Search Results for “SAFe-SASM Test Prep 🩧 Exam SAFe-SASM Braindumps 🏧 SAFe-SASM New Dumps 😝 The page for free download of ⏩ SAFe-SASM âȘ on 《 www.pdfvce.com 》 will open immediately đŸ§ČReliable SAFe-SASM Test Topics”

Seeds of Peace helps educators gain leadership skills for times of crisis

Dec 13, 2014 / No Comments

USAID

JERUSALEM | Seeds of Peace staff and Educators hosted two USAID-funded capacity building workshops on educational leadership in times of crisis for Palestinian and Israeli educators in December.

The workshop for 39 Palestinian educators took place in Jericho on December 5 and 6; the 26 Israeli educators met in Kibbutz Nachsholim on December 12 and 13.

Both endeavored to deepen trust, commitment, and support between Seeds of Peace educators and allies, and provided participants with the opportunity for safe, productive discussions about how to be successful educational leaders working towards a more humane and just future.

A diverse array of educators of different socioeconomic backgrounds, professions, ages, institutions, and geographic regions—from Gaza and Eilat to Hebron, Jenin, and Jerusalem—took part in the two-day workshops. Many had participated in previous Seeds of Peace Educator Program activities, and the workshops provided an opportunity to reconnect and strengthen their relationships. Others were new to Seeds of Peace, and the workshops served to expand the circle of Seeds of Peace Educators.

Palestinian participants included public school teachers, academics, UNRWA teachers, negotiators, peace activists, and community center leaders. The Israeli workshop also included a variety of educators, ranging from high-ranking officials in the Israeli Ministry of Education, to school principals, academics, and peace activists.

The Palestinian participants discussed strategy for effectively dealing with crises in a teaching environment, and shared the challenges of their lives and work, enthusiastically learning about one another and inspiring each other. They also had the opportunity to present their own workshops, from active listening exercises to conducting interviews for a film. The 15 educators from Gaza, some of whom had never left Gaza before, visited Jerusalem and Ramallah.

Israeli participants engaged in an energetic discussion about pluralism in Israel and the challenges that accompany it. They also took part in a Non-Violent Communication (NVC) workshop that touched on the various national, religious and political identities in Israel. In the evening, one of the NVC trainers led the group in a set of drama exercises to encourage expression and communication.

Seeds of Peace Educator Programs seek to inspire and equip educators in conflict regions with the relationships, understanding, and skills needed to transform schools and communities and contribute to a culture of peace.

53 Israeli, Palestinian Seeds
examine impact of ongoing violence

Nov 24, 2014 / No Comments

USAID

JERUSALEM | In the wake of the horrific bloodshed in and around Gaza and recent clashes in Jerusalem and the West Bank, 53 Israeli and Palestinian Seeds spent three days in late November examining their individual emotional reactions to the violence.

The “I for an Eye” seminar provided participants with an avenue to better understand conflict and the forces that perpetuate violence, hate, and injustice—from occupation and religion to media and politics.

“We created a safe space to address and process the emotional impact this summer had on all of us, and to better comprehend our own strengths, weaknesses and mechanisms we develop to cope with the aftermath, both individually and collectively,” said one organizer.

In a powerful moment, the participants came together to support a fellow Seed whose friend had been shot and killed near his refugee camp, and then held a moment of silence for all of the innocent Palestinian and Israeli lives lost this year.

“This seminar was one which helped validate my Seeds experience,” said the Seed. “I learned about new things, but more importantly, I felt the support of my Seeds family which helped me to overcome one of the worst times I have ever had.”

“In this, I realized the importance of listening, understanding and respecting others before we talk and judge them.”

The seminar took place from November 20-22 near Jerusalem at the only intentional Arab-Jewish community in Israel.

In addition to workshops on media, the construction of narrative, and self-expression, the Seeds engaged in facilitated dialogue sessions—their first since the summer.

Middle East Seeds join together in a seminar to discuss recent events

Nov 22, 2014 / No Comments

JERUSALEM | In the wake of the horrific bloodshed in and around Gaza and recent clashes in Jerusalem and the West Bank, 53 Israeli and Palestinian Seeds spent three days in late November examining their personal emotional reactions to the violence. The “I for an Eye” seminar provided participants with an avenue to better understand conflict and the larger forces that perpetuate violence, hate, and injustice—from occupation and religion, to media and politics.

