One thing has become crystal clear over the past few years. Our world is really messed up. Those who used to advocate for standing up against hate are now leading the charge with their Jew hatred. Places that were once safe for Jews no longer are. The Arab world has begun to stand up against Hamas — sort of. The far left advocates for the Palestinians until Hamas begins to murder them – then they go silent. There is a famine in Gaza until a ceasefire is agreed upon at which point there is suddenly 3 months worth of food, overnight. The cries for the ceasefire are endless until there is one agreed upon and then those crying for the ceasefire urge Hamas to reject it so more people will die. New York, home to one of the largest Jewish populations outside of Israel, is ready to elect a Mayor who openly hates the Jews. A huge number of those NY Jews are ready to vote to elect him as Mayor as he openly talks about excluding anybody who supports the existence of Israel from his administration. The mainstream media publishes lie after lie and when caught, just pretends it didn’t happen.

It’s a crazy world we are living in. A crazy world we are told we are living in that often isn’t accurate or the truth. The words we use are often the wrong ones and we call things by the wrong name to incite people (famine instead of hunger, genocide instead of war, militant instead of terrorist).

Coexistence is one of these words. I never thought about it until yesterday when I spent time with people from the Arab villages of Ein Mahel and Jisr Al Zarqa. I had the opportunity to visit Ein Mahel last September and meet the leaders and some of th children in their branch of HaNoar HaOved (NOAL), an Israeli, Zionistic youth movement that is now 101 years old. That’s right, in Arab villages in Israel (55 to be exact) there are Zionist youth movement branchs. There are more than 20,000 arab children in these branches. More than 20,000 arab children who are actively involved with an Israeli, Zionistic, youth movement. Where do you see this on the news? Where do you read about this? It changes the paradigm in a way that those who hate Jews don’t like.

On Thursday, I had the chance to visit the Arab village of Jisr Al Zarqa. It is one of the poorest Arab villages that struggles with violence inside the village. As we entered the village, it was pointed out to us the locations where people were murdered by gangs inside the village last week. Jisr Al Zarqa has a remarkable asset that sets it apart from every other Arab village in Israel. It sits on the beach of the Mediterannean Sea. This poor town is right on the water with a beautiful beach. As we walked to the beach, we saw the trash strewn all around. It was a harbinger of the story we were about to be told – a story of hope and of a potential different future.

At the beach, we met Shadi, who lives in Ein Mahel and who I got to know last year during the visit. We also met Hamami, an amazing women from the village of Jisr Al Zarqa, and Hassan, an amazing young man from the village of Jisr Al Zarqa. Why did we meet with them? Because of their involvement with HaNoar HoOved (NOAL). Both Shadi and Hassan grew up in the movement. Shadi is in his early 30s, Hassan is 20. Both are leaders in the movement. You read that right – Arab (Muslim) leaders in an Israeli, Zionistic, youth movement. Shatters what the media tells you. Shatters the paradigm the world is taught and believes. We also met Hamami, a spectacular woman who is changing the reality on the ground. Hamami is a fisherman, the only woman in the fisherman’s guild in Jisr Al Zarqa. She was a professional soccer player when it was unheard of to have an Arab woman play professional sports on an Israeli team. She is a force of nature.

What is she doing? In a village where children often skip school and get in lots of trouble, she began going out in the streets and pulling them off the streets to participate in a sports program she created herself. She took them fishing, surfing, swimming, and all sorts of water sports. Every day she goes out in the streets and corrals them to come with her and do something productive instead of getting in trouble in the streets. At one point, she went to the schools and began working with them. She took the children off the streets in her program and then ordered them to return at 8 am the next day. All but 2 returned on time. The two who were late were sent home. The next day all of them showed up on time. She spent 3 months working with them on the water, with the sea, before returning them to school where they restarted their education. What an incredible woman.

Uri, a member of NOAL who works with the Arab villages, learned about the work of Hamami, and went to meet her. She told us that he was the first person who didn’t try to make money off her program and instead just wanted to know how he could help her and help the children. They are now partners in the effort, as Dror Israel, the overaching organization of NOAL, works to fund and support her organization Instead of trying to MAKE money off the work of Hamami and the children, they are INVESTING money in the work of Hamami and the children! Once again, you read that right. Jews and Arabs working together, in partnership, in Israel, to help the Arab children who are at risk. You don’t hear that from the UN or in the media. But it is happening.

As we sat together to eat lunch and continue our conversation, one of our group used the phrase “coexistence’. Shadi quickly spoke up telling us not to use that word. He told us that coexistence means we live alongside each other. We don’t interact. There are Arab schools and Jewish schools. Arab youth movements and Jewish youth movements. Arab leadership programs and Jewish leadership programs. Saying coexistence means living separately, side-by-side. The right phrase, he educated us, was ‘shared society’ because we share things together. That’s what they are doing with NOAL. That’s what we need to strive for. Not coexistance where we live separately but a shared society where we truly live together. I was inspired and am changing my vocabulary.

Having met Shadi last year and connecting, we spent more time together this year. We built our friendship and talked about many things. The challenge of being Zionistic (loving Israel) with the challenges of the government and the country, especially post October 7th was the start of a fascinating conversation that I look forward to continuing with my friend.

As we talked, he shared his upcoming visit to the United States, mostly New York, to share the work of NOAL, Dror Israel, and help change people’s minds about what is happening and what is possible. When I shared that I may be back in December, he was quick to ask when and tell me about an amazing three (3) day leadership conference they are having in early January and urge me to come and experience it. I’m not sure what my schedule will look like but I know it’s something that if I can attend, I will attend. I can’t wait to see Shadi and the others lead and educate these Arab and Jewish youth together about leadership and shared society. As Shadi said to me and I replied back to him, “Inshalla” which means “if it’s God’s will”. A beautiful Arabic word. Part of a shared vocabulary now.

There is so much happening in Israel that does not fit the narrative the media tells us. There is hope and there is possibility. There are Arabs and Jews working together, not just with NOAL and Dror Israel but across the entire country. It is something you can see with your own eyes and they are people you can meet in person and speak with. It is part of why I urge people of all faiths to go to Israel and see it themselves. Experience it yourself. Don’t believe the narrative. Don’t believe the lies. We can have a shared society if and when we work hard for it. Hamami, Shadi, Hassan and Uri are only 4 people working towards it. I’ve met many, many more. Too many to list by name. Come join them. See it, feel it, believe it, and help make it happen. Bring them to your community. Share the story and share them with your friends and family. Shared society is about togetherness and that’s what we need to make it happen.