Returning The Warp Threads
Donation protected
MY STORY:
My name is Elan Gerzon. I'm an Israeli-American relatively young, hopelessly foolish Jewish white man with dreams of peace, and I work as an impassioned weaver and educator. Currently I have a job as a youth educational program developer and traveling teacher in the very beautiful, wild and precious Rio Grande Valley of northern New Mexico.
I moved here a year ago, after having lived through a handfull of violent attacks (public shootings and stabbings) in my beloved, troubled home country of Israel/Palestine. While I was lucky to walk out of these attacks, or just miss them, physically unharmed but emotionally rocked to the core, it inspired the beginning of a life-long vision that's only now beginning to take root. Realizing the privilege of my American citizenship, I moved back to the USA a year ago, in attempt to devote my life to working toward peace in Israel/Palestine. My approach toward this peace is to use traditional weaving as an educational tool for reconciliation.
My life and work however is entirely dependant on having a car. A few weeks ago I was hit in an accident that totalled my car. Without the means to buy another one, I reach toward you to ask for help.
You might ask, "why would you leave the country where you are working to make peace in?" Well, there is an ancient Jewish belief which states that it is the longing for a place, or a home, that keeps it alive and keeps us with a direction of where to always go toward. The direction is maintained by never actually getting there, other than for a brief visit. This is essentially the intention for all pilgrimages among all cultures.
I decided to leave Israel with this thought at heart, to try to re-establish that longing. Of course I'm not saying that everyone in Israel/Palestine should just leave and everything will be ok. History is far more complicated and complex than that. Where would people go? What would they do? An entire nation 4 generations old now, has already been built. What I'm doing instead is building an educational program in a safe place, that challenges people's beliefs about the destructive territorial claiming of land, a mentality which maintains a state of perpetual war. This program uses traditional Middle Eastern weaving as the main educational tool. If you have questions about this please feel welcome to contact me personally.
While this life-long vision is only beginning to gather momentum, in the meantime I moved to New Mexico after receiving a job to develop a youth program called the Traveling Fiber Trunk. Through this program I take a literal trunk full of educational materials related to fiber arts (weaving, embroidering, felting, etc) into schools in some of the most under-served economically challenged counties in the country. I use this program to make a positive impact on the lives of youth who are given so few resources and opportunities, that heavy drug use and addiction become the common thing to do. My job is to empower youth instead, to learn how to think creatively, express themselves through art, to develop a deeper sense of history, and to provide them with skills they would otherwise have little or no access to develop. I'm doing my best to use my privilege for good.
A few weeks ago on my way home, I was hit in a car accident that totalled my car. While I walked out of the accident just a bit bruised and sprained, I live hand-to-mouth, on an unstable income, with big dreams and slim pockets, and cannot afford to buy another vehicle yet, though my work completely depends on having a car. Because I did not have full insurance coverage, my insurance will not help with covering any costs. I humbly reach out to you to ask for any of your generosity, so that I can buy a used car and continue to do this work in the world, work I hope will outlive us all. And if simply thinking a good thought is all you can give, that alone would be plenty to ask for.
There is an old story about King Solomon when he was a youth. He found a spirit trapped inside of a lamp inside of a cave. He freed the spirit, who then offered to grant him any wish he desired. Young Solomon asked only that he be granted wisdom. But of course Solomon most likely got to this cave on a donkey or camel. These days unfortunately, that is not the predomionant way of getting around. Not that I'm a King or would ever be one, just saying I need a car to keep the vision alive.
WHY GOFUND ME?
I'm reaching out to you as my job pays more of a stipend than a salary and my family is not in a position to help financially. I afford the costs of food thanks to foodstamps. While I look for more work, your help would be so appreciated.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
-Share my story on social media with a personal message
-Any donation, no matter how small, is greatly appreciated. Thank you for supporting me in this"
-Send good thoughts & prayers that this work lives on
GRATITUDE
If you can afford to make a contribution of $20 and up, as an expression of my gratitude, I'de like to send you a small handmade keychain I'll prepare, made of wool string made by a collective of fellow Bedouin and Jewish weavers and their sheep, in Israel. See the link to a video clip below, that describes my work in Israel/Palestine.
Please don't hesitate with any questions you may have. With all the troubles that need support in this time in our world, I truly thank you for any of your considerations.
