The Peaceful Arab and the Jew

We must use our gifts for the betterment of mankind. Let the Children Play is a project Jimmy "The Kid" Keown and I work with monthly. One Arab scientist and one Jewish artist pulled together a group of interfaith leaders from Buddhist to Catholic to Hindu to Muslim and Jewish, in search of peace between Palestine and Israel. Here are the videos we shot of the founders.









Born in Palestine, scientist Achmed El-Sharif and Born in Israel, artist Sam Nachum sponsor Kansas City walk to collect toys for the children rocketed in Gaza and Israel
Traumatized by war as children, Sam and Achmed came to America as adults, Achmed to study science; Sam to chisel portraits in stone.
Both men found their success in Kansas City, now, together, they plan to help the children of Gaza and Israel suffering from adults rocketing each other.
Their dream is to see the day when Arab and Jewish children play soccer together on the same team, even if this dream should seem impossible to adults on both sides of the conflict today. They believe it will happen, it must happen in the future to heal the wounds of decades of war.
Achmed Sharif and Sam Nachum experienced the 1967 war between Egypt and Israel as children.
Both lost their childhood homes during the conflict, changing their lives forever. They met by accident at a discussion on the recent rocket attacks between Gaza and Israel. They decided to help the children on both sides of this war. It’s time for the children to be allowed to be children, the two decided after discussing the rocketing.
Together, Sam and Achmed formed a 501C non-profit organization called Let the Children Play. They also created a website letthechildrenplayforpeace.org.
On October 22nd, they’re sponsoring a one mile walk from Washington Park in downtown Kansas City, across the street from Crown Center, to the Rime Center a Buddhist Temple just on the one west on the side of I 35.
Tickets for the walk are $10 dollars. Those who walk will be served lunch. A truck will be at the site to collect soccer balls, and other approved, non-war toys. A list of suggested toys can be found on the letthechildrenplayforpeace.org website.
Kansas City leaders in both business and government will walk in the march for toys. The walk begins at 12:00 noon October 22nd.
At 6:00 PM October 22, 2009, Kansas City school children and their parents will hold a candle light vigil on the international bridge overlooking Bush Creek on the Plaza. Kansas City’s Women of the Drum will a peace dance in conjunction with the vigil.

Visit Their Website and Participate!