Tag Archives: Israel

by | April 3, 2013 · 4:19 pm

PPI-NI Partners with the Together, Stronger Programme

In the sporting world, symbols like this "Tri-Color" can cause charged emotional responses, depending on one's own identity.

In the sporting world, symbols like this “Tri-Color” can cause charged emotional responses, depending on one’s own identity.

This week, PeacePlayers International (PPI-NI) started an eight-week diversity-through-sport programme with partners from 174 Trust. The programme is part of a wider project called Together, Stronger which aims at breaking down barriers around the highly-contested space of Carlisle Circus in North Belfast. PPI-NI partnered up with 174 Trust last year to deliver the community-relations-through-sport component of the project.

This year PPI-NI is piloting a new look diversity-through-sport programme which involves visits to sporting events as well as a heavy emphasis on Arbinger material. Led by PPI-NI project coordinators Darryl Petticrew and Joanne Fitzpatrick, the aim of the programme is to explore symbols and identity at sporting events that some people may not attend due to their religious or political background.

PPI-NI International Fellow Chris Schumerth (left) was joined by his family, during their recent visit from the United States, for the Northern Ireland-Israel World Cup qualifier.

PPI-NI International Fellow Chris Schumerth (left) was joined by his family, during their recent visit from the United States, for the Northern Ireland-Israel World Cup qualifier.

This week, the group of 25 young people went to a Northern Ireland soccer game, where they played in a World Cup qualifier against Israel. Unfortunately NI came out of the game with a two-nil loss to the visiting side. One of the interesting aspects of this game was the close links of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to Northern Ireland’s own context.

All members of the group came out of the game very positive, with some challenging thoughts about their experience,  which will be unpacked at our next session this Thursday. PPI-NI is very excited about this programme and the potential to replicate more like it in the future.

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by | December 20, 2012 · 5:40 pm

PPI ME spreads the holiday cheer at Mini-Fest

Kids got deep into their creative side at the Abe and Irene Holiday Happening.

Kids got deep into their creative side at the Abe and Irene Holiday Happening.

PeacePlayers International – Middle East celebrated this year’s holiday season with the annual “Abe and Irene Pollin Holiday Happening,” which featured basketball, entertainment and art for all the young kids in the program. The special occasion was separated into several different stations of activities from basketball skills to arts and crafts to getting to interact and watch a professional juggler perform. There was also a holiday station to learn about and discuss the traditions of the Jewish holiday Hanukah, the Muslim holiday celebrating the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed, and the Christian holiday Christmas. Many of the kids participated in question and answer sessions that hopefully contributed to a shared understanding of the diverse religious traditions of this region.

Kids gained newfound coordination at the juggling station.

Kids gained newfound coordination at the juggling station.

The kids also got to play “Santa says, ” that was loosely based on the game “Simon Says”. They picked up the game quickly and had a great time following the crazy gestures and ridiculous dance moves! PPI staff Galit Sahar and Vito Gilic did a tremendous job of creating and coordinating this event along with the help of our Leadership Development Program (LDP) team. The LDP participants did an excellent job exemplifying the skills they have acquired as a result of being a part of the program. One of our LDP participants, Juman, said, “It is very important for us to be

involved because it gives us experience and helps us to become better leaders. It also makes us feel confident that the PPI staff trusts us enough to depend on us to run parts of the event.” Coach Khaled, who graduated from the LDP himself, agreed, adding, “LDP has helped me to develop the leadership and coaching skills to be able to work with the kids independently and this responsibility makes me more confident.”

It may have seemed a little hectic, but underneath there was a sense of harmony.

It may have seemed a little hectic, but underneath there was a sense of harmony.

This event was about playing together and learning to appreciate other cultures and traditions. To an outsider, the event may have seemed a little hectic, with 100-odd kids cheering, jumping and playing in the gym. Anyone involved with PPI, though, could see the underlying togetherness and unity that prevailed, in spite of the differences that plague the Arab and Jewish communities here every day.

As always, thank you to the Pollin family for making the holiday the Holiday Happening possible.