My name is Elan Gerzon. I'm an Israeli-American relatively young, hopelessly foolish Jewish white man with dreams of peace, and I work as an impassioned weaver and educator. Currently I have a job as a youth educational program developer and traveling teacher in the very beautiful, wild and precious Rio Grande Valley of northern New Mexico.
I moved here a year ago, after having lived through a handfull of violent attacks (public shootings and stabbings) in my beloved, troubled home country of Israel/Palestine. While I was lucky to walk out of these attacks, or just miss them, physically unharmed but emotionally rocked to the core, it inspired the beginning of a life-long vision that's only now beginning to take root. Realizing the privilege of my American citizenship, I moved back to the USA a year ago, in attempt to devote my life to working toward peace in Israel/Palestine. My approach toward this peace is to use traditional weaving as an educational tool for reconciliation.
My life and work however is entirely dependant on having a car. A few weeks ago I was hit in an accident that totalled my car. Without the means to buy another one, I reach toward you to ask for help.
You might ask, "why would you leave the country where you are working to make peace in?" Well, there is an ancient Jewish belief which states that it is the longing for a place, or a home, that keeps it alive and keeps us with a direction of where to always go toward. The direction is maintained by never actually getting there, other than for a brief visit. This is essentially the intention for all pilgrimages among all cultures.
I decided to leave Israel with this thought at heart, to try to re-establish that longing. Of course I'm not saying that everyone in Israel/Palestine should just leave and everything will be ok. History is far more complicated and complex than that. Where would people go? What would they do? An entire nation 4 generations old now, has already been built. What I'm doing instead is building an educational program in a safe place, that challenges people's beliefs about the destructive territorial claiming of land, a mentality which maintains a state of perpetual war. This program uses traditional Middle Eastern weaving as the main educational tool. If you have questions about this please feel welcome to contact me personally.
While this life-long vision is only beginning to gather momentum, in the meantime I moved to New Mexico after receiving a job to develop a youth program called the Traveling Fiber Trunk. Through this program I take a literal trunk full of educational materials related to fiber arts (weaving, embroidering, felting, etc) into schools in some of the most under-served economically challenged counties in the country. I use this program to make a positive impact on the lives of youth who are given so few resources and opportunities, that heavy drug use and addiction become the common thing to do. My job is to empower youth instead, to learn how to think creatively, express themselves through art, to develop a deeper sense of history, and to provide them with skills they would otherwise have little or no access to develop. I'm doing my best to use my privilege for good.
A few weeks ago on my way home, I was hit in a car accident that totalled my car. While I walked out of the accident just a bit bruised and sprained, I live hand-to-mouth, on an unstable income, with big dreams and slim pockets, and cannot afford to buy another vehicle yet, though my work completely depends on having a car. Because I did not have full insurance coverage, my insurance will not help with covering any costs. I humbly reach out to you to ask for any of your generosity, so that I can buy a used car and continue to do this work in the world, work I hope will outlive us all. And if simply thinking a good thought is all you can give, that alone would be plenty to ask for.
There is an old story about King Solomon when he was a youth. He found a spirit trapped inside of a lamp inside of a cave. He freed the spirit, who then offered to grant him any wish he desired. Young Solomon asked only that he be granted wisdom. But of course Solomon most likely got to this cave on a donkey or camel. These days unfortunately, that is not the predomionant way of getting around. Not that I'm a King or would ever be one, just saying I need a car to keep the vision alive.
WHY GOFUND ME?
I'm reaching out to you as my job pays more of a stipend than a salary and my family is not in a position to help financially. I afford the costs of food thanks to foodstamps. While I look for more work, your help would be so appreciated.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
-Share my story on social media with a personal message
-Any donation, no matter how small, is greatly appreciated. Thank you for supporting me in this"
-Send good thoughts & prayers that this work lives on
GRATITUDE
If you can afford to make a contribution of $20 and up, as an expression of my gratitude, I'de like to send you a small handmade keychain I'll prepare, made of wool string made by a collective of fellow Bedouin and Jewish weavers and their sheep, in Israel. See the link to a video clip below, that describes my work in Israel/Palestine.
Please don't hesitate with any questions you may have. With all the troubles that need support in this time in our world, I truly thank you for any of your considerations.
Organizer
Elan Gerzon
Organizer
Española, NM
