Madison-Rafah Journal

A program on Israeli village Neve Shalom|Wahat al-Salam

7:00 P.M.
1100 Morgridge Auditorium
Grainger Hall, UW-Madison

Situated midway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam is a village established jointly by Jews and Palestinians, all of Israeli citizenship, who are committed to work for peace, equality, and understanding. Aside from the bilingual bicultural primary school of 300 students, the village is home to a School for Peace that conducts dialogues to educate participants from outside the village. Over 50 families reside in the village and 300 more are on a waiting list to join them.

The talk will feature Oasis of Peace residents Adi Frish, 21, and Laila Najjar, 20, who grew up together as neighbors and as classmates in the community¼s integrated primary school. Their parents helped found the community in 1978 as a place for Jews and Palestinians to live, work and raise their children together.

Adi and Laila were among the first children born in the village. Their parents helped found the community in 1978 as a place for Jews and Palestinians to live, work and raise their children together. Laila and Adi still live in Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam and remain close friends. They provide a unique perspective on events in the Middle East.

Adi is a manager for a national health club chain. She studied at the Rubin Music and Dance Academy in Jerusalem. Laila studies jewelry design at Jerusalem's Academy for Art and Design. She studied sociology and social sciences at Greek Orthodox High School in Ramla and has worked as a counselor at the NSWAS Summer Camp.

The event is sponsored by:
The Contemporary Issues Committee
The Middle East Studies Program at UW-Madison
The Associated Students of Madison
The Muslim Jewish Project
Kavanah: A Progressive Jewish Voice
The Crossing: A Christian Campus Ministry