PAYINGTRIBUTE - Operation Respect

tional and governmental arenas, solidifying grass
roots support in the schools and communities being
considered, as well as raising funds for various
aspects of this project to cover costs of materials,
CDs, videos, an Arabic translation of DLAM, media
support and cultural outreach and, most costly
and most essential, professional development and
ongoing technical assistance. Dr. Alex Berenstein,
a long time supporter of Operation Respect, has
made a generous contribution to Operation Respect
to provide initial funding for this project.
In February 2007, Peter traveled to Israel with the
America-Israel Friendship League (AIFL) and a
delegation of Superintendents from various major
cities throughout the United States. The delegation
was led by Dr. Charlotte Frank and Dr. Gene
Carter, President of the Association for Supervision
and Curriculum Development (ASCD) and
had multiple objectives, including the objective,
for Peter and Charlotte, to evaluate the possibility
PHOTO OF LYNNE HURDLE-PRICE WITH ETTA SCHNEIDERMAN AND STUDENTS
FROM FLORAL PARK MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, FLORAL PARK, NY
of bringing DLAM to Israel through a series of site
visits to schools, and in meetings with educational
leaders throughout Israel, as well as Rabbi Michael
Melchior, member of the Israeli Knesset, who
holds a political position equivalent to Representative
George Miller, Chair of the Education Committee
of the United States House of Representatives.
Such investigation made it very clear that, though
the road to the implementation of DLAM would be
complex and perhaps difficult due to the financial
stresses in the educational system of Israel, if the
money for such an extension of the work of Operation
Respect is raised, the project is possible. On
the basis of gradual introduction of DLAM, over a
period of years, a real opportunity of great significance
exists. Such preliminary efforts are proceeding,
including the securing of funding and the
search for proper partners in Israel and the United
States.
Upon returning from his February trip to Israel,
Peter found that many who assessed reports of
that trip felt that a program such as DLAM, that
advances education of students in acceptance,
respect and non-violent conflict resolution, would
not only be of great value in Israel, but could also
be highly meaningful among children in the Palestinian
areas as well. Such activities shared in both
populations who, for decades, have exchanged
painful hostilities, might foster greater understanding
among members of the next generation. A
vision emerged to Peter that, one day, the implementation
of DLAM in both groups might build to
exchanges between children from “both sides”
based in the tools, particularly in music and the
arts, that are inherent in the DLAM programs.
Direct exchanges between Israeli and Palestinian
youth would potentially have a meaningful, positive
impact, particularly among those who are engaged
in efforts to find ways to reach across the historically
bitter divide between Israelis and Palestinians.