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by | November 26, 2012 · 2:09 pm

Blog Spotlight: PPI – ME Teens Rise Above Conflict, Get Pointers from NBA and Golf Stars

Last week in the midst of the Israeli – Gaza conflict, PeacePlayers International – Middle East continued its peacebuilding programming, believing in the power of its youth leaders to overcome the challenges of living in a country at war. This week, PPI would like to share this remarkable blog post written by PPI – ME Development Associate, Rifka Miyara.

Thank you to Arn and Nancy!

In the midst of this past week’s violence in Israel and Gaza, a group of Palestinian and Israeli PeacePlayers got together to prove that their friendships were not so easily threatened by the missiles raining down on either side of the border, and to learn a new game: golf. In two events, one a basketball clinic led by former NBA greats Brian Scalabrine (of the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls) and Will Perdue (of the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs) and the other a golf clinic led by golf legends Amy Alcott, Hunter Mahan, Sean Foley (famed golf instructor who coached Tiger Woods) and Michael Thompson, youth from East Jerusalem, West Jerusalem and Holon got to forget momentarily the recent trouble in the region. The events were made possible by PPI board member and top sports agent Arn Tellem and his wife Nancy, entertainment and digital media president of Microsoft (formerly president of CBS Television Studios), who hosted the events as part of a golf-inspired mission to Israel. Thank you to the Tellems for providing these opportunities for our youth.

In Tuesday’s event, Scalabrine and Perdue whipped members of our LDP and league teams into shape. Our kids impressed with how much they were able to keep up despite their height handicap to Scalabrine’s 6 ft. 9 in. and Perdue’s 7 ft. 1 in. statures.

PPI – ME teens got whipped into shape by NBA legends Brian Scalabrine and Will Perdue.

At Thursday’s event at the Caesarea Golf Center, Alcott, Mahan, Foley and Thompson introduced PPI kids to the game of golf, which is relatively obscure in these parts of the world. Alcott spoke of golf’s virtues, saying that it helps build patience, which is something we sorely need around here. Sean Foley warned kids that “golf is addictive.” By the enthusiasm our kids gave to practicing their swings, it seems he may have been right. At the event, which took place a day after the Israel launched its military operation against Hamas in Gaza, I was asked if we had thought about cancelling the event in light of the events, or if any kids had cancelled because of them. “No,” I answered. These were longtime participants, ones who knew enough about “seeing people as people” to be able to process these periods of violence without reverting to hatred and fear towards their fellow PeacePlayers.

Amy Alcott offers pointers to Jerusalem PeacePlayers at Thursday’s clinic.

Although veteran participants are generally able to transcend outbreaks of political unrest in the area, they still present challenges to building bridges and inspiring Palestinian and Israeli youth to hope for better. We spoke with curriculum facilitator Renana about what it was like to conduct Arbinger workshops during this time of conflict. “It wasn’t easy,” she admitted, speaking of a facilitation she conducted Wednesday evening in the Israeli town of Beit Shemesh, at the height of rocket fire from Gaza, and just hours after a bomb exploded on a bus in Tel Aviv. To complicate matters, the team coach had been right down the street from where the bomb attack occurred.

How does one talk about peace in times like these? Once again, it’s not easy. Tensions were high among the girls, with some very emotional about the situation. Some girls were able to apply the Arbinger Institute’s lessons of see people as people to the political context, saying “just like our people are suffering, their people are suffering too,” while others stuck to more hawkish perspectives. “It’s hard,” agrees fellow facilitator Nissreen, “especially as an apolitical organization. When talking about seeing the other side, it’s hard not to get into politics because politics are our reality here.” However, despite the tension (and also regardless of each Beit Shemesh girl’s take on the situation), Renana said that there was unanimous anticipation by the Israeli girls to see their Palestinian twinning partners, a testament that even through the tensions, friendship prevails.

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by | November 22, 2012 · 3:44 pm

PPI – ME Teens Rise Above Conflict, Get Pointers from NBA and Golf Stars

Thank you to Arn and Nancy!