It took place near Jerusalem at the only intentional Arab-Jewish community in Israel, known as Wahat al-Salam or Neve Shalom, which means “Oasis of Peace” in English.

The Seeds took part in a number of workshops and activities on the construction of narrative and self-expression. While engaging in their first dialogue sessions since the summer, they addressed questions such as, “As a Seed living and breathing the situation, what am I witnessing and how am I processing my core questions and beliefs? How are others perceiving and reflecting on my emotions, reactions, and story as it plays out around me? Are there larger structures and mechanisms at work that create an incessant cycle of distrust/hate/violence/conflict/war?”

“We created a safe space to address and process the emotional impact this summer had on all of us, and to better comprehend our own strengths, weaknesses and mechanisms we develop to cope with the aftermath, both individually and collectively,” said one organizer.

During a powerful moment, the participants came together to support a fellow Seed whose friend had been shot and killed near his refugee camp, and then held a moment of silence for all of the innocent Palestinian and Israeli lives lost this year. “This seminar was one which helped validate my Seeds experience,” said the Seed.

Furthermore, after the Seminar ended, this group continued to support one another through a structured, online dialogue group. This initiative that was created and implemented solely by the Seeds themselves.

One participant remarked, “I learned about new things, but more importantly, I felt the support of my Seeds family which helped me to overcome one of the worst times I have ever had.”

Israeli, Arab youths weep at peace camp
Kennebec Journal

Jul 31, 1997 / No Comments

BY LISA SINGHANIA | OTISFIELD The news of a deadly terrorist bombing in Israel left 14-year-old Keren Klein in tears. The Jerusalem resident had come to Maine to attend a camp geared at improving relationships between Arabs and Israelis, but the Wednesday bombing jeopardized that.

“My first thought was my family,” Klein said Wednesday afternoon, her voice still shaking. After a call home confirmed they were safe, she turned to her fellow Seeds of Peace campers for support, including those who might have been adversaries in her homeland.

“We were with Arab kids and they were very comforting,” she said after a prayer service to honor the 15 people killed Wednesday in the explosion at a Jerusalem marketplace. “It meant a lot to me.”

The bombing came on the eve of the talks designed to jump-start peace negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis. The bombing postponed the talks, but the 160 teenagers at this lakeside camp were adamant they should continue.

“We’re here to make peace,” said Numan Zourob, a 15-year-old Palestinian.

John Wallach, a former journalist, founded the Seeds of Peace International Camp, after deciding the best way to stop terrorism was to prevent hatred from taking root in the first place.

Five years later, the camp is internationally recognized for the innovative way it brings together Israelis and Arabs. The teenagers canoe and play tennis and soccer, while learning how to resolve their differences. On Wednesday, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright faxed the group a note, urging them not to lose hope.

“Today’s a tough day for them,” Wallach said. “But this has to continue. This is the only hope left for peace.”

At the prayer service, representatives of Palestinian, Egyptian and other Arab campers stood up to denounce the bombing and to console Israeli campers, many of whom wept.

“We want you to know that we will never live in peace until both sides stop the killing,” a Palestinian girl said. “We’d like to shake hands and work together so we have more peace for coming generations.”

“We explain to them we are not to blame,” said Amer Kamal, a 15-year-old Palestinian who lives in East Jerusalem. “These are terrorists. Islam does not teach us to kill women, the elderly and the children.”

The words gave Shirly Errany, 14, of Ahdod, Israel, the ability to look beyond the bombing.

“If we were home, we’d just be mad,” she said. “Here we saw the other side … their sympathy made us strong.”

Eight Camp lessons for real life

Aug 14, 2018 / 3 Comments

With every session that passes, the hope is that campers’ experiences will inspire them and give them the tools they need to have more successful relationships, studies, and careers back home—which, in turn, will allow them bring about the positive change this world needs.

So what do all those hours in dialogue and Group Challenge amount to in real life? As another summer draws to a close, we caught up with several staff members who were once campers themselves to share a few of the skills and lessons that served them far beyond the gates of Camp.

