Waking up this morning in San Diego, to the somber news of Israelis holed up in bomb shelters, retaliatory attacks on American bases in the Middle East and the uncertain fate of the Iranian people, I immediately felt sadness and dread—fearing another excuse for increased antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment.
Credit: Suzanne Borden
Later in the day, I went with my husband and our cousins to Balboa Park for a planned outing to the House of Pacific Relations (HPR) International Cottages during our trip to San Diego. The 30 small buildings, some established as far back as 1935, showcase different countries and their respective cultures. According to a brochure, “its purpose is to create a spirit of understanding, tolerance, and goodwill among the various national and ethnic groups represented in the community.” In addition, “All houses are sharing, learning, and respecting the diversity of their cultural heritage while putting aside their political differences.”
Visitors wander from cottage to cottage and take in exhibits about the history, people and culture of each country. Some countries offer food like baklava in the Turkish cottage or ginger snaps with almonds in the Denmark cottage. Mexico and Peru entertain visitors with dancers dressed in traditional clothing. Speaking with the volunteers representing each country reminded me of the International Night events sponsored by my kids’ school when they were little. But nothing prepared the four of us for what we experienced when visiting the cottages of Israel and Iran.
Right off the bat, when we entered, we were thrilled to see that Israel was included and that the cottage had been established in 1948. We were warmly welcomed by a group of local American and Israeli Jewish volunteers who offered us hamantaschen and bourekas and introduced us to their armed guard (the only cottage that needs security). After spending some time chatting and taking a Purim picture, we left to explore other countries.
An hour later, we entered the Iran cottage—just as the two Israelis we had spoken to earlier arrived bringing two plates of food. They explained that they wanted to share their support to the Iranian volunteers and extend their hand in understanding of what they were going through during this time of uncertainty. The Iranians were touched that the Israelis had come to check in on them. They talked about their similarities and the importance of talking to one another. And there were tears shed by the four who were having this emotional conversation and from the four of us who had the privilege to watch this remarkable exchange unfold. A day that began with dread ended with a small glimmer of hope.