The moment of change occurred last September 24, 2009 with the event, "Let's Bridge the Divide with Kobi (Israeli Peace Activist) and Aziz (Palestinian Peace Activist)".
As a co-founder of theUniversity of Miami student group, Jews and Muslims (JAM), and current Co-Chair, the opportunity to take the first big leap of my organization had arrived. Though JAM was founded one year and a half earlier, my peers and I slowly, yet devotedly built a framework for a public launch of such an "usual" student group. With around five events per semester and an ever growing following, it was time to test the response and sustainability of JAM within the university community. As well, it would be the first time discussing the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.
With one month until the proposed event, I scrambled to different university departments to fundraise for the event. Despite lacking the funding to fly both men to the university originally, I told everybody, "We're bringing them some how". After the installation of a persistent strategy (and persistent stress) which was nicknamed, "I'm tired of pulling teeth", the funds were raised and the event was on! In the end, Kobi and Aziz spoke in front of a modest 50 person audience about their upbringings, the dilemmas they faced with the roles they played in the conflict, and then their eventual choice to pursue non-violent means of struggle and peace building.
Not only was this event a huge success amongst the Jewish and Muslim student communities at UM, but it gave me the confidence to examine even greater opportunities through JAM. Those who told me that I couldn't make change were just plain wrong.
As one event leads to another, we held 12 events that fall semester 2009, donated money to the Israeli/Israeli-Arab Kindergarten, Ein Bustan, were accepted to the Clinton Global Initiative University, and co-sponsored many times with university affiliations and outside institutions. I even made a YouTube video, which I am most proud of the audio: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7aHmloG-2w .
Known for out excellent programming and relentless efforts towards bridging the divide, JAM pursued even greater heights in the spring semester of 2010. From Abraham's Tent: A Forum on Discrimination to the extremely successful Sounds of Faith- University of Miami, we have been flooded with positive responses. In fact, I believe that this semester we will be holding over 12 events.
I feel at this point, there is no turning back. In past entries, I questioned the validity of my position as an activist. Many viewed me as naive or over-achieving. Perfection is not what I ask; understanding is what I preach. In addition, if becoming that activist, would there be a balance between that life and my life as a musician. Could I do both? Could I find a way to combine the two? After Sounds of Faith-UM, in which I performed Kol Nidrei with all my heart, I know that there is room for both in my life. Even more importantly, I know that there is room in my life to do both well.