1. Be a reflection.

“As staff we’re taught to be reflective for the kids—to listen actively, to ask questions and not react, to be less reactionary and more intentional,” says Mostafa (Moose) (2006 Egyptian Delegation).

“It’s been so helpful in the workplace—you learn how your boss would want to see a task happen and how specifically they want it to happen.”

Moose is the Co-Program Coordinator at Camp.

2. Create safe environments for others.

“Watch for signs that someone is doing something they’re not comfortable with,” says Ranya (2013 Syracuse Delegation). “You’ll see the transformation in a person just by telling them, especially when they’re struggling, ‘I see you and you’re doing great.’ You create a bond with people because they see that you’re looking out for them and paying attention. Being encouraging makes them more present, more willing to learn.”

Ranya is a 2018 Camp Counselor and a rising senior at American University.

3. Always bring your full self.

“Don’t hide any parts of your identity,” says Almog (2009 Israeli Delegation). “That’s how people who are working with you or supervising you know who you really are, and it’s much easier to communicate or to achieve any goal.”

During last summer as a counselor, he said he had been hesitant to share details of his life with his campers.

“This summer, I decided to be my full self,” he says. “Eventually I got to the conclusion that if I’m honest about who I am with them, they will be more honest with me, and we can achieve much more when we’re being honest.”

Almog is a 2018 Camp counselor and will begin studying international relations and political science at Hebrew University this fall.

4. Be open to the possibility of multiple truths.

The saying goes that there’s two sides to every story, but in reality, there can be dozens. This tenet is something that Ella (2003 American Delegation), experienced at Camp and now teaches to the students she works with as a high school counselor in Boston.

“I use it a lot when doing mediation. It’s important to understand that something might have been intended one way, but perceived another, and you have to lift up that both can be real. It’s not about having to agree but instead recognizing that both things can be true at the same time.”

Ella is part of the Camp leadership team and runs Group Challenge.

5. Look for the clues to hear what others are really saying.

Griffin (2013 Maine Delegation), says he learned that gathering information beyond a person’s words helps him to know which questions to ask, and which to avoid.

“Look for the subtle clues—90 percent of communication is not through spoken word and it’s difficult to know what people want, especially if they don’t know you well. Listen to the tone of their voice, the way they’re moving their body—are they facing toward me, making eye contact? If they’re not doing those things that person doesn’t want to be fully engaged in a conversation now, and you never want to be the person giving support that’s not needed.”

Griffin is a Camp counselor and currently studying psychology and public health at George Washington University.

6. Whatever your passion, go all in.

“When I first came here, I was a kid that didn’t care about much,” says Basil (2010 Jordanian Delegation). But then he met a fellow camper who blew him away—a kid who took extra math classes not because he struggled in the subject, but because he enjoyed it.

“It taught me to chase something I’m passionate about, and when I got home, I learned to apply myself 100 percent, to manage my time, to study, and to give something my full focus and dedication. It’s hard, but it pays off.”

Basil is a Camp counselor and medical doctor in Jordan.

7. Don’t be afraid of conflict.

“Not all conflict and confrontation is bad,” says Zeenia (2009 Indian Delegation). “I’m constantly in conflict with my parents, but for me, acknowledging that we have our differences and working through them helps keep our relationship healthy.”

She says she learned at Camp that when she’s about to butt heads, it’s important to slow down and not respond until she’s in a place where she can clearly express her thoughts—and, most importantly, is ready to listen.

“Sometimes the process of dealing with conflict and finding ways to resolve it is more productive than avoiding it, and actually helps to strengthen relationships rather than break them.”

Zeenia, a dialogue facilitator at Camp, is freelance facilitator and teaches leadership and entrepreneurial skills to children in Mumbai.

8. Ask yourself difficult questions. The answers might change your future.

As uncomfortable as it is to turn the mirror on yourself, the process—a key part of Camp’s dialogue sessions—can be one of the most transformational.

“My experience in dialogue at Camp was the first time I started thinking about how I connect with people, why I connect with them, and why it matters how it happens,” says Sarah (2006 American Delegation).

“I noticed I would change the things I said, or the way I said them, depending on who I was talking with.”

