How dialogue is creating peace between Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank?
Palestinians and Israelis in the West Bank/Palestinian Territories/Judea and Samaria often live in geographical proximity but have no real human contact and view each other with suspicion and fear. However, in 2014, a group of Orthodox Jewish Israelis from the Gush Etzion settlements met with a Palestinian refugee family in a nearby village. Over the course of several conversations, both peoples shared their fears, anxieties, pain and desire for a better future. In time, they began to see other as partners in peace by mutually recognizing each other’s connection to the Land, and found a path towards solidarity despite ideological differences.
These same Palestinians and Jewish settlers founded Roots, “a grassroots movement of understanding, nonviolence and transformation among Israelis and Palestinians.” Since its creation, Roots has brought hundreds of West Bank area Israelis and Palestinians together for language and nonviolence workshops, summer camps, young adult programs, mediation, and so much more.
Join us as here from two leaders who are at the forefront of this inspiring work:
Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger, Co-Founder and Director of International Relations
Hanan moved to Israel at the age of 20 and has lived the majority of his life over the Green line. Professionally, he teaches Jewish studies in colleges and seminaries in the Jerusalem, Florida and Texas. While teaching in Texas he became passionately involved in interfaith work. After co-founding Faiths in Conversation, a framework for Jewish - Christian – Muslim theological dialogue, he was inspired to build personal relationships with his Palestinian neighbors; something he had not attempted to do in over 33 years.
Shadi Abu Awwad, Youth Director
Born into a family that took a major leadership role in the First Palestinian Intifada / uprising, Shadi was taught to hate all Israelis at a young age. He had a moment of profound transformation when his brother was nearly killed by an Israeli soldier- only to be healed by an Israeli doctor that same day. Confounded by the contradiction, Shadi began a journey that ultimately brought him to see a human being and a partner on the other side. He eventually created Root’s youth program, which empowers Palestinian and Israeli teenagers to acknowledge each other's humanity-molding them into leaders who can work together to create a better future for their peoples.
We invite you to join Hanan and Shadi as they share their personal, interconnected stories and present the groundbreaking and challenging grassroots work of Roots. In these divided times such as these, there may be strategies from Roots that could be applicable in our own communities and beyond.
This event is free and open to the public but RESERVATIONS ARE REQUESTED. CLICK HERE.
For more information, please contact Laurel Grauer, Director of Community Relations & Israel Affairs, 704.944.6751
