A Local Palestinian-Israeli Initiative for Understanding, Nonviolence, and Transformation

Sunday, February 7, 2021
12:00-2:00pm

Noor A’wad’s family moved from Amman, Jordan to Beit Sahour following the signing of the Oslo Accords. There, he began thinking about his identity as a Palestinian refugee. While studying to become a tour guide, Noor travelled to Israel and for the first time saw Israelis beyond the frame of “occupying soldiers.” In 2012, Noor was licensed by the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism.

After meeting Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger and Ali Abu Awwad in 2016, Noor joined Roots, where he currently organizes joint Palestinian-Israeli activities and speaks to visiting groups about his personal experiences living through the conflict as a Palestinian who has seen much tragedy, and in such conditions is motivated to work toward a political solution. Noor resides in Bethlehem today, where he guides English-speakers on geopolitical tours of the region.

Hanan Schlesinger is an Orthodox rabbi and teacher, and a passionate Zionist settler who has been profoundly transformed by his encounters with Palestinians and the Palestinian People beginning in late 2013.

Originally hailing from New York, Rav Hanan immigrated to Israel on his own at the age of 20 and has lived in Alon Shvut, Gush Etzion, for almost 35 years. Beginning in 2005, Rav Hanan began traveling to Dallas, Texas to serve the Jewish community, and it was there that he became involved in interfaith work with Christians and Muslims. The mind-expanding experience of these trialogues inspired him to attempt to meet Muslims and Christians back in the Holy Land. The meetings that began then – largely inspired by Rav Hanan’s interfaith experience in Dallas – have become far more meaningful than he could ever have imagined.

In early 2014, Ali Abu Awwad and an Israeli partner Shaul Judelman, together with Rav Hanan and other Israelis and Palestinians, founded Roots/Judur/Shorashim.

Rav Hanan currently serves as its Director of International Relations.