She says dialogue at Camp forever altered the way she engages with people. “This experience made me feel more grounded but also raised questions to help me continue exploring my journey in college. It helped me find my passion.”

Sarah is the Director of the Seeds of Peace Camp.

#DialogueIRL: 5 tips for when a conversation goes south

Apr 2, 2019 / No Comments

This is the first in a new series that takes Dialogue lessons beyond Camp and applies them to the conversations that happen around school, work, or the dinner table. It’s Dialogue In Real Life.

Perhaps it was the offhand remark about a political rivalry, a joke about the past that reopened a wound, or a casual comment on oversalting a homemade dinner. Sometimes it’s difficult to pinpoint the exact moment when things go sour, but we’ve all been there—when a mild conversation suddenly reaches the boiling point before we even knew the temperature was rising.

Though often uncomfortable, when we face conflict head on and work through differences we can strengthen our relationships. It is a tenet that make the Seeds of Peace Camp dialogue sessions so effective for bringing together people from across lines of conflict, and with a little practice, it can also work for disagreements in our personal and professional lives, too.

As Seeds of Peace facilitators Greg Barker and Eliza O’Neil are well versed in the art of navigating conflict. Here are a few tools they use in and outside of dialogue sessions to get careening conversations back on productive paths.

1. Restate and check for understanding. When a conversation gets heated, it can feel like things are speeding up, and we inevitably say things that we don’t mean, or that aren’t as nuanced or empathetic as they could have been. By restating what the other person said and checking for understanding, you can 1) slow down the conversation and give everyone a chance to take a breath, 2) let the other person know that you are really listening to what they are saying, 3) give them a chance to correct a misunderstanding, realize how hurtful their words sounded, or confirm the statement.

Examples: “What I heard is this. I just want to make sure that’s what you meant.” Or when a situation is extra sensitive, “Can I repeat to you what you just said so I can make sure I heard you correctly?”

2. Ask the obvious questions. We often hold assumptions about people we know, especially family and those we’ve had relationships with for many years. You may think that you know why a person feels a certain way about something, but giving them the chance to say it themselves might reveal information that one, or both, of you didn’t realize before.

Try one of these: “Can you tell me more about why this issue matters to you?” “Why do you think you’ve come to believe that?” “What’s at the core of the issue for you?” “How do you know that’s true?” “How did we get here? I thought things were going O.K.”

3. Look for common ground, and push from there. Once you’ve asked the obvious questions to better understand what the other person is truly concerned about, look for the good in what they’re saying; you’re likely to find something on which you both can agree, and once you have that common ground, it’s easier to move forward with a meaningful conversation. For example, if asking Aunt Alice why she is so passionate about gun rights reveals that she is concerned about safety, you can probably both agree that safety is important. From there, you can ground your disagreement in that shared belief, which makes the disagreement more manageable. It is likely easier to have a conversation with Aunt Alice about why guns make her feel safe and why they make you feel unsafe (or vice versa) than whether guns should exist or not.

4. Speak from your experiences. Facts and figures rarely carry as much weight as personal stories. Telling someone why something matters to you or sharing an experience that informed your outlook takes the conversation from a hardened position of facts and figures, to a more vulnerable place where they can empathize with you. If you’re looking to persuade someone of a perspective that relies entirely on facts, it can be dismissed with two words: “fake news.” It’s a lot harder, however, to argue with or to dismiss a personal experience or feeling.

Example: “This is important to me because this thing happened to me/a friend I care about.”

5. Know when to step away—and when to not step in at all. We all have limits, or personal boundaries, that, once crossed, can leave us in a place where we can no longer continue with effective discourse. If it feels like you’re reaching a point where you’re losing your ability to hear the humanity in what the other person is saying, you’re wasting everyone’s time. It’s O.K. to step away when this happens, but if there’s still potential for a healthy discussion and you have a desire to press on, name the unwelcome behavior and give conditions to come back.

Example: “I want to have this conversation, but I can’t do it when I’m being yelled at. Can we take a break and come back in a few hours and see if we’re ready to try again?”

Also keep in mind that it takes mutual agency to make a conversation work. If you’re in a mindset where neither of you can have an effective conversation, save it for another day. And if you fear for your safety, remove yourself from that situation as quickly as possible.

