A group of local Mennonites from several different churches have begun a 40-day period of intermittent fasting in solidarity with Gaza. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi reports.
[group singing "Oh Healing River"]
About 30 people sang hymns in harmony at Harrisonburg Mennonite Church on Wednesday evening. They were gathered for a prayer and lament service organized by a local chapter of the grassroots group Mennonite Action, which has called for a ceasefire in Gaza for the past year and a half. Now, as Israel's blockade of food and other humanitarian aid into Gaza surpasses 11 weeks with little relief, members of the local chapter have begun fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays, with the goal of continuing the collective fast for 40 days, or until aid flows freely into Gaza.
TIM SEIDEL: The current moment that we're in, where we've attempted many actions and appealed to decision-makers in government, this was an opportunity to draw from our own faith tradition to make a collective statement and take collective action through fasting.
Tim Seidel serves on the local coordinating team for Mennonite Action. He said more than 50 people have signed up to participate in the fast, including some individuals from other Mennonite Action chapters across the country. His fellow Community Mennonite Church congregant, Holly Herr Stravers, is also fasting, motivated by –
HOLLY HERR STRAVERS: Israel's complete blockade on food and water and humanitarian aid and essential life-sustaining supplies, and honestly, just a desperation to do something – maybe to manifest something tangible in our lives and in our community to respond to this.
[group singing "My Soul Cries Out"]
This collective action follows another local Mennonite man's personal hunger strike in solidarity with Gaza. Earlier this month, a global hunger monitor said that half a million people in Gaza faced starvation.
