I recently sat down with Gabriel Meyer Halevy in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, where the mountains meet the Caribbean Sea in northern Colombia. As we spoke, I was reminded once again of how much Latin America has to teach us about weaving together spirituality and resistance. Gabriel carries forward a powerful legacy: his father, Rabbi Marshall Meyer, became a prophetic voice against Argentina’s military dictatorship, opening his synagogue doors to the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, visiting political prisoners, and helping people escape the country during some of Argentina’s darkest hours.

Today, Gabriel continues this tradition of spiritual activism, but with his own unique approach – music, ceremony, and what he calls “radical flexibility.” For over four decades, he has worked at the intersection of peace-building, artistic expression, and sacred activism. In Israel-Palestine, he co-founded the Sulha Peace Project, which grew from 120 people to gatherings of 7,000, bringing together Palestinians and Israelis during the height of the Second Intifada.

“We don’t have the privilege to separate politics from spiritual work,” Gabriel told me, his voice carrying both urgency and warmth. “We see this bypassing spiritually the action. “

On the other hand, he says, we as activists have an opportunity. “We get to focus where we do the peace work. We actually focus on what’s the medicine, not what’s the illness. Everybody knows what the illness is.”

That’s why Gabriel advocates for a form of activism that’s grounded in spirit but expressed through joy, creativity, and perhaps most surprisingly – humor.

“We need art. We need creativity. We need beauty. We need it to be funny, sexy, magnetizing,” he explained, “because we need millions of people to change their ways. And it’s not going to happen if we just scream at them that they’re not doing the right thing.”

For over two decades, Gabriel has demonstrated the power of this celebratory approach to peacebuilding. In Israel-Palestine, where he lived for 29 years, he co-founded the Sulha Peace Project, which grew from an initial gathering of 120 people during the Second Intifada to events that drew 7,000 participants. These weren’t typical peace conferences – they were holistic gatherings that engaged people through shared meals, music, dance, and ritual.

“We worked in four different dimensions,” Gabriel explained. “In the morning, we had listening circles for emotional work. There was a common kitchen where people would meet, cutting tomatoes and cooking together. We had workshops in the afternoon where people would teach each other about their cultures, and in the evening, we celebrated through the arts – bands and dances from Jewish and Palestinian sources.”

The project drew spiritual leaders from across traditions: the Imam of Al-Aqsa Mosque, representatives from the Dalai Lama, South African peace workers from the Mandela era, and Indigenous elders. But perhaps most importantly, it brought together those directly affected by the conflict – including the Parents Circle, an organization of Palestinian and Israeli families who had lost loved ones to the violence.

Today, Gabriel continues this work as a core member of the Defend the Sacred Alliance, a global network of activists who blend spiritual practice with direct action. He travels the world as what he calls a “radical flexitarian minstrel,” singing in seven languages including Hebrew, Arabic, and Urdu, bringing people together through music, story, and prayer.

His forthcoming book, “On the Verge of the Verb,” captures this vision of sacred activism through what he describes as “an autobiographical fiction of prophetic sorts.” The story follows a protagonist who builds a global movement of sacred activists, culminating in a massive peace and healing event in Jerusalem. The countdown has already begun for his March 1 book release, and meantime, Gabriel is launching a book tour across North America to share these medicines that he believes are crucial for our times: courage, flexibility, presence, and perhaps most surprisingly – humor.

“When I see somebody too serious, it’s suspicious,” he says with a grin. “I’ve never met a serious person who wasn’t funny, never. From the Dalai Lama to all the great teachers… they all like to laugh and especially about themselves. So, I think humor is one of the biggest medicines.”

Gabriel’s book tour, which will span 20 venues from the East Coast to Vancouver, aims to bring these teachings to life through a blend of song, story, selected readings, and special guests. With just one day left in his Indiegogo campaign, he’s seeking support to make this vision a reality. The funds will cover travel costs and help amplify his message through conscious social media and PR outreach.

“We are hospice carers for the dying paradigm of human-centrism, greed, and the power-over model running the current systems,” Gabriel reflects. “We have the sacred task to midwife a future based on cooperation, regeneration, justice, compassion, and love.”

To support Gabriel’s book tour and be part of this movement toward sacred activism, visit his Indiegogo campaign HERE. Even if you can’t contribute financially, sharing his campaign with others who might resonate with this vision of activist work that celebrates rather than screams, that builds bridges rather than barriers, can help make this tour a reality.