jewish@edu

L for college students by college students

> opinion

Young Leaders

Visit to Seeds of Peace camp offers hope for the future.

Andrew Jacob } jewish@edu writer

hat did you do on your summer break?
This is the question we get asked when we go
back to school.
My answer this year will be quite different than it was last
summer as I was entering my freshman year at the University of
Michigan. Then I was a volunteer in Israel working on a military
base supporting the operations of the Israeli Army. This year, I trav-
eled to Maine during Israel's Operation Protective Edge to witness
the impactful Seeds of Peace program. I arrived at this unique
camp just three days after some of the brightest 14- and 15-year-
olds arrived from their homes in the Middle East during a war.
Now in its 21st year, Seeds of Peace gives rise to new genera-
tions of leaders uniquely inspired and equipped to build lasting
peace.
Seeds of Peace is most likely the only place in the world at this
moment where Palestinians and Israelis, along with Jordanians and
Egyptians, are engaging in meaningful dialogue and understanding
of one another's situation.
Treaties are negotiated by governments; peace is made by
people. Since 1993, Seeds of Peace has set the standard in interna-
tional peace-building by providing exceptional young people and
educators from regions of conflict with an otherwise impossible
opportunity to meet their historic enemies face-to-face at its inter-

W

national camp in Maine.
Participants build on their extraor-
dinary and critical relationships and
understanding through year-round local
programs that focus on the core leader-
ship capacities needed to advance peace.
There are now more than 5,000 Seeds
and educators from 27 countries who
prove that solutions exist, peace is pos-
sible, and there is reason to have hope
for a better future.
The IDF, with the unwavering support
of our United States Congress, will be
able to remove the terror threat in the
Andrew Jacob with his siblings Autumn and Michael at
short term. The long-term success of any
the Seeds of Peace camp in Maine
solution will be dependent on smart-
skilled ethical leaders. The Seeds of Peace
participants and alumni are those lead-
ers. We must always be ready to defend our Jewish family wher-
Andrew Jacob of West Bloomfield is a sophomore at the
ever they may live. At the same time, we must be ready to work
University of Michigan and president/co-founder of
toward peace. My visit to see the work of Seeds of Peace in action
overthefly.com . For more about Seeds of Peace, go to www.
this summer gives me hope for a brighter future. @
seedsofpeace.org.

OUR CAMPUS IS DETROIT.

Take a tour in person or online at wayne.edu .

rill 1 0

AIM IGHER

44 ' l,gust 21 • 2014

JN