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Mazel
Toy!
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A Sliver Of Hope
Bobbie Gottsc
In the shadow of war, Seeds of Peace holds its second annual dinner.
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DIANA LIEBERMAN
Copy Editor/Education Writer
Israeli negotiations at the U.S.
Department of State, said the world
has entered "a valley of darkness and
n Sept. 10 of last year,
despair."
the day before a cadre of
Dr: Miller, who said he hopes to
hijackers blasted away
leave his current position and take over
America's complacency
as Seeds president in January, called
about terrorism, the Detroit chap-
the organization "a light shining
ter of Seeds of Peace held its first
through."
gala at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in
"Seeds survives to make up for the
Dearborn. It was a festive celebra-
deficiencies, weaknesses and imperfec-
tion, with more than 600 people
tions of those whom we today call
toasting a peaceful future in which
leaders," he told the 420 guests at the
reason and friendship would replace At the Nof. I 8 gala, young people from the Middle East and the United States Ritz-Carlton ballroom.
embrace Dr. A aron Miller, expected to be the new Seeds of Peace president.
guns and bombs jn the strife-torn
"Where there is no leadership, who
corners of the world.
better to inherit the mantle of leader-
A more muted tone prevailed at
ship than these Seeds?
their places as leaders in their home countries, she
the organization's second dinner, held Nov. 18. The
"Where
there is now only anger and fear, Seeds
said, and, hopefully, they will retain the lessons of
evening was shadowed by memories of the Sept. 11
give critical experience and skills for coexistence.
common humanity and coexistence they learned at
terrorist attacks, the death of Seeds founder and
Where there is no hope, Seeds offer all of us a
camp and apply them to the conference tables of
president John Wallach, escalating violence in the
look at what the future can be, before it actually
the future.
Middle East and the threat of war with Iraq.
happens," Dr. Miller said.
Rep. John Dingell, D-Dearborn, accepted the
"The violent way doesn't seem to be working.
"There is a symbiotic relationship between
Seeds
of Peace 2002 Congressional Leadership
This is the only option left," said Oren Karniol-
official
diplomacy, which lies in tatters, and per-
Award, as Rep. Joe Knollenberg, R-West
Tambour, 14, of Netanya, Israel, one of four Seeds
sonal
diplomacy,
which Seeds of Peace so skillful-
Bloomfield, last year's award winner, looked on.
campers who spoke at the event.
ly embodies."
"There is, of course, no easy solution" to war and
The adult speakers, including Wallach's widow,
Looking out at the audience, Seeds' national
terrorism,
Dingell said.
Janet, eulogized the Seeds founder and pledged to
board member Joel Jacob of West Bloomfield
"We look forward to the day when all [people] of
uphold his vision of bringing young people from
said he was invigorated by the sight of "Arab and
Israeli,
Arab and other descents will, like those of
warring nations together in a camp in the Maine
Jew,
Republican and Democrat — all working
woods to honestly discuss their differences and sim- you tonight, work together toward a common
together
to support Seeds of Peace. "What an
goal."
ilarities. Whatever their differences, John Wallach
example we're setting to the world from Detroit,
In January, former President Bill Clinton will be
believed, the similarities would win out.
Michigan," Jacobs said.
honored
at the national Seeds of Peace Young
"By the end of the summer," he would tell the
"Last Sept. 10, [2001], I couldn't tell you how
Leadership Celebrity auction in New York.
campers, "you must make one friend from an
happy I was. The next morning, it all collapsed.
opposing group."
"I came down into the lobby, and there was
It has been 10 years since the original campers,
John
Wallach. He told me, 'You know what this
Skills For Coexistence
known as Seeds, left the shelter of that camp, Janet
means?
It means our mission has become more
Dr. Aaron David Miller, senior adviser for Arab-
Wallach pointed out. They are beginning to take
important."' n
.
tr•
-11/29
2002
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