This event is a part of Temple Sholom’s Israel-Speaker Series for 5785. Roots is a unique network of local Palestinians and Israelis who have come to see each other as the partners needed to make changes to end the conflict. Based on a mutual recognition of each People’s connection to the Land, they are developing understanding and solidarity despite ideological differences. Roots Director of International Relations Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger and Palestinian co-Director Khaled Abu Awwad will join the Chicago Jewish community for a discussion about coexistence in a time of war and how roots is meeting the moment for Israelis and Palestinians. This will be followed by discussion groups facilitated by clergy and staff.
Roots is a unique network of local Palestinians and Israelis who have come to see each other as the partners needed to make changes to end the conflict. Based on a mutual recognition of each People’s connection to the Land, they are developing understanding and solidarity despite ideological differences. Roots Director of International Relations Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger and Palestinian co-Director Khaled Abu Awwad will join the Chicago Jewish community for a discussion about coexistence in a time of war and how roots is meeting the moment for Israelis and Palestinians. This will be followed by discussion groups facilitated by clergy and staff.
Temple Sholom is thrilled to partner with the following Chicago clergy and congregations for this important evening:
- Rabbi Lizzi Heydemann from Mishkan Chicago
- Cantor Shelly Friendman from Emmanuel Congregation
- Rabbi Amanda Greene from Chicago Sinai Congregation
- Rabbi Daniel Kirzane from KAM Isaiah Israel
- Rabbi Aaron Finkelstein from Anshe Sholom Bnai Israel Congregation
- Rabbi David Minkus from Congregation Rodfei Tzedek
Khaled Abu Awwad is among the foremost figures in the Palestinian community working toward peace and reconciliation between Palestinians and Israelis. He has been a part of the founding of three groundbreaking organizations, has been awarded various international prizes for his projects including the UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Prize for the promotion of nonviolence and tolerance in 2011, and was named one of the 500 most influential Muslims in 2010 by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center. Khaled’s family has been greatly affected by the conflict, which has shaped his beliefs and actions. His mother and his brother Ali were jailed during the First Intifada for extended periods, and Khaled himself spent a total of 18 months in confinement. In 2000, his brother Youssuf was killed by Israeli soldiers, two years later another brother, Said, died ten days after being wounded, and his son Muayyad was seriously wounded and left handicapped. In 2009 his son Muhanad was arrested and jailed for several years. Muhanad was jailed again at the end of 2015 and was released in July 2017. With everything that he has faced, Khaled remains dedicated to nonviolence and communication: “To anyone who says that it is only by war or by force or by eradicating the other side that rights can be won or dreams achieved, I say, ‘That is not so.’ For one side cannot eradicate the other. We cannot kill their dreams and they are unable to kill ours. We must divide this place among us all and live in peace or all of us will live in hell.”
Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger lives in Alon Shvut Israel and is one of the founders of Roots/Shorashim/Judur, The Palestinian Israeli Grassroots Initiative for Understanding, Nonviolence and Transformation. Currently he serves as its Director of International Relations. He also is the founder of the American Friends of Roots, a multi-faith organization dedicated to supporting the work of Roots/Shorashim/Judur. Rav Hanan frequently speaks in the USA together with one of his Palestinian partner about the amazing work of Roots/Shorashim/Judur. Prior to the founding of Roots, Rav Hanan spent his whole career teaching Jewish studies in various seminaries, colleges and frameworks in the Jerusalem area, among them the Pardes Institute, Beit Midrash Elul, Nishmat and Yeshivat Bat Ayin. He also spent two years as part of the Judaic Fellows Program in Boca Raton Florida and over ten years in Dallas Texas, first as Rosh Kollel of the Community Kollel and later as founder and Executive Director and Community Rabbinic Scholar for the Jewish Studies Initiative of North Texas. He and his Israeli–born wife Ayala have four grown children and eleven grandchildren.