In the midst of this past week’s violence in Israel and Gaza, a group of Palestinian and Israeli PeacePlayers got together to prove that their friendships were not so easily threatened by the missiles raining down on either side of the border, and to learn a new game: golf. In two events, one a basketball clinic led by former NBA greats Brian Scalabrine (of the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls) and Will Perdue (of the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs) and the other a golf clinic led by golf legends Amy Alcott, Hunter Mahan, Sean Foley (famed golf instructor who coached Tiger Woods) and Michael Thompson, youth from East Jerusalem, West Jerusalem and Holon got to forget momentarily the recent trouble in the region. The events were made possible by PPI board member and top sports agent Arn Tellem and his wife Nancy, entertainment and digital media president of Microsoft (formerly president of CBS Television Studios), who hosted the events as part of a golf-inspired mission to Israel. Thank you to the Tellems for providing these opportunities for our youth.

In Tuesday’s event, Scalabrine and Perdue whipped members of our LDP and league teams into shape. Our kids impressed with how much they were able to keep up despite their height handicap to Scalabrine’s 6 ft. 9 in. and Perdue’s 7 ft. 1 in. statures.

PPI – ME teens got whipped into shape by NBA legends Brian Scalabrine and Will Perdue.

At Thursday’s event at the Caesarea Golf Center, Alcott, Mahan, Foley and Thompson introduced PPI kids to the game of golf, which is relatively obscure in these parts of the world. Alcott spoke of golf’s virtues, saying that it helps build patience, which is something we sorely need around here. Sean Foley warned kids that “golf is addictive.” By the enthusiasm our kids gave to practicing their swings, it seems he may have been right. At the event, which took place a day after the Israel launched its military operation against Hamas in Gaza, I was asked if we had thought about cancelling the event in light of the events, or if any kids had cancelled because of them. “No,” I answered. These were longtime participants, ones who knew enough about “seeing people as people” to be able to process these periods of violence without reverting to hatred and fear towards their fellow PeacePlayers.

Amy Alcott offers pointers to Jerusalem PeacePlayers at Thursday’s clinic.

Although veteran participants are generally able to transcend outbreaks of political unrest in the area, they still present challenges to building bridges and inspiring Palestinian and Israeli youth to hope for better. We spoke with curriculum facilitator Renana about what it was like to conduct Arbinger workshops during this time of conflict. “It wasn’t easy,” she admitted, speaking of a facilitation she conducted Wednesday evening in the Israeli town of Beit Shemesh, at the height of rocket fire from Gaza, and just hours after a bomb exploded on a bus in Tel Aviv. To complicate matters, the team coach had been right down the street from where the bomb attack occurred.

How does one talk about peace in times like these? Once again, it’s not easy. Tensions were high among the girls, with some very emotional about the situation. Some girls were able to apply the Arbinger Institute’s lessons of see people as people to the political context, saying “just like our people are suffering, their people are suffering too,” while others stuck to more hawkish perspectives. “It’s hard,” agrees fellow facilitator Nissreen, “especially as an apolitical organization. When talking about seeing the other side, it’s hard not to get into politics because politics are our reality here.” However, despite the tension (and also regardless of each Beit Shemesh girl’s take on the situation), Renana said that there was unanimous anticipation by the Israeli girls to see their Palestinian twinning partners, a testament that even through the tensions, friendship prevails.

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by | October 18, 2012 · 3:44 pm

Practicing Basketball, Practicing Freedom, Practicing Peace

Renana gives the second graders of Keshet school their first taste of the Anatomy of Peace

This week’s post was written by Renana, one of PPI – ME’s new curriculum facilitators.

In his book Pedagogy of the Oppressed, the great educator and philosopher Paulo Freire states that “education either functions as an instrument [which integrates] the younger generation into the logic of the present system OR it becomes the practice of freedom.”

Living in the harsh reality of the Middle East, one of PPI-ME’s educational challenges is to bring our children and youth to believe that such “practice of freedom” is possible. The existing prejudices and racism in our country can easily prevent children from the belief that the freedom to meet “the other” can take place in our torn society.

The kids had a lot to share about the way they think a good team should function

Luckily for PPI, we tackle this challenge through the best form of practice – yeah, we practice freedom through basketball. And this year we’re taking it one step further. Two years after rolling out the Anatomy of Peace Curriculum, developed in cooperation with the Arbinger Institute to integrate their Anatomy of Peace (AoP) model with basketball, PPI – ME is deepening the impact of the curriculum by having me and my friend and colleague Nissreen meet with teams and help coaches deliver the material.

