Rahel Warshaw-Dadon emigrated from the United States to Jerusalem, Israel in 1979. She has a B.A. in Physics and the Philosophy of Science (Boston University, 1971), an M.Sc. in Biophysics and Molecular Genetics (M.I.T., 1976); she continued her studies towards a PhD and conducted research in Molecular Biology (Hebrew University Medical School, Jerusalem). For many years, Rahel also worked as a music teacher. Years ago, at the urging of her physician, Rahel sought alternative treatments for severe chronic asthma. In 1995, Rahel found Reiki and started on her own healing path. Soon after, she learned first and second degree Reiki, and started working as a Reiki practitioner. In August 2000, she was initiated as a Traditional Reiki Master. Rahel now spends most of the year in Israel and part of the year in the US (and sometimes Europe) teaching Reiki, treating Reiki clients, and directing Reiki for Peace.

Elik Yaari was born in Jerusalem, Palestine (!) in June 1942 (before the state of Israel was founded). He has B.A. in Political Sciences and International Relations; and cooperated in the organizational development of the Open University. He is a high ranking Officer in the Israeli Police Force. Presently, Elik serves as a volunteer representing the public at the Jerusalem Area Labor Court. Elik's connection with the Arab population in Israel started when he served as a police officer in Ramle, and continues to until today. He believes that beyond the complicated political situation, personal connections lead to mutual understanding and an improvement in the atmosphere and feeling between the two peoples.

Originally from Umm alFahem, Naazem Shredi presently lives in Haifa. He studied television communication and theater arts in Czechoslovakia. Trained as a Reiki Master, he works for Israeli Television as a producer and director. He met Rahel at a meeting of Reiki Unity in Israel, and immediately offered to help found Reiki for Peace.

Rabbi Carol Glass (USA) has a BA in Religion (Barnard College, 1975), an MA in Jewish Education (The Jewish Theological Seminary, 1977), and Rabbinic Ordination (Hebrew Union College, 1984). In 2001-2003, Carol was on sabbatical in Jerusalem. She was an active participant in MachsomWatch, an Israeli women’s volunteer organization that observes at checkpoints/roadblocks outside of Jerusalem. Carol also studied Jewish hands-on energy healing and first degree Traditional Reiki. She joined Rahel in writing and editing explanatory texts and grant proposals for Reiki for Peace, and in doing so added her own energy and highly valued contribution to building Reiki for Peace as a functioning not-for-profit organization.

When we founded Reiki for Peace, Aida Shibli was 30 years old and the mother of Neel, then 18 months old. Aida is a Muslim Beduin, born in Shibli village in the north of Israel. At that time she worked in Ein Kerem, Jerusalem, at the Hadassah Medical Center in the Intensive Cardiac Care Unit, and studied at the School of Nursing of the Hebrew University. Aida has since remarried (Mabruk!), and is presently working with other organizations that further peace and co-existence in Israel/Palestine.

Eliyahu grew up in Hawaii and studied at UC Berkeley. He currently lives in Jerusalem and is the director of Jerusalem Peacemakers. One of the projects is the Abrahamic Reunion, a group of Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Druze religious leaders working together. Eliyahu also is advisor to the Sulha Peace Project. Eliyahu was initiated as a 'Rodef Shalom' ('Pursuer of Peace') by Reb Zalman Schachter Shalomi. Eliyahu's work is described in the book At the Entrance to the Garden of Eden: A Jew's Search for God with the Christians and Muslims in the Holy Land by Yossi Klein Halevi. Eliyahu has Second Degree Reiki training. He believes that to do outer peace work one must also increase our inner peace, for example through the practice of Reiki.

Mufida lives in Abu Ghosh, not far from Jerusalem. She has a BA in English and Arabic Literature (Hebrew University), and is trained as an Insurance Agent and as a Travel Expert. She is especially interested in Children's Literature, and is a serious Yoga student. Mufida first "tasted" Reiki in 2004, and was immediately convinced that she wanted Reiki in her life. She continues to give herself Reiki regularly. One of our dreams is that Mufida will create organized tours in which participants will come from abroad to learn Reiki in Jerusalem, and participate in Reiki for Peace.

Tal was born in Israel on Kibbutz Revadim. She has learned several 'alternative' treatment methods, including Shiatsu and the Elbaum Method, and has mostly treated children with learning disabilities. Today, Tal works in Jerusalem as a teacher in a Waldorf kindergarten, part of the Anthroposophic Educational Movement. For a few years, Tal and Rahel were neighbors, and it seemed natural for Tal to come to learn Reiki and to join Reiki for Peace. Tal believes that creating real, deep meetings between individuals is the key to change and growth at both the personal level and the human level.

Mohamad has lived all of his life in Jabel alMukaber, near southwestern Jerusalem. He is trained as an electrical engineer (in particular in Program Logic Control) and has worked as a free lance electrician in the Jerusalem area. He has also taught Hebrew to Arabic speakers. He writes poetry in Arabic. Mohamad came to Reiki because he was curious, and stayed because he got hooked. He is presently working in a hospice for retarded adults. He frequently gives Reiki treatments to his colleagues at work, and encourages them to get Reiki training themselves.

Eli lives in Jerusalem and has a B.A. in French Literature and Psychology (Hebrew University, 2006). While looking for the right job, he is spending large amounts of time making sure that this web site will be created.

Yeshai, Rahel's son, now 24, has had Reiki training since he was 13. Music, sculpture, carpentry, fine cooking, and gardening are all important parts of his life. He is presently living in San Francisco, and has sought out many people in the large Palestinian community there who will join in us in our work.

Gary Weissman

We thank Gary for generously agreeing to put our site on the web.