Muslim Voices Speak Out for Peace and Truth
A reflection on an evening with Sharaka hosted by The Temple and you+2
On a night filled with truth-telling, vulnerability, and the quiet power of shared humanity, You+2 and The Temple hosted Sharaka, an organization that builds bridges between young leaders from Israel and the Arab world in pursuit of dialogue, understanding, and peace. Sharaka brought together an extraordinary group of Muslim thought leaders — and one Jewish voice — from across the Middle East and North Africa. Their mission: not to speak about politics, but about people — and what happens when we choose to see the “other” not as a threat, but as a human being.
The room leaned in. The air was charged. And the message was unmistakable:
“We were taught to hate. But when we met, we saw each other.”
The panel included:
- Hayvi Bouzo (Syria/US), journalist and host, raised in a diverse neighborhood in Aleppo with Jewish, Christian, and Muslim families.
- Tamer Massalha (Israel), Arab-Israeli entrepreneur and community builder.
- Haisam Hassanein (Egypt), political scientist and bridge-builder.
- Youssef El Azrak (Morocco), activist and interfaith educator.
Together, they shared deeply personal stories — of inherited narratives, of courageous rethinking, and of direct encounters that rewrote their assumptions about Jews and Israelis.
🌍 People to People
Most of the speakers shared how they were raised on state-sponsored antisemitic messaging — never meeting a Jew, yet being told who they were.
But Hayvi Bouzo’s story offered a rare contrast.
She grew up in Aleppo and Damascus, where her family lived among Jewish, Christian, and Muslim neighbors. Her family, unusually open-minded in the Syrian context, spoke against antisemitism in private — but never dared to do so publicly. She recalled hearing stories of loss and resilience from her Jewish neighbors and expressed her deep frustration that those stories had been erased from the public narrative. As a journalist, she took on the responsibility to make those voices heard.
“I heard the stories of our Jewish neighbors. I saw the beauty of their culture. And I watched in silence as that history disappeared from public view.”
For others, the moment of transformation came later:
Meeting Israeli families. Walking into a synagogue. Being welcomed into Jewish homes. Realizing that everything they’d been taught didn’t hold up in the face of real people.
“I was shown kindness I didn’t expect.
I saw the humanity they told me didn’t exist.”
Some risked backlash for even speaking openly — but chose to speak anyway.
Haisam Hassanein reflected on growing up in Egypt, where antisemitism was part of official discourse and education. It wasn’t until he came to the U.S. that he encountered Jews as classmates and friends — and was shocked by their humanity and knowledge. He later traveled secretly to Israel and found himself deeply moved by the kindness he received.
“I had no idea who Jews really were… I had to go to Israel to see with my own eyes.”
Youssef El Azrak brought Morocco’s long, rich history of Jewish life to the discussion. He emphasized that Jews and Muslims had coexisted for centuries in Morocco, and that this legacy was embedded not just in memory but in law. He expressed pride in Morocco’s constitutional recognition of Jewish heritage and warned of the dangers of letting hate speech go unchecked.
“Inclusiveness isn’t about saying ‘we tolerate.’ It’s about protecting people legally and culturally, or we risk losing everything.”
Tamer Massalha spoke about his complex identity as a Muslim Arab Israeli (Bedouin), and the tension and pride he feels holding both. He described working in national service with youth of all backgrounds and shared a moving account of traveling to Morocco post-October 7, where he was surprised to be welcomed with curiosity and warmth. That visit solidified his mission to be a bridge.
“I felt like I was revisiting a piece of history that I’d never lived… And I decided to continue being that bridge.”
🤝 This Is What BCTC Stands For
At Building Community Thru Conversation, this evening reflected our mission in action.
We create space for honesty.
For hard questions and humble listening.
For dialogue rooted in dignity, not dogma.
For human connection — one conversation at a time.
Because real change doesn’t begin with institutions.
It begins with us.
This event reminded us that the loudest voices aren’t always the most courageous — and that even in dark times, there are those who choose light.
It also affirmed that storytelling is sacred. Every speaker brought not a theory, but a personal truth — and that truth broke through layers of fear, bias, and silence.
Their journeys weren’t shaped by headlines or hashtags, but by shared meals, unexpected friendships, and quiet bravery. And for many, speaking out still comes with risk — yet they choose it, because they believe in the power of dialogue.
“We cannot stay silent just because it’s hard. If we want change, we have to speak.”
🔖 What’s Next?
In the coming days, we’ll be sharing quotes and reflections from these remarkable speakers. Their words don’t just inform — they disrupt. They heal. And they offer a model of what’s possible when we lead with empathy.
Multiple speakers emphasized that antisemitism is not just a matter of personal bias but is deeply embedded in education systems, media, and political discourse in parts of the Arab world. One spoke of antisemitic textbooks and sermons, and the courage it takes to reject that conditioning.
Others reflected on the transformative power of personal experience — that reading, hearing, and even studying about the “other” was never as impactful as actually sitting in someone’s home and listening to their story.
Social media was mentioned repeatedly — as a space of danger and opportunity. While it spreads disinformation quickly, it also provides a platform for these brave voices to reach across divides and build something new.
Some noted that the Abraham Accords helped create cultural openings, especially for young Arabs curious about Israel and Jewish life, who now feel more empowered to seek connection.
💬 If you’ve ever wondered how peace begins — it begins like this:
One voice.
One encounter.
One brave conversation at a time.
📢 Want to join the conversation?
Host a dialogue. Invite a speaker. Support this work.
Let’s build a future where connection wins.
👉 https://bctctalks.org/events/
#SharakaVoices #youplus2 #BCTC #PeopleToPeoplePeace #JewishMuslimDialogue #UnlearnHate #ChooseUnderstanding #BridgeBuilders #PostOctober7
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