Got a question for our facilitators? Send it to dialogueIRL@seedsofpeace.org.

Indian Seeds and peers develop dialogue facilitation skills

Oct 23, 2018 / No Comments

MUMBAI | Indian Seeds honed their dialogue facilitation skills during two weekend programs in September and October led by Zeenia, a 2009 Indian Seed and experienced dialogue facilitator.

The first training, held September 15 to 16 at The Bombay International School and The Studio. Zeenia took 13 Indian Seed through a series of workshops, role playing scenarios, case studies, and other activities.

“Through the facilitation workshop, Seeds are provided with basic tools of facilitation,” said Zeenia. “Seeds analyze these tools, reflect on their own dialogue experiences as well as get the opportunity to practice using these tools in real time. They leave feeling more capable, confident, and motivated to create more spaces for dialogue in their own schools and communities!”

“The tools given to us were useful in order to understand the group and the role as a facilitator better,” said one participant. “They helped me analyze myself, the process, and equipped me with ways to handle difficult conversations.”

Four Seeds who took part in this program joined seven of their non-Seed peers for a second training in October focused on more advanced dialogue facilitation.

This October 20 to 21 program, also led by Zeenia and hosted at the The Bombay International School, provided participants with a chance to facilitate a two-hour dialogue session for 25 students from five Seeds of Peace partner schools.

“We received a phenomenal response for the dialogue session,” said Sagar Gangurde, Seeds of Peace’s Director of Indian Programs. “Our facilitators did an amazing job. The principal, teachers, and parents were really happy and have requested to have such sessions on regular basis.”

“This itself proves the dire need for safe spaces, and also how transforming a two-hour dialogue session can be,” he added.

Israeli Seeds watch and discuss “Omar”

Jun 6, 2014 / No Comments

USAID

HAIFA | As part of an ongoing series of USAID-supported Community Dialogue events organized by Seeds of Peace across the region, Israeli Seeds gathered for a screening and conversation about the film Omar.

“I want Seeds to discuss the conflict from the Palestinian point of view, and to encourage critical thinking on the different perspectives of the conflict and reality,” said Israeli Programs Coordinator Maayan Poleg, herself a Seed.

The movie relates the story of a young Palestinian and his daily life, and the sacrifices that have to be made in order to survive living under military occupation. Omar, the title character, is taken to an Israeli jail, because he was involved in the killing of a soldier.

“From that point on,” said Maayan, “the movie only becomes more real and painful, but also more human and interesting. It’s a movie you can’t be indifferent to.”

The film, prohibited in movie theaters in Israel, and screened during a particularly tense time, left the Seeds with much to discuss and process.

“I want to believe what we saw is not true,” said Itamar, one of the Israeli Seed participants.

“You have to understand that things like this really happen,” said Yara, another participant. “I personally know someone that went through similar things as Omar did in the movie.”

Earlier in the year, Seeds watched One Day After Peace, a documentary that examines whether the lessons learned from ending South African apartheid can be applied to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Local Seeds of Peace programming provides opportunities for Seeds to learn about and explore difficult issues in a safe setting. On the screening of Omar, Maayan said simply, “This meeting was one of the most powerful meetings I’ve had with Seeds.”

Seeds of Peace camp prepares for summer
The Advertiser Democrat (Maine)

May 29, 1997 / No Comments

BY KIM MARSHALL | OTISFIELD The painted rock by the driveway still says Camp Powhatan, but on the grounds work is progressing rapidly to ready the site for a different organization—Seeds of Peace—which hopes to preserve the memory of the former camp as it creates a new home of its own.

Recently, Seeds of Peace signed a 10-year lease on the Otisfield property, which hosted the initiative’s first two conflict-resolution programs for Arab and Israeli teenagers in the summers of 1993 and 1994. This summer will mark the first time since its founding that Seeds of Peace operates its own, month-long camp in Maine, rather than booking two weeks of time at an existing camp, like Powhatan.

The potential of a new, permanent camp is exciting to Seeds of Peace administrators, but at the same time represents a great deal of added effort. Arrangements must be made for services such as laundry and food preparation, and the property, which had become run-down in recent years, must be at least partially restored before campers arrive on July 20.

