of both troupes prefer to get pizza and Chinese food instead.

We spend the night in a youth hostel in the village of Neve Shalom which is a village where Jews and Arabs live together. Neve means "oasis". So, we are in an Oasis of Peace.