We met with the Jewish students at their school to discuss the events of the day and to explain the MiC program.  I interviewed some of the students and was moved by the intensity of their stories.  
Even though their individual and collective perspectives were mixed, and often even confusing, it seems they are looking forward to participating when the program is rescheduled.  I envision this to be one of the more dynamic pairings.

The other postponed program was in Netanya, where a week earlier a man's car was set on fire as he entered the Palestinian area.  The man was rescued but tensions remained high.  
We made every attempt over the course of a week to relocate both days of the program to a neutral territory, but ultimately decided to postpone as the spirit and method of our program was being compromised by the alterations.  This was a hard decision that didn't go smoothly.

On our last day we traveled to Jaffe for a much anticipated reunion with our delegates.  When we arrived 2 weeks ago, everyone had confirmed attendance.  One by one and two by two, they informed me they wouldn't make it.  Some offered reasons… family illness, need to study, no transportation, etc.  Just as I was about to order dinner for the few who I thought were still coming, I got the call that they weren't.  In truth, I believe there were other reasons that they didn't want to share.  I want to think it was more about their sense of safety traveling and not a change in their perspective on coexistence, but who can say for sure?  In most cases it was their parents who made the decision.  I had so wanted to talk to and film their thoughts and perspectives on the current escalation of tensions, as well as to hear their experiences after returning home.  Follow-up is an important part of our work and we will continue to develop ways to stay in touch with all of them and to foster ways for them to connect with one another. Needless to say everyone involved in the cancellations was incredibly disappointed and we do intend to reschedule the programs to take place with our facilitators in Israel.  

We were able to expand our network of MiC supporters, including teachers, principals, and potential facilitators during this tour, through direct contact, word of mouth, and via our social media posting.  This is very significant for Music In Common, as we intend to broaden and expand our programming throughout the year with a team of Jewish and Arab partners who can work side by side to initiate and implement activities in the region. We will be working diligently here in the U.S. to train and develop this team in Israel so that programming and follow-up can take place.  In our commitment to these goals, fundraising for our Israel programs is critical and will be ongoing.   With a strong network in the country, our potential for sustainable efforts becomes more feasible.

Even with all the twists and turns, the most prominent vibe of the trip reflects the theme we proposed to the students for their songs, "We Refuse To Be Enemies".  In general every student, teacher, and person we spoke to echoed this in one way or another.  As the world watches from afar via headlines, life in Israel continues on day to day.  People go to work, go to school, shop, enjoy the arts, and travel about.   At times, it was hard to believe their was anything noteworthy going on.  In some places, it is impossible to identify between Arabs and Jews.  We heard many stories about police and IDF screening people on the train, on the streets, and at the borders, both Arabs and Jews.  Everyone is suspect and to me, that reality is a very sad reflection on humanity.  

What I take away more than anything is that when we look closely, individuals are intent on co-existing and that for better or worse, We Are All In This Together.  From my perspective, the We includes ourselves and others... All.   My hope is that somehow this concept will flow upstream and change will happen.  Maybe at some level it already is.  I want to believe it.

After a busy and productive week, I want to take advantage of a rare morning off to let you know how things are going here at MiC Israel.  We spent 4 nights in Jerusalem holding one program with an East and a West Jerusalem High School.  Now we are in the Negev pairing Jewish and Bedouin students that live near one another but have little or no opportunity to meet.


I am working with Justin Hillman, who is facilitating the song writing portion of the program, as well as other local musicians, teachers, and principals in each school.  Lauren Ornstein and Tracey Shipley are Israel based MiC staff who, along with Todd Mack help to arrange and coordinate each of these programs.  Without this incredible team, none of this could happen.  Nimrod Hay Krispil has been a tremendous asset to several of these programs.  I am honored to work among such talented team!

 Each program pairs a Jewish and an Arab School with 7 students from each.  Students in these 2 programs have written one song each over 2 days, "Forget the Fight" and "Together, Beyachad, Ma'an".