All of our facilitations are designed together with the teams’ coaches, as we try to improve not only the kids’ social skills, but also their strength as athletes. The youth of the Leadership Development Program (LDP) have become especially familiar with the AoP philosophy over the past number of years, and our monthly sessions with them will focus on helping them to teach these principles to other players, friends and family.

Our younger teams, which we like to call “the Minis,” require a different strategy both from the coaches, and from us, the facilitators. Knowing that most of the kids have just started dribbling, our responsibility as facilitators is to gradually trickle in the AoP curriculum while allowing them to tackle learning the basic skills of the game.

“Only a group that makes decisions together, works together”

With these concerns in mind, I headed to my first Arbinger meeting with the 2nd graders of Keshet school in Jerusalem. I’d been told by my colleagues that our teams at Keshet were very smart and special – but meeting them made me realize that the word “special” doesn’t begin to describe how incredible they are! The session went really well. From the very beginning of the introduction, the kids had a lot to share about the way they think a good team should function. One of them told us that “only a group that makes decisions together, works together.” I then linked her words to the importance of listening to one another, and how important it is to look for ways to help each other play better. In response, one of them had an idea that every kid on the team should think of what his/her best basketball skill is, and teach it to the others. Despite their young age, these children managed to focus their attention on the subject, and even to implement it on the court. I have a good feeling about this process, and we will build it slowly but surely. Baby steps, or in our case – “Mini” steps :)

I’m amazed by the way the children grasped social philosophies with such an open heart and mind. In future sessions, I’ll try to broaden the importance of good communication inside the group. Until then, I’ll keep on having my first meetings with the other groups –  hoping to inspire them to question the “present system” of conflict, through the practice of sport, peace and freedom.

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by | October 11, 2012 · 3:09 pm

All-Stars Season is On!

The All-Stars with Coach Boaz at their first game of the season

Last night, All-Stars season got officially into swing when the younger girls’ team played (and won with flying colors) their first game of the season, against a team from the town of Shoham. Through a partnership with ASA Jerusalem, one of Israel’s top women’s sports clubs, PPI – ME has enrolled three integrated Palestinian-Israeli teams in the Israel Basketball Association’s youth league this year.

Pregame on the court, tensions are high. Who will win the first game of the season?

Two teams – one made up of middle-aged girls and the other of high school girls – play regionally while another high school-age team competes nationally, which is the highest level of competition in Israel for that age group. PPI – ME got started in the league in 2010, launching the first ever mixed East-West Jerusalem league team, and this year’s partnership with ASA marks another move forward for us, as it further boosts are rep in the basketball world, and lets our efforts reach an even greater number of unaffiliated, and sometimes even skeptical people through high-profile league games and media coverage.

The younger girls’ team was the first to compete this year, with the other two teams starting league games next week. Their first game, which conveniently enough took place at home court, ended in an astounding victory for our girls. Stay tuned for more All-Stars news!

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by | September 20, 2012 · 7:22 pm

Seeing each other as people…. with masks on

The mask workshop requires physical closeness and trust between Palestinian and Israeli participants

LDP-er Juman (right) shows a younger PeacePlayers the right moves on the basketball court

This past weekend, PPI – ME returned to Kibbutz Sdot Yam for another in a long line of retreats that we’ve been holding to kick off the year. First there was the Jerusalem All-Stars excursion to Eilat last month, and the Professional Development Retreat for coaches took place a week after that. This time around it was the Peace Education Retreat for kids from East and West Jerusalem and the surrounding area. More than 50 kids ages 12-14 as well as Leadership Development Program (LDP) kids 15 and up were in attendance. In addition to playing basketball, the younger kids, many of whom are totally new to PPI, got an intensive intro to the Peace Education curriculum, which teaches kids to see each other as people on the basketball court and off. The workshop was led by new on-staff facilitators Nissreen and Renana, who led the session in two groups, one in Hebrew and one in Arabic, to maximize the younger children’s comprehension and ability to actively participate. LDP, who are already well versed in the curriculum, are putting a greater emphasis on gaining the tools to lead the curriculum.

