September 2023
Scroll down to access the following content...
Where We Stand
The growing alienation of American, Israeli, and Palestinian youth from each other, their dysfunctional political cultures, and the prospect of a brighter future, is of paramount concern to Heart of a Nation...
Heart Forums
Engaging American, Israeli, and Palestinian Summer Fellows
Palestinian Thoughts on Engagement
Straight From the Heart
Signs I’d Like to Carry
by Robbie Gringras
Conspicuous Absence
by Mohammad Darawshe
Sparks of Inspiration
by Shir Nosatzki
Conflict Obscures Cooperation
by Rabbi Michael M. Cohen
10 Ways to Support Democracy
by Yaacov Katz & Jonathan Kessler
Unraveling Artifacts
Artwork reflecting creativity and determination in the face of disintegration and destruction
Sign(s) of the Times
Images of protest and dissent
New Committee Members
Susannah Wellford
Ariel Beery
Sarah Aweidah
Where We Stand
The growing alienation of American, Israeli, and Palestinian youth
from each other, from their dysfunctional political cultures, and the
prospect of a brighter future, is of paramount concern to Heart of a
Nation.
Our mission includes the engagement of a vanguard of young
change-makers from each of these societies to work inter-
generationally with veteran change-makers and contemporary
activists to bring about meaningful improvements in the political
culture of each society.
We’ve identified young people in all three societies who seek
mentoring and comprehensive training in how to best contribute to
their respective civil societies...
Heart Forums
Engaging American, Israeli, and Palestinian Summer Fellows
Palestinian Thoughts on Engagement
By Sarah Aweidah & Jonathan Kessler
Over the past several months, Heart of a Nation, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., that brings together American, Israeli and Palestinian changemakers who want to improve their own societies, has held a series of roundtable conversations with diverse thought leaders selected from a variety of constituencies on their respective red lines regarding conversation and dialogue. We wanted to know how these individuals determined with whom they would and wouldn’t engage.
These conversations took place among prominent American Jews, emerging leaders in high school and college, and public-facing Israeli Jews. Similar questions were posed in each discussion and valuable insights were shared.
We’ve followed up with another roundtable, this time with a group of Palestinians active in public life. In this discussion, which was moderated by a Palestinian educator and activist, the same questions and issues were raised as before. We observed silently, interested to see if the conversation might play out differently. We were not disappointed. The conversation was rich
with anecdotes and insights; confidence and conviction.
Straight From the Heart
Perspectives From Our Committee Members and Allies:
Signs I’d Like to Carry
By Robbie Gringras
I’m terrified about the policy and intentions of the current government. I fear we are looking at a wrenching alteration to the entire nature of the country I moved to some 27 years ago... I am incredibly proud and hopeful of this movement for defending the liberal democratic nature of Israel.
Conspicuous Absence
By Mohammad Darawshe
After five months of public protest the absence of the Arab citizens of Israel is conspicuous. Some are happy to see the judicial crisis worsen or believe that it is a logical outcome of a system that doesn’t see their community as full citizens.
For the Arab public to join the mass protests, it needs to feel like true partners in them. There has to be a real invitation that makes space for the Arab public with its symbols, slogans, and protest. Very few Arab citizens chose to attend or speak at these demonstrations – as they feel that they have no say in the matter anyway. At the same time, they have a lot to lose if Israel is stripped of democracy.
Sparks of Inspiration
By Shir Nosatzki
he organization Have You Seen the Horizon Lately? has taken it upon itself to be the connecting link between the pro-democracy protests and the Arab public in Israel. After a week that was one of the deadliest ever for Arab citizens of Israel, they decided to do everything in their power to make sure that the following week’s central demonstrations would be different. They succeeded beyond all expectations. At every rally across the country, there was at least one Arab speaker addressing the assembled crowd. This is how Haaretz described the scene in Tel Aviv:
“If the response of the audience and the subsequent traffic on social media were the judges, the speech by Tira Mayor Maamun Abd Alhai on the central stage of the protest against the judicial overhaul in Tel Aviv on Saturday was the most powerful one of the evening… Dozens of speakers have addressed the crowd at Kaplan Street over the past 34 weeks, but Tira’s mayor, whose city manager was shot and killed last week, swept up the protesters as no one had done before him… This, perhaps, is the long-awaited connection between the protest against the judicial overhaul and the 20 percent of Israel that is Arab.”
In addition, Have You Seen the Horizon Lately? joined an unpresented coalition of organizations from Arab society to bring to Tel Aviv 100 coffins that symbolize those who had been murdered. Volunteers associated with various organizations from the protest -- representing women, hi-tech, students, and more – carried the coffins to the stage. I also delivered a speech on the main stage stressing the vital importance of this Jewish-Arab partnership for democracy. My hope is that this was a strategic turning point in the pro-democracy movement, one that brings the Palestinian citizens of Israel into the massive movement that will define our society in the future.
Conflict Obscures Cooperation
By Rabbi Michael M. Cohen
In December 2020, Congress passed the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act (MEPPA). Created through strong bipartisan effort, this is one of the most significant and innovative pieces of congressional legislation addressing the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.
MEPPA authorizes up to $250 million over five years to promote economic cooperation and people-to-people programs; advance shared community building; and engender dialogue and reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians.
With such positive results, why don’t more Palestinians and Israelis know about these programs and initiatives?
10 Ways to Support Democracy
By Yaakov Katz & Jonathan Kessler
Americans are split about what is happening in Israel.
Like America, Israel is a work in progress and needs the help of its friends now more than ever. This is not the time for despair, distancing, or any form of “quiet quitting.”
Just as hundreds of thousands of Israelis are taking to the streets and are being moved to action, Americans have an opportunity to lean in, to partner up – from each according to means and inclination – and commit to a long-term, intergenerational relationship…
Unraveling Artifacts
“Unraveled”
By Aliza Tzuriel
I began working on the “Unraveled” collection against the background of the riots in the mixed cities of Israel in May 2021, which sharpened the feeling that we live in a time where local and global order as we know it is being undermined.
The political, socioeconomic, and ecological order is facing an escalating crisis. Constructs woven for thousands of years - the social fabric, the relationship between humanity and nature, and nature itself - are unraveling. Our sense of security is being replaced by uncertainty, mistrust and loneliness.
All the works in this collection are made from papier-mâché, which is processed and shaped using a special technique which I developed to imitate different materials and create unraveling artifacts, inspired in some cases by weaves, garments, baskets and ancient pottery.
The artifacts reflect human determination to create and preserve, while their
unraveling conveys the feeling that the world around us is disintegrating.
The colorfulness and aesthetic of the artwork reflects creativity, while the tears
reflect destruction.
Sign(s) of the Times
New Committee Members
Susannah Wellford
Susannah is a globally recognized expert on women in politics, and she speaks frequently about the importance of inspiring more young women to enter politics.
Ariel Beery
Ariel is currently volunteering as the coordinator of the Israeli tech sector’s Diplomacy Task Force. When not volunteering, Ariel advises government officials and foundation executives on how to best support mission-driven innovation.
Sarah Aweidah
Sarah Aweidah currently serves as coordinator of the Hiwar Intra-Regional Dialogue Forum with a strong background in education, conflict resolution, and regional partnerships.