Two summer camps – one for peace and one for hate

What happens to a generation of kids who are groomed, from birth, to view their neighbors as the enemy who must be eradicated? They become the perpetrators of October 7!

The future of a people, largely rests on how their young people are educated. When taught to hate and train for battle, they will be focused on a destructive path. Conversely, if they are directed to consider the great benefits of mutual respect and regard for their fellow man, something good will result.

An article in last week’s Jerusalem Post, revealed that the British chapter of the Palestinian Youth Movement hosted a summer camp. Among the many uplifting activities, in which they could have engaged, the children were, instead, led in a chant that said, “We will crush Zionism. Young people, rise up. Our revolution is an Arab revolution.”

Rather than allowing the 100 children, who attended, to experience a memorable summer, filled with carefree fun and enjoyment, they were indoctrinated on the need to liberate what they are constantly told is their land, “From the river to the sea.” 

Despite the fact that these kids do not live in the Middle East, but are the locally-born children of parents who moved to the U.K. from Arab lands, they are, nonetheless, being prepared to, one day, take up the fight.

How would this type of indoctrination impact on their interactions with Jewish classmates in their schools? Does anyone think that the poison they are being fed would be helpful in learning how to get along with Jews or the possibility of considering a future of peaceful co-existence?

Not a chance! Once those impressionable kids have been conditioned to believe that Jews are evil, there will be no incentive or motivation to even speak to them, let alone build a future together.

In the same newspaper, on the same day, another article appeared, but one with a decidedly different spirit. The headline read, “Jewish, Arab teens cook for peace at culinary camp.” Accompanying the piece was a picture of three smiling Arab and Jewish youths, wearing aprons and having fun while preparing food for their summer camp.

Unlike the previous camp, this one, held at the Ben Shemen Youth Village, about a 20-minute ride from Ben Gurion Airport, an estimated 40 Jewish and Arab teens gathered, ranging from ages 15-17, to participate in a program that “focused on building dialogue, relationships environmentally sustainable cooking practices and nutritious habits.”  

Assisted by four professional chefs, the two-day culinary workshop was a way to view the diversity of Israeli society in a positive and uplifting way, since the staff was multi-cultural, a mix of different backgrounds, including the ultra-Orthodox. 

As one of the organizers said, “cooking is opening the eyes. It’s about happiness, connection, being together, talking laughing and sharing experiences. When you cook together, you can teach each other things.”

It’s important to recognize that each one of these children already live in Israel where mixed schools are normal for most neighborhoods. That means that there are shared values that facilitate the idea of working together and living as one. Finding common ground is vital to accomplishing those goals. And, at this camp, that’s exactly what happened as evidenced by the kids’ reactions.

Both Hebrew and Arabic were spoken by the camp’s instructors, attesting to the differences in background, but the teens seemed to find a common language which worked for them, helping them connect to one another.

One girl from Tel Aviv said it best, “With no actual language, it really connects everything and everybody, because food is such an incredible love language.” What became immediately clear was that everyone enjoyed the same things – music food and learning about each other, making them feel as if they’re not at all different but actually more similar than they thought.

In fact, it turned out to be a great opportunity to correct false impressions.  One Arab teen from Acco, connected with a Jewish boy who went into detail about his religion, giving the first teen a chance to speak about hers as well.  Although each of them had preconceived ideas, they were able to alter their opinions and set the record straight.

For example, the notion that Jews remain Jews whether they observe their faith was a revelation to one Arab teen.

It was the very warm atmosphere, during the cooking workshop, which was responsible for the bond that was forged amongst many of these teens who committed to staying in touch even after the camp is over. Some described the feeling that this camp was more of a home environment. 

Singing in both languages was heard each day, during the workshops, bringing them closer together while preparing food.

If this type of summer camp doesn’t put a smile on your face and make you feel good about the way things can be, then it likely means that you are a proponent of the first camp where hate and destruction are being advanced as the path for the future.

For all of the intellectuals and political experts out there who are stumped, as to how to change the trajectory of the Middle East, to a peaceful and tranquil region, here is an idea that is so simple and so doable, that it defies all of the expert advice that has been tried and failed.

Start with kids who have not been indoctrinated to hate from the cradle. Bring them together for a fun-filled event where they can explore common interests, speak freely, ask questions and come to the realization that they are compatible and enjoy one another’s company.

Sponsoring these types of activities will foster good-will and a hope that has been lost. Imagine if a hidden camera had recorded this camp where Jewish and Arab teens had a great time together. What would the Woke progressives, who speak about genocide and apartheid, have to say about that?

Would they continue to believe the lies that they’ve been fed or would they do a double take when discovering that Arabs and Jews can actually live in harmony? 

Think of all the relationships that can be built with a tiny fraction of the money that’s been spent to fund terrorism and advance hatred throughout the world.  Peace is as simple as child’s play, and this story is living proof of that!