On-staff facilitator Renana leads younger and newer participants in an Anatomy of Peace workshop

As an extra treat, PPI – ME Project Manager and facilitator Nissreen (who is also an artist) led a creative workshop that delves into the notion of cooperation and trust that are at the core of our program. For the activity, Palestinian and Israeli youth were split up into mixed pairs. Each member of every pair was charged with the task of applying plaster masks to his or her partner’s face. As Nissreen explains, the workshop offers an opportunity for intense cooperation, trust and communication. “Plaster, when not applied correctly with the right amount of Vaseline can stick to a person’s skin. Each member of the pair had to trust that the other person was taking the care to apply the mask the right way.” Nissreen also added that “the physical interaction make them feel comfortable with one another. Having contact with each other’s faces, which is very intimate, creates a sense of closeness and creates a positive feeling.” Workshops like these complement the impact of basketball, which works the body, and the curriculum, which works the mind, by creating a casual and fun way to build closeness.

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by | September 13, 2012 · 4:19 pm

Holon and Fureidis Work It Out While Working Out

The girls counted out loud through exercise sets in Hebrew, Arabic in English

While most teams in the Twinned Basketball Clubs (TBC) program won’t start Twinning (AKA joint activities) until later in the fall, two teams have already started getting into the swing of things with joint fitness trainings on the beach in Herzliya. The two teams, which include teenage girls from the Jewish town of Holon and the Arab town of Fureidis, are new to PPI and consequently new to each other. Last week’s twinning was the first of what will be weekly fitness trainings throughout the month of September. Starting in October, activities will revert to the standard TBC format, whereby the two teams will practice twice a week in their own communities and come together for Twinnings twice each month. Fitness trainings are led by trainer Alon Levy, who last year led joint fitness trainings for the Jerusalem All-Stars and Elitzur Holon, so he knows all about working things out by working out.

Last week’s joint training was the first time that most girls had met “the other side”

The first training session was held in a friendly casual manner, letting the girls settle into the idea of working out with girls from the other side of the Arab-Jewish divide, which isn’t exactly a usual occurrence in Israel. Out loud, the girls counted their ways through exercise sets in unison, alternating between Hebrew, Arabic and English.

The next training session will take more of a direct Twinning approach, with more of a focus on working together, playing beach volleyball on mixed teams and other muscle- and team-building games. While the two teams are new to PPI – ME, these two communities have already been involved in the TBC in some capacity. Holon has been cooperating with PPI – ME for the past two years, and since last year has had an official team in the TBC. This year, Holon is sending another two teams to the TBC, including the girls in this post. Fureidis has been a guest of honor at many of our special events, including tournaments, but only this year became a full-fledged TBC member, with two new teams also participating.

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by | July 19, 2012 · 2:18 pm

Chairman Emeritus Ron Shapiro Visits PPI-ME

Today on the blog, PPI’s Board Chair Emeritus, Ron Shapiro, shares his experiences from his trip to PPI-ME earlier this month.

Why did you go to Israel and the West Bank with PeacePlayers International?

Nearly ten years ago, a group of young men from what is now called PeacePlayers International visited my office and asked if I would join their Board and help them with fundraising. I initially resisted, but they and their cause were so persuasive that within six weeks I was a member of their Board.

Within a year, I agreed to be the Chair of their Board for one year on an “interim” basis. Somehow that one year became five years. During that period, I saw videos and heard stories of children in areas of conflict like Northern Ireland, South Africa, and Israel who, with the help of PPI, were building bridges and inspiring hope. I felt the power of the work we were doing. Yet despite invitations, I did not make any site visits, because of what I misperceived as an overwhelming professional and personal schedule. Although my involvement continued when I stepped down as Chair and assumed the role of Chairman Emeritus, I still had not interacted with the kids and the people of PeacePlayers working in the field.

Thankfully Brendan Tuohey is a persistent guy. As a result of his persistence, I ultimately agreed to make a site visit in July 2012. I never expected, at this stage in my life and after three other trips to Israel, to have a transformative life experience while visiting the PeacePlayers team and children in Israel and the West Bank. I am so glad that I chose to share that experience with my granddaughter, Kate, who recently celebrated her bat mitzvah; my daughter, Laura; my son, John (Herb) Beatson; and my business partner, Michael Maas; and that I was able to have the opportunity to travel with Brian Ross, Ann Curry and their children, Walker and Mckenzie; Irina Pavlova; Leslie and Joe Schaller; Brian Kriftcher; Amy Selco; and of course, Anna and her father, Brendan Tuohey.

