JERUSALEM | In a month dedicated to reflection and growth, a series of Ramadan iftar dinners in the Middle East gave Seeds and supporters an opportunity to reconnect, make new friends, and reflect on the issues within their communities and what it means to be a Seed in these turbulent times.
Over 150 Seeds and their parents, Educators, Seeds of Peace staff, and friends celebrated the Muslim holy month of Ramadan by breaking their daily fast together at iftar dinners held across the region.
In a restaurant in Nablus, the iftar also served an educational purpose for the nearly 40 Seeds, Educators, and parents from the West Bank communities of Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nablus. Taking place just nine days after the new U.S. Embassy opened in Jerusalem, the event featured a discussion with a political analyst from a local university so attendees could further explore the significance of the Embassy’s move.
“Getting together over Ramadan is always a nice way to reach out to the community, to involve parents or dialogue leaders who we don’t see as often and keep them updated,” said Claire Dibsy Ayed, Seeds of Peace’s chief business and legal affairs officer.
“But we also wanted to give a chance to increase understanding and provide clarification of not just what the Embassy move means on a political level, but what it means deep down for us, as a country and as Palestinians.”
Current events were also among the topics several days later, at an iftar held on May 26 at the Shepherd Hotel in Bethlehem. Forty-six Seeds, Educators, and parents from Hebron, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem mingled, caught up on news, and relished the opportunity to gather in a place where many rarely travel.
“After the iftar, many parents sent us text messages thanking us for the giving them the chance to meet each other,” Claire said. “Although they live in the same area, many, especially our parents in Jerusalem, don’t travel often to the West Bank. The iftar gave them a chance to meet, talk, and share their experiences and ideas.”
Another iftar followed on June 2, this time at the Al Waleed Resort in Tamra, a town in northern Israel. It was attended by 18 Seeds, all Palestinian citizens of Israel.
“We wanted to give them their own space and opportunity to talk about their own issues and about whether our focus should go on solving the conflict or solving community problems, like crime, unemployment, and other issues that relate directly to their minority in Israel,” said Bashar Iraqi, a Seeds of Peace Middle East Program Director. “We had a great dialogue.”
And on June 14, 29 Seeds, Educators, and friends met on the Gaza beach to break their fast, share their experiences from Camp, and reflect on what it means to be a part of Seeds of Peace.
“In this critical time,” one attendee said, “I’m doing my best to use the strategies and some of the exercises I learned during at Camp with my family, and with myself.”