Chapter: Friedensmal / Circle of Peace
It was always a movement outward – into space, into the world, into what can be seen.
Not as a message. Not as a teaching.
But as a form in which a different way of walking becomes possible.
The inward path without the outward path refines the self –
yet leaves it without encounter.
The outward path without the inward path hardens the world.
The different way of walking I speak of
is not a style, not an attitude, not a method.
It is the consequence of a recognized limit.
I no longer go deeper, but more attuned.
Not farther away from the world, but differently through it.
The Friedensmal stands exactly there:
between inner and outer,
between memory and presence,
between vulnerability and form.
And perhaps this is the true liberation I mean:
no longer having to choose between withdrawal and confrontation,
but to walk a path
on which truth is given space
without burning the one who walks it.
No heroic journey. No path of sacrifice.
Another step.
So that the future becomes possible again –
not as a promise, but as a way of moving.
Thus, for many, the Friedensmal becomes a shared point of reference. Not a center that directs, but a core that connects without binding. A place where difference can coexist, because something deeper is held in common: respect for life.
These people act where they stand. They build bridges, keep spaces open, allow encounters to happen. Not as messengers of a doctrine, but as witnesses to a way of being that reveals itself in action.
Art is not used here to explain anything. It creates a space in which people may encounter themselves, beyond roles, opinions, and expectations.
The Beautiful, the True, and the Good are not concepts here. They are experienced – in walking, in lingering, in silence.
The Jerusalem Friedensmal - on the Hiking Path
The Friedensmal (monument) was never meant to be only a path inward.It was always a movement outward – into space, into the world, into what can be seen.
Not as a message. Not as a teaching.
But as a form in which a different way of walking becomes possible.
The inward path without the outward path refines the self –
yet leaves it without encounter.
The outward path without the inward path hardens the world.
The different way of walking I speak of
is not a style, not an attitude, not a method.
It is the consequence of a recognized limit.
I no longer go deeper, but more attuned.
Not farther away from the world, but differently through it.
The Friedensmal stands exactly there:
between inner and outer,
between memory and presence,
between vulnerability and form.
And perhaps this is the true liberation I mean:
no longer having to choose between withdrawal and confrontation,
but to walk a path
on which truth is given space
without burning the one who walks it.
No heroic journey. No path of sacrifice.
Another step.
So that the future becomes possible again –
not as a promise, but as a way of moving.
A Visible Core
The
Jerusalem Friedensmal is not a sign for an idea that seeks explanation. It is a place where something comes together. Those who stand here soon sense it: this is not about persuasion, not about confession, not about mere belonging. Something quietly aligns itself – without claim, without demand. Peace and freedom appear here not as imperatives, but as possibilities.Thus, for many, the Friedensmal becomes a shared point of reference. Not a center that directs, but a core that connects without binding. A place where difference can coexist, because something deeper is held in common: respect for life.
People as Bearers of Peace
What gathers around the Friedensmal are not roles or titles. They are people.
These people act where they stand. They build bridges, keep spaces open, allow encounters to happen. Not as messengers of a doctrine, but as witnesses to a way of being that reveals itself in action.
Art as a Silent Teacher
The Friedensmal
does not speak – and this is precisely where its strength lies. Its form, its arrangement, its stillness lead not outward, but inward – and from there, back into the world.Art is not used here to explain anything. It creates a space in which people may encounter themselves, beyond roles, opinions, and expectations.
The Beautiful, the True, and the Good are not concepts here. They are experienced – in walking, in lingering, in silence.
Community at the Place
At the Friedensmal, community does not arise through planning, but through presence. People come together, walk side by side, celebrate, speak, or remain silent
– each encounter in its own measure. Nothing is prescribed. The place invites – nothing more. Over time, a weave of relationships, memories, and experiences emerges. No fixed form – yet a palpable connectedness that remains, even long after one has gone.Invitation
The Friedensmal does not invite membership. It invites participation in life. Those who feel addressed may contribute
– through presence, through ideas, through co-creating encounters, or by connecting their own initiatives with this place. Everything happens voluntarily, independently, and in one’s own rhythm. There is no right path. Only the invitation to act in attunement.Preserving the Core
So that this place may endure
– as space, as symbol, and as an ethical point of reference – the Friedensmal Foundation carries responsibility for it. Not to determine, but to protect. Not to direct, but to give continuity. Thus the Jerusalem Friedensmal remains open to change while remaining reliable in its core. A place that carries without holding fast. A sign that endures without imposing itself.
About Bridges
Idea „Jerusalem”
