Planting For The Future

Detroit Arabs and Jews come together in support of Middle East peace.

Below: Terry Ahwal, one of the organizers of the
hopes for Middle East peace.
week's events, with her sister, Julie. Behind her as
"Seeds of Peace allowed me to talk
Steve Schanes, another organizer.
more freely with my counterparts in
the Jewish commu-
s they mingled at Tribute
nity," said Terry
restaurant last Sunday, their
Ahwal,
a native of
plates laden with delicacies,
Ramallah who is a
it was hard to believe that
former director of
thousands of miles away their people
the Detroit chapter
continue to be involved in one of the
of the Arab-
longest, bloodiest conflicts in the
American
Anti-
world.
Discrimination
For one night, local Arab and
Committee.
Jewish leaders were friends. And orga-
"Through our con-
nizers of Sunday's event, a 100-person
versations, I found
benefit for Seeds of Peace, hope it
most of them
spawns a lasting relationship between
weren't aware of the
the two communities.
Above: Joel Jacob, a national
difficult conditions
Founded in 1993 by journalist
board member of Seeds of
John Wallach, Seeds of Peace is a sum- in Gaza and the
Peace,
got local Jews and Arabs
West Bank, and for
mer camp in Maine where Jewish and
interested
in the program.
Arab teens from the Middle East come the first time I was
able to really
together to build friendships and learn
sponsors social gatherings, an annual
the community and fighting assimila-
understand the feeling of fear and
conflict-resolution techniques.
essay contest and scholarship pro-
tion."
insecurity among the Israelis."
According to Meredith Katz,
grams.
A number of local Arabs and Jews
Ahwal said she admires the fact that
Seeds of Peace's associate executive
More than 300 teens have partici-
already
participate
in
another
joint
Seeds of Peace campers are able to find
director, Detroit is the first city out-
pated
in Seeds of Peace so far, and
forum,
American
Arabic
and
Jewish
common ground even though they
side New York and Washington to
plans
to
expand will enable another
Friends,
which
was
established
in
the
don't avoid the divisive issues.
host a fund-raiser for the camp and
300
to
participate
in the camp and in
early
1980s.
Under
the
auspices
of
the
"We sat in on one session where
is also the first place where Arabs
a
summit
in
Switzerland
this summer.
Detroit
Interfaith
Roundtable,
both Israelis and Palestinians were
and Jews have formed a partnership
Participants
are
selected
by
their own
American
Arabic
and
Jewish
Friends
screaming about Jerusalem, both talk-
in support of the New York-based
ing about how their claims dated back
organization.
IO W
to biblical times. At the end, several
The partnership of Detroit Arabs
kids
from
each
side
said,
'This
is
my
and Jews who came together to sup-
claim, but to stop more bloodshed I'm
port Seeds of Peace started last sum-
willing
to see Jerusalem become an
mer when Joel Jacob, a local commu-
-city.'"
international
nity activist and national board mem-
Samir Mashni said Seeds of Peace
ber of Seeds of Peace, chartered a
reawakened his hope after some dispir-
plane to take seven local Arab and
iting visits to friends and family in the
Jewish leaders — including David
West
Bank.
Gad-Harf of the Jewish Community
"I
was
a disbeliever in the peace
Council — to visit the camp.
process,"
he
said. "Then Terry [Ahwal]
"It was a life-changing experience,"
tell. them this is my
and
Joel
[Jacob]
invited me to the
said Gad-Harf. "We clicked as a group
Seeds of Peace camp. What I saw gave
and came back deciding we had to do
me a glimmer of hope."
something to help the camp."
The eight organizers of this week's
Plans were soon under way to bring
events are hoping to start a Detroit
Seeds of Peace graduates and other
Out
Arab teens' et.g\'''''
chapter of Seeds of Peace that will
speakers in for a fund-raiser. That
among>h ts OS6Sefrie
Middle
East,
was
about
to
spen
raise funds while also providing a
mushroomed into almost a week's
"It was hard to talk to Isracys at
month with Israelis. But he didn't see
forum for local Jews and Arabs to
worth of activities, including a dia-
first.
Growing up in Nabl4sikaw a
how he'd be able to endure living with
engage in dialogue.
logue between local Arab and Jewish
lot
of
fighting, 1'0V:the
them.
"We have a lot to learn from each
Israelis
as
soldiers and-settlers, and I
teens.
could
eat
"I couldn't imagine how I
other about community organizing
In the process, the events' Jewish
hated them. Now I know very good
with,
talk
with
and
sleep
next
to
and have so many things in common,"
and Arab organizers, just like the
someone who's my enemy," he said. "I Israelis, and I don't hate Israel ,,J ust
said Jacob. "We're both struggling
\
Seeds of Peace camp participants,
rn
was afraid what my family and friends hate when the .govemenr,
broke down barriers and renewed their with keeping our youth interested in

JULIE WIENER
StaffWriter

A

go:g1,-

3/6
1998

9