Ron Shapiro, Executive Director Brendan Tuohey, and and PPI – ME Basketball Operations Manager Vito Gilic connect at PPI-ME

How did you spend your time?

Aside from spending 24 hours in airplanes (and I might add meeting a new friend, Joey Low, on my journey over, who accepted my invitation to join us on a visit to our program on a kibbutz in Sdot Yam, and after the visit was moved to support PPI going forward), we would rise early and retire late so that we could maximize our exposure to some sites, but more importantly to the people and the program. From the very moment we arrived (when we were graciously hosted by the parents of one of the leaders of the PPI M.E. team, Samer Elayan, for dinner in the Arab village of Bet Safafa), to being given a geopolitical tour of East Jerusalem and part of the West Bank, to visiting the religious sites (Jewish, Christian, and Muslim) in the Old City, to the Foreign Ministry in Ramallah, to the moving stories from PeacePlayers staff members on bus rides as we travelled from PPI programs in Jerusalem, the West Bank, Tel Aviv, and Sdot Yam, and the ancient ruins of Caesarea, our eyes feasted on unbelievable sites and our ears and brains were treated to a cross-current of views and ideas from morning to night. And most of all, our hearts were filled with hope because of the young people we met ranging in ages from five to eighteen and the way they played together as well as their interactions with the PPI staff members throughout our stay.

I might also add that we had the opportunity to visit with Laura’s uncle who is a Judaic scholar, Broadway level musical comedy actor, and peace blogger, and has lived in Jerusalem for the past forty years, and we had breakfast with Laura and Kate’s rabbi who was studying in Jerusalem. Both tried to help us maintain some perspective on the divergent and, at times extreme, views that we encountered during our visit. In an email to Laura addressing some of the harsh realities of Israel, her rabbi exhorted her to recognize that, despite troubling places and things about our own country, such realities do not make us renounce the totality of American society or the veracity of American democracy. He wrote then about Israel: “…I encourage you to be inspired by amazing people who continue to struggle to right the ills of Israel. There is so much here that is beautiful, honorable, profoundly ethical, and wholly inspirational.”

What impacted upon you most?

To use the rabbi’s words, those who were especially “beautiful, honorable, profoundly ethical, and wholly inspirational” were the children and staff of PeacePlayers International. The “twinnings” we saw at the various PPI sites in Israel were simply amazing. The Jewish and Arab children interacted – from practice to games – as if they were lifelong friends and with no gaps in religion, ideology, or politics separating them. They were even tolerant enough to accept people like me participating in their practices despite my total basketball inadequacy and frequent air ball shots. The sheer joy of the littlest PeacePlayers children (ages 6-8) dribbling their own personal basketballs (given to them by PPI) and going up and down the court in their games touched hearts and inspired all of us who came to see them. At the other end of the age spectrum, we spent substantial time with PPI Leadership Development Program (LDP) boys and girls (ages 15-18) who played hard, hugged lovingly, and shared of themselves and their lives openly. To say that those of us on the trip wanted to not only embrace them, but also to take them home with us, would be an understatement. What powerful lessons they taught us not only on the court, but also in their every interaction with each other, with the PeacePlayers staff, and their new American friends. Just as dinner at Samer’s house touched our hearts and opened our trip with feelings of warmth and hope, our closing dinner on the beach at Dag Al Hayam with our fellow PPI travelers, the PPI leadership team, and the wonderful girls of the LDP, reaffirmed for us the mission of PeacePlayers International: to close divides in areas of conflict by building bridges between children from all sides – in this case Jews and Arabs – through the game of basketball.

PPI players and visitors at practice

From time to time, I was consulted on the trip for perspective as a “negotiation expert”. The real experts on bringing people together, however, are in the field every day on behalf of PeacePlayers International. Just as I will never forget the children dribbling their basketballs, sharing their experiences, hugging each other and us, and igniting our hopes, I will not forget the greatest bridge builders of all, the PPI team, including: Karen, Samer, Nissreen, Githa, Sharon, Galit, Edniesha, and “younger, taller” Samer.

Any other thoughts?

Let me share some from our family group:

Laura: “Kate and I are still struggling with explaining to our family the true impact of this incredible trip. It is difficult for Kate to discuss it without getting emotional. The opportunities that we had to not only witness, but to join in and befriend these incredible PeacePlayers children were truly the gift of a lifetime…..”

