Heard Around WexWorld

(Pictured) In Ashkelon, a wall with ”Path to Peace” written on it in Hebrew —  a message of peace, which  protects a community of Jews (some of whom save Palestinian lives for a living) from sniper fire out of Gaza.

On the recent Israel Institute I learned that the issues impacting Israel are very rarely black and white. There is a whole lot of gray. In that gray however, hope can be found. Hatikvah. In that hope lies a miracle. The miracle is that the majority of Israelis and the majority of Palestinians want peace despite the history of (depending on your perspective) oppression/violence.

(Pictured) We met with a Druze Israeli soldier who guards a
checkpoint near Jerusalem, helping Palestinians enter Israel while also
keeping Israel safe.




That’s a miracle and that’s what makes peace a realistic possibility for Israel. Or, to put it in the words of one of the inspiring people we met at the institute:

“If you don’t believe in miracles, in Israel, you’re not being realistic.”
      — Dr. Ron Lobel, Wexner Israel Fellowship Alum, Class 6, our guide, and Deputy Director, Barzilai Hospital

 Jared Brown is a member of the Seattle 12 Wexner Heritage Program class. In Seattle, Jared works for Microsoft, designing features for Windows Phone. Outside of work, Jared is on the Washington State AIPAC Board and the executive committee for the Washington State AIPAC Leadership Development Program. Jared can be reached at jbrown@jared-brown.net.