“Our biggest problem right now is to get the sewage system in,” said Tim Wilson, Seeds of Peace’s camp director, during this reporter’s recent visit to the property.

Although the 170 campers expected this summer won’t arrive for nearly two months, a typical morning at the camp finds Wilson working at top speed, fielding phone calls, wading through paperwork and attempting to nail down countless details concerning the camp’s operation. For the next few months, Wilson, currently a Pittsburgh resident with strong Maine ties, will live and work at the camp property—overseeing such projects as the sewage system repairs and the replacement of all of the camp’s kitchen equipment with the assistance of Glenn Pastore of Otisfield, the camp’s head of maintenance.

The work is daunting, and funding limited. Seeds of Peace had originally estimated that $75,000 would be needed for cosmetic improvements to the property, but that figure could be tripled by the time the work is completed, said Wilson. The initiative relies on donations and volunteer support to produce its programs each year, he said, with the bulk of funds received used to transport participants from the Middle East to the U.S. “Everything we do is based on no money,” said Wilson.

Fortunately, members of the community have begun to reach out to Seeds of Peace to lend a helping hand. Wilson cited the town office staff in Otisfield, Gene Benner of Bessey Motors, Oxford County Sheriff Lloyd “Skip” Herrick, and the staff at Norway Laundry as just some of those in the Oxford Hills who have helped him to make necessary arrangements. A donation of paint has been received from Wal Mart—all that will be needed to brighten up the property—and a boat for the waterfront area was recently contributed, as well. “Every day something new comes in that you least expect,” said Wilson.

That generosity also stretches beyond the Oxford Hills. A group from Youth Build in Portland is scheduled to help out at the camp this week, and a Job Corps group from Bangor is drafting a plan of the camp’s needed projects, said Wilson. But there will still be “labor intensive” tasks to complete—raking and general property clean-up, for example—and Wilson hopes that others will offer to assist.

The show of support has been greatly appreciated by Seeds of Peace directors, who want not only for the camp to be a “good neighbor,” but for “the community to feel this is theirs,” said Wilson.

“It’s the opening of something locally that will be known worldwide. It’s another piece of history in Maine,” he said.

Many of the initiative’s administrators have roots in Maine, such as Wilson and his wife, Jacquie, who oversees the camp’s food production, and consider the camp’s location to be a vital part of its success. The area is a safe haven for the Arab and Israeli youths, said Wilson, where there is peace and quiet, non-judgmental attitudes and “integrity of the people.”

For some, Seeds of Peace’s move into the former Camp Powhatan might have a bittersweet edge. For more than seven decades, beginning in 1921, Powhatan operated under the auspices of the Bloom family, who sold the property to Robert and Jane Toll in 1994. The camp holds a fond place in the memories of many, and Wilson, who was actually a counselor at Camp Powhatan years ago and co-director in 1993 with Dr. Joel Bloom, is no exception. He has “mixed emotions” about the closing of Powhatan, he said.

“But it’s a great legacy that Powhatan had something to do with Seeds of Peace’s beginning,” said Wilson.

Sowing Seeds of Peace
Abroad View Magazine

Sep 1, 2000 / No Comments

BY MANDY TERC | One rainy rest hour at a summer camp in Maine, 15-year-old Noor from the Palestinian West Bank was learning to write her name.

She squinted her eyes in concentration and glanced back quickly at the example that 16-year-old Shirlee, a Jewish Israeli from a seaside town, had provided.

After a few more seconds of intense writing, Noor triumphantly handed the piece of paper to me, her bank counselor. Parading across the top of the paper in large, careful print were the Hebrew letters that spelled her Arabic name.

A spontaneous lesson on the Hebrew and Arabic alphabets probably does not dominate the rest hours at most summer camp banks. But the Seeds of Peace International Camp, where I spent last summer as a counselor, challenges the traditional definition of what teenagers can learn and accomplish at a summer camp.

Seed of Peace brings Middle Eastern Teenagers from Israel, the Palestinian National Authority, Jordan, Egypt and other countries to Maine to help them confront the conflict and violence that has defined their region for more than 50 years.