While tensions are palpable, especially in Jerusalem but even somewhat here in the Negev, the resounding theme among the students is that the world see the beauty, hope, and intention that exists here across cultures and religions.  They are very vocal about feeling that they have a choice to take a different direction than their parents, grandparents, and ancestors.  I commend the schools here for empowering them to think beyond the status quo.  They seem to be heeding the call and are very open to meeting one another despite their fears and judgements.  Once they do they begin to talk and their curiosity fuels an incredible creative process.  These songs are truly their collective voice.  They work incredibly hard through it all right to the very last moment.  It's quite magical every single time.  These schools and these students are not deterred from connecting with one another and hope to be a model for their elders and leaders.

All of this validates the evolution of MiC from that backyard jam into this direct work with youth in such a conflicted area.  They are grateful for the opportunity and accept it as a responsibility.

The students often turn the camera on me and the other facilitators with questions of their own.  They really are thirsty for understanding and information to develop their own perspective and perceptions.  They want the world to know their stories beyond the headlines.  We are hoping to share their voices in these images and videos to a worldwide audience. 

We have 3 more programs ahead, as well as a reunion with our international delegates from the 2014 Youth Summit.  Staying connected and fostering continued interaction and collaboration between our students is an important part of MiC's work.

I have so much more inside, but for now I'll say thank you for your interest and support of Music in Common and I hope you enjoy these little bits of what we are up to.  

You can see more video and photos on our Facebook page with or without an account at: https://www.facebook.com/MusicinCommon  

Peace, Salaam, Shalom ~ L

In the weeks since my journey has come up in conversation with various friends and strangers, I’ve come to instinctually hold a breath in wait for their inevitable responses, which in one of 2 phrases is delivered with some passion.  “Wow, that’s exciting!” or “What are you, crazy?!”

I don’t think I’ve directly answered any one of them out loud, yet in truth the answer to both is “Yes!”  Yes, I’m excited about the journey that will begin with a long crowded flight that plays uncomfortable tricks on the mind and body.  Yes, I look forward to the relative stillness as we travel literally through space and time to give undivided attention to the mission at hand.  I recall the food on Turkish Airlines to be very good… so that’s also something.  In my life that is reliably full and hectic and diverse, I am drawn to this window of opportunity to immerse fully in the momentum of this work.

To those who ask,  “Are you crazy?” I might well respond, “More so than you know.”  The experiences of my last two entries through Israeli customs were enlightening by all means.  My last name is Najimy, which is undeniably Arabic. Lebanese to be exact.  "No, I have not been to Lebanon."  "No, I don’t have contact with family still living in Lebanon."  "No, I can’t recall the name of my grandfather’s birthplace."  "No" to the other questions that might have offended, discouraged, humored, or enraged me.

My decision to lead this tour did not come lightly.  After much consideration and due diligence to be informed and aware of current tensions and risks in the region, and with eyes, mind and heart wide open, I discovered that the journey that has led to my being faced with this decision at all, is precisely the reason I am compelled to do it.

2014 marks my 7th year with  Music In Common (MiC).  Todd Mack approached me in 2008 with the story of his mission to strengthen communities through music to honor the life of his friend and band mate, Daniel Pearl.   What began as a backyard jam in 2005, had evolved at that time into a tour of 17 FODfest concerts in 18 days on the east and west coasts of the United States.  That adventure was my initiation.  It was magic.

Todd's inspiration was reverence for how his friend lived and to speak out against the very public atrocities that claimed Danny's life.  The many artists' and audiences' motivations seemed to come from their passionate faith in the power of music to heal.  Mine was a conviction that we are all in this together and that our stories shared in a collective creative process is a path to making a better world.  Whatever it was that brought each of us to this work has fueled an unstoppable momentum to implement music and multimedia to positively effect change in people and in communities.  Since that time we have toured and developed programs with youth, artists, organizations and communities in the U.S., Taiwan, Israel, and Palestine.  

To say I am proud of our work, or that everyone should support these efforts, or that I am involved in something profoundly meaningful, or even to claim this is my passion, all seem to be trite and self-serving rhetoric. I do this work not because I am an Arab, not because I am not a Jew, not because of any political or religious convictions, and not because I have anything in particular to offer.  I do it because I am a human being and this is ultimately the human spirit of love, compassion, and connectedness at work.