Michael: “The wonderful smiles of the girls, you, and everyone on the journey have been with me constantly since we left our new family last night. Amazing how small the world is, how much we all have in common, and the goodness of most everyone we come in contact with. I’m sure we will be downloading impressions, lessons learned and relationships developed for quite some time…”

John (Herb): “We learned a lot about the conflict from both the Jewish and Arab perspectives and I left more convinced than when I arrived of the importance of the PeacePlayers International programs. Actions from both sides are making the situation increasingly intractable, increasing the importance of establishing some common ground between the two sides. To the extent the children in our programs can establish this common ground, perhaps a sustainable solution to the conflict will one day be achievable. I would have far less confidence in the probability of such a solution if PPI was not actively bridging divides on the ground…”

Thanks to Ron and all the visitors, and to PPI-ME for being such amazing hosts!

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by | March 10, 2011 · 2:39 pm

The Jerusalem All Stars Spotlight: Meet Juman, Malak and Gal

This week’s post comes from Rifka Miyara, PPI – ME’s Development Associate. She spotlights three players on PPI – ME’s Jerusalem All Stars teams, which we’ve been following here throughout the year.

Juman (12) and Malak (11) are sisters from Palestinian East Jerusalem who have been a part of PeacePlayers for the past three years. The girls hail from Shuafat, a neighborhood bordering on the Shuafat refugee camp, which suffers from a lack of municipal planning, overcrowding, and pot-holed roads. Headlines from the past year shed light on the tension that plagues the neighborhood:

May 12, 2010 (Ynet News): “A group of 60 Jews marching in Jerusalem on Wednesday afternoon were pelted with stones after taking a wrong turn and entering the Arab neighborhood of Shuafat…The neighborhood’s residents began hurling stones at the unwelcome visitors. One of the Jews, in his 20s, pulled out a gun and fired in the air. Police forces dispatched to the area removed the group to the French Hill area.”

Despite the dismal reality of daily life, Juman and Malak keep a sunny disposition and find refuge in sports, in spite of the fact that it is a pursuit not “traditionally” acceptable for young women in their community. They are petite, agile girls with more of a passion for basketball than politics. Both sisters, who are outstanding athletes, play on the same team, which, according to Juman is “sometimes ok.” Although she is tiny, Juman is fast; the coach has even asked her to play on the older Jerusalem All-Stars team, which is made up of 13 – 15 year-olds, because she’s just that good.

Malak working on her dribble with Limor Mizrahi.

Juman and Malak have also brought their family into the fold, and their father is in the stands at almost every game, cheering them on to victory. Juman believes that being part of PeacePlayers is important: “It’s good for the future because it shows another side of other religions. And it’s basketball!”

Gal (16) comes from an Orthodox Jewish family in the Jerusalem suburb of Beit Shemesh, a town with staggering population growth and one of the highest immigrant populations in Israel, including immigrants from the Former Soviet Union and Ethiopia in addition to ultra-Orthodox immigrants from the United States. The city’s popularly elected local leadership belongs to a side of the political spectrum known to be less than sympathetic to Israel’s Arab population.

Gal’s family shows a side of Israeli society that often escapes the headlines, struggling under the weight of the country’s fiercely competitive brand of capitalism. They have also been less than pleased by her participation in the integrated league, and her father, a stern ultra-Orthodox man with a long black beard, forbid Gal from playing basketball with Arabs. Gal decided, however, that the opportunity presented by the Jerusalem All-Stars was worth defying her parents’ wishes.

Gal getting ready for practice.

Although she is now a proud PeacePlayer, it wasn’t always that way. When Gal first joined PeacePlayers, it was because the program offered basketball activities that her parents could afford, not because she was particularly interested in meeting Arab kids. In fact, she was terrified to be in close physical contact with Arab girls at her first integrated PeacePlayers event in 2006. Now, Gal is a proud member of the Jerusalem All-Stars, high-fiving her fellow players after every basket, regardless of their national or religious affiliations. She even takes a 40-minute train ride by herself 3 to 4 times a week to practice and play with her Arab teammates.

Part Two: Efrat and Seewie

This project is partially made possible by the generous support of the American people through USAID.

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