Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger and Shadi Abu Awwad see a future where there is peace between the Israeli and Palestinian people. As leaders of the non-profit organization, Roots, they are building a unique network of local Palestinians and Israelis who have come to see each other as the partners needed to make changes and end the ongoing conflict between the two cultures. Through their work, they are fostering a grassroots movement of understanding, nonviolence, and transformation founded on dignity, trust, mutual recognition, and respect.

Hannah Firestone has dreams of becoming a United States Supreme Court Judge. The Beachwood resident and Allegheny College senior started her path to fulfilling her career dreams last summer through Cleveland’s Onward Israel internship program.

General Mansour abu Rashid of Jordan spent his entire military career and post-military career promoting peace in the Middle East including his role in the 1994 signing of the Peace Treaty Accord between Israel and Jordan. His efforts have successfully led to a Jordan/Cross-Border Initiative between Jordanians and Israelis in Beit Shean, Cleveland’s sister city.

On Jan. 24, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s community relations committee held its 72nd annual meeting in conjunction with the Sidney Z. Vincent Memorial Lecture at the Mandel Jewish Community Center in Beachwood for 225 attendees, including many community leaders.

When Felton Thomas Jr., Cleveland Public Library executive director and CEO, visited the library in Beit Shean, Israel, he was initially thrown off by how its run but quickly became inspired to install a similar approach at Cleveland Public Library with help in part from a Jewish fellow.

On November 9, 1938, Nazis in Germany torched synagogues, vandalized Jewish homes, schools and businesses, and killed close to 100 Jews. That horrific night has been forever known as Kristallnacht – “the night of broken glass.”

Last night, a packed house of more than 250 people joined us at the 72nd Annual Meeting of the Community Relations Committee & Sidney Z. Vincent Memorial Lecture to discuss a critical issue: the relationship between the Israeli and Palestinian people.

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland will host two professionals from Roots-Shorashim-Judur, a network of Israelis and Palestinians working together to make changes in an effort to end the ongoing struggle between the two sides. Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger, Roots Co-Founder, and Shadi Abu Awwad, Roots Palestinian Youth Director, will discuss “Sharing Perspectives on the Israeli-Palestinian Relationship” at the 72nd Annual Meeting of the Community Relations Committee (CRC) and Sidney Z. Vincent Memorial Lecture.

To learn more about our Israel and overseas programs and services, contact Ilanit Gerblich Kalir at ikalir@jcfcleve.org or 216-593-2815.

Author and speaker, Yossi Klein Halevi’s latest book, Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor is a unique approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and a way forward for the entire people in the Middle East.