|
My name is Daniel and I participated as a member of The Quest on Team
Middle East. I am Jewish, 25 years old and a native Angelino. I started
at UCLA in 1996 and remain active in the campus community since graduating in
2000. I currently sit on the Executive Committee of UCLA Hillel and am active
with other Jewish organizations in the greater Los Angeles area.
The son of an American mother and Israeli father, I hold dual U.S. and Israeli
citizenship, and grew-up traveling to Israel at least annually. Israel very
much remains a second home to me and its safety, security and ability to be
contribute positively to the human condition are crucial goals for me. My love
of Israel stems from my Jewish roots and the common values of democracy,
independence and freedom she shares with the United States.
I, like many others, yearn for a better tomorrow. I dream of a time when Israel
and her neighbors will live in a region filled with harmony, peace and
prosperity. I pray for a renaissance in the Middle East - I pray that freedom
and democracy will be the standard and not the exception.
My dreams are lofty and the road to achieving them is filled with danger and
pain. I know that no progress will ever be made if reasonable people of good
will do not sit down and engage one another in fruitful dialogue. The channels
of communication must be multiple and diverse, and an environment where
healthful discourse is the norm must be developed. Unless and until we are able
to cultivate meaningful relationships with other levelheaded individuals of
differing religious, cultural and political backgrounds, our dreams will never
be realized.
As a Jew, I have committed myself to following a tradition that provides a
blueprint for living a spiritually and ethically rewarding life. With that
tradition, comes responsibility - to my fellow Jews and to the global community
in which I live. I believe in tikkun olam, healing the world. We live in
scary times. We live in a polarized world plagued by hate and intolerance. We
have a moral and strategic duty to change our world for the better.
I joined on The Quest because it provided me the unique opportunity to
travel to the Middle East with a diverse group of people who differ from me in
so many ways, yet share my dream of a better world. It gave me the opportunity
to listen but also the chance to share. My experience was incredibly painful
but equally rewarding.
The Quest is an opportunity to illustrate that people of good will exist
and we must learn from their example. I implore you to take a stand in your own
communities. I encourage you to leave your baggage at home and search for other
people of good will. Search long and hard and identify those people whose
beliefs and personal backgrounds differ from yours. Find basic commonalities,
ideas, activities and experiences that in some way unite you. Use that as a
foundation to talk about more complex issues like religion and politics. You
will undoubtedly experience pain and frustration, and at times may fail. Your
task is daunting but its successful outcome is imperative.
The Quest has given me a deeper sensitivity to the complexities of the current
geopolitical situation. My love for Israel and my hope that it will be able to
thrive within peaceful borders and nurture positive relationships with its
neighbors is palpable. I now have new lenses with which to view and approach
the path to peace and reconciliation. I know my responsibilities and am
committed to working in my community to provide meaningful opportunities to
listen, share and learn. I hope that in some small way my experience will
inspire you to similar opportunities on your own quest for peace.
|