Every moment of camp is intentional; things like table and bunk assignments, sport teams and seating are never accidental. Part of encouraging the different sides to interact is each camper’s strategic placement in a bunk. Here, Israelis and Arabs not only meet the “other side” for the first time but also sleep side by side, share a sink and participate in group games. In the close quarters of tiny cabins and bunk beds, bunk counselors encourage the campers to ignore national and ethnic boundaries as the make friends with their immediate neighbors.

The three weeks spent in Maine combine ordinary camp activities with a daily two-hour coexistence session, during which trained facilitator’s structure intense explorations of political and personal issues. However, the remainder of the day retains the structure and atmosphere of a traditional Maine camp during dining hall cheers, daily bunk inspection, spirited basketball games.

Like life in the bunk, this is where the comforting ordinariness of camp life weaves together with the specific issues of the Middle Eastern conflict-an area, which bunk counselors must negotiate carefully, and thoughtfully. At a camp where teenagers are asked to analyze questions that have perplexed world leaders, even bedtime can become a political forum. In my bunk, I asked the girls to name one “rose” and burn one “thorn” every night before sleeping. Forcing my campers to summarize one positive and negative aspect of their day allowed them to recognize the widespread spectrum of emotions that each day brought.

Sometimes, the thorns and roses were quite ordinary and uncontroversial. The girls lamented bad dinners or lost sporting events and praised a helpful counselor or a particularly fun day of swimming. On one occasion, the girls’ choices for thorns and roses reflected the complexity and difficulties of their immersion into a bunk with their perceived enemies.

Adar, a gregarious Israeli teenager with strong nationalistic pride, began her turn as the other girls settled into their beds. She quickly offered that her thorn was her coexistence session when a Palestinian girl had accused Israel of unjustly occupying Jerusalem—a domain that truly belonged to the Palestinian people.

Instantly, eight bodies snapped from snug sleeping positions to tense, upright postures, their alert eyes attempting to discern facial expression in the bunk’s semi-darkness. Jerusalem is the most contentious issue between the Arab and Israeli campers, and each girl in the bunk was poised to take this opportunity to articulate and defend her opinion about the disputed city.

Adar continued by asking, to no one in particular, if all Palestinians refused to recognize Israelis as the legitimate residents of the city. Almost before Adar could finish articulating her question, Aman was ready to express her passionate views.

Aman is a strong, athletic Palestinian who does not waste her words, preferring to listen intently. When she does begin to speak, she is both intimidating and impressive as she defends her opinions. Her confidence and steadfastness seem precocious for her 15 years.

Calm and composed, she explained to Adar that any acceptable peace agreement would have to recognize not just the Arab inhabited East Jerusalem, but also all of Jerusalem, as the Capital of the Palestinian State. Aman insisted that the presence of Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem meant that the Palestinians were the rightful proprietors of the city.

With an equally rapid response, Adar reminded her that Jerusalem also contained Jewish holy sites. Aman seemed prepared for such a protest.

“We would be very nice to you (the Jewish people). We would always let you come visit your sites, just like all the other tourists,” she replied.

Adar had no intention of allowing her people to become theoretical tourists in this debate: “Well, we have the city now,” Adar said. “You can’t just make us leave, because it’s ours. We might decide to give some of it to the Palestinians, but it belongs to us now.”

As an American counselor in the midst of issues that neither directly impacted nor pertained to me, I spent such times in the bunk listening. As the conversation progressed, I only sporadically interjected my voice, reminding them not to hold each other, as individuals, responsible for the actions of their governments.

Aside from my attempts at mediation, I, like most of the other bunk counselors at camp, stayed silent during political debates. It is critical that the campers view us as neutral, universally supportive authority figures.

The conversation generated by Adar’s thorn eventually wound down. As the girls drifted to sleep, I let out my breath and leaned back on my own bed. As much as I want the girls in my bunk to express all their concerns and thoughts, any conversation about such a sensitive keeps me tense throughout its duration. The bunk must feel like a safe home but not a superficial one in which all the issues of the conflict are either ignored or downplayed.

As a bunk counselor, it is my job to provide my campers with the safety and security they need to continue the process of breaking down barriers.