On the night of September 10th, just a few short hours before the devastating attacks on New York City and Washington D.C., hundreds of Arab Americans joined together with hundreds of Jewish Americans in Dearborn, Michigan to celebrate tolerance, coexistence, and peace.
At this first annual gala dinner of the Detroit Friends group of Seeds of Peace, Muslims and Jews put ethnic and religious differences aside to raise funds for the many programs of Seeds of Peace.
The host for the event was Seeds of Peace President and Founder John Wallach. The keynote speakers of the evening were Ambassador Martin Indyk, U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Secretary Spencer Abraham, U.S. Secretary of the Energy, and Congressman Joe Knollenberg of Michigan. These three statesmen praised the programs of Seeds of Peace and paid tribute to the courage of the children who are on the front lines in the battle for peace. Seeds graduate Fadi Elsalameen, a Palestinian, Mariam Bazeed, an Egyptian and Keren Greenblatt, an Israeli, spoke passionately of their experience in Seeds of Peace. Says Fadi: Seeds of Peace is the only place in the world at this moment where Palestinians and Israelis are listening to one another and treating each other like human beings.
One of the protectors of the fragile Mideast peace process was the late Honorable David Hermelin, U.S. Ambassador to Norway. Seeds of Peace paid tribute to the heir of the Oslo Peace Accord by creating the Ambassador David Hermelin Peacemaker Award for the Detroit Gala. The award was presented by David’s son, Brian, to the guest of honor, Lebanese American Jacques Nasser, President and CEO of the Ford Motor Company. Mr. Nasser, who spoke proudly of his Lebanese and Australian backgrounds, proclaimed the joy and responsibility he feels as an American. An American of any religious or ethnic background, Nasser asserted, not only has the great opportunity to realize their dreams, but also a responsibility to help others in the world realize their dreams.
The event raised significant funds for Seeds of Peace and is the first of many events that will be organized and sponsored by the Detroit Friends of Seeds of Peace.