An Arab, a Jew, and a Truck  —  Roads to cooperation

31 August 2012

 

"You can't make peace with your enemy, without your enemy."

            -- Reena Lazar

                Director, Peace It Together, Canada

"People become the stories they hear and the stories they tell."

            -- Elie Wiesel

                 Nobel Peace Laureate

An Arab, a Jew, and a Truck
A story from the USA
 
     In 1977  Moustafa Soliman began writing his novel of the needed citizen response to to brave government steps like Anwar Sadat's border-crossing to the Israeli people.
     This August, 2012, the inspired Egyptian-born Muslim finally published his vision of how powerful, relevant person-to-person relationships can begin not only in the Middle East but also in New York.

     In the Bronx a religious odd couple is forced by circumstances to live together.
     But they become friends and business partners by choice.
     Ali, a devout Palestinian Muslim and David, an American Orthodox Jew, learn to share a kosher kitchen and recognize their shared humanity.
     Their moving company truck's logo declares: "Moving is our specialty! We've been doing it for centuries!"
     Their business opens a window to ethnic, religious, and political ironies that instruct and inspire readers.

 

An Arab, a Jew, and a Truck

by Moustafa Soliman

Infinity Publishing - August, 2012 - 237 pages

http://www.ArabJewTruck.com

 

     Author Moustafa Soliman asks: "Can a moving truck carry hope and bring peace to the Middle East?"
     Moustafa firmly believes that "the propagation of such stories through creative collaboration will ultimately bring peace and understanding to a region that was the source of our civilization."
     He can be reached at his home in Washington, DC -- ArabJewTruck@gmail.com


Jews and Muslims Share a Sanctuary
Northern Virginia, USA

     A few miles from Moustafa Soliman's home, in everyday life Jews and Muslims share a place of prayer.
     When Muslims around the world were gathering for Friday prayers, in one neighbourhood in the US state of Virginia the worshippers enter a building that could hardly be further from a traditional mosque.
     At a time when religious differences are sparking conflict in the Middle East and beyond, increasing cooperation between the two faiths is allowing this unique programme flourish.
     The BBC's Katty Kay reports on how a Jewish community opens its doors because the area's mosques cannot accommodate all of the growing Muslim population.

 

US synagogue welcomes Muslims seeking a place to pray

BBC News -- 16 August 2012 -- 2 min video

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-19289226

Break Dancing Across the Green Line
Egypt, Israel, Palestine

    Shared human experiences unify, and create common meaning -- a basis for future conversations and relationships.
     This Spring 2012, travelling U.S. musical ambassadors -- cultural diplomats --.created such a foundation for future human engagement and commonality in the Middle East -- Egypt, Palestine, Israel.

     Hip-hop goes beyond race, religion or socioeconomic class, according to Lorenzo Rennie Harris, hip-hop dancer and founder of Rennie Harris Puremovement, Philadelphias famed hip-hop dance company.
     Whether you are from Philly or Cairo, you can connect with African-American arts, because they are about freedom.
     His words were acid-tested by a month-long tour of the Middle East by Harris and his company as part of DanceMotion USA, a diplomatic initiative sponsored by the U.S. State Departments Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
     READ MORE at:

 

Break Dancing Across the Green Line

Rennie Harris Brings Hip-Hop to Israel and West Bank

The Jewish Daily Forward -- April 26, 2012, issue of May 04, 2012.

http://forward.com/articles/155292/break-dancing-across-the-green-line/

 

     VIEW VIDEO of the shared hip-hop art experiences:

Nablus , Palestine

3/12 min. video  .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Qf2_nvKM1A

Israel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O43H1CSgTvM

Fibers, Egypt

2-1/2 min video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4GitUePuJ8

From Cairo to Alexandria, Egypt

3-min video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KA9_qvom_uE

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These and hundreds of other success stories are preserved at http://traubman.igc.org/messages.htm