Today as I was selling my wife's pottery at Pike Place Market, a young man named Dean bought one of her peace-inscribed hamsas. He seemed familiar with the symbol, so I asked him whether he has Middle Eastern connections. He said he was Palestinian. After I identified as an Israeli, he was happy to introduce his friend Scott - an American Jew. Together they are the Stand Up for Peace duo - which, in their words,
brings jews and Arabs together to laugh, and encourages a dialogue for a peaceful, political solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
They performed at Seattle University, and will be back in Seattle in March to UW and the Middle East Peace Camp community.
Seems like they could be a good way to break the ice between communities on many campuses across the continent!