German Governor Praises Horse Trek to Jerusalem as Peace Symbol
Translated & summarized from Jüdische Allgemeine by baba
Brandenburg's Minister-President Dietmar Woidke praised a horse-drawn caravan's journey to Jerusalem as a "strong symbol for peace," highlighting the need for personal commitment to understanding. The trek, which began May 8, aimed to deliver a 65kg peace bell cast from military scrap. Denied entry to Turkey, the route was altered, with the bell shipped from Greece and participants flying to Israel. The caravan reached Jerusalem on November 13, 2025, presenting the bell to a bilingual school educating children of different faiths.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Brandenburg's Minister-President Dietmar Woidke called the Jerusalem horse trek a "strong symbol for peace."
- The trek aimed to deliver a 65kg peace bell, cast from melted military scrap, to Jerusalem.
- Participants faced obstacles, including being denied entry to Turkey, altering the planned overland route.
- The bell was shipped from Greece to Israel, while participants flew to the destination.
- The caravan officially arrived in Jerusalem on November 13, 2025.
- The bell was gifted to the "Hand-in-Hand School," which educates Jewish, Christian, and Muslim children together.
Dietmar Woidke, the Minister-President of Brandenburg, has lauded a horse-drawn caravan's journey to Jerusalem last year as a "strong symbol for peace." Speaking in Potsdam on Friday at a reception hosted by the trek's initiators, Woidke emphasized that peace requires personal commitment to understanding and reconciliation, stating, "peace does not arise on its own." He served as the patron for the initiative.
The trek, which began on May 8 of the previous year, aimed to transport a 65-kilogram peace bell, cast from melted military scrap, to Jerusalem via horse-drawn wagon. The original plan involved traveling overland from Berlin's Brandenburg Gate through Turkey, Syria, and Jordan. However, the participants were denied entry into Turkey, forcing a route alteration.
The bell was ultimately shipped from Greece to Israel, while the participants flew to the destination. The caravan officially reached Jerusalem on November 13, 2025, where the bell was presented to the "Hand-in-Hand School." This institution educates Jewish, Christian, and Muslim children together.