Students, chaperones and teachers from the Israeli-Arab village of Deir al-Assad visited Dayton April 9-23

By Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer

On April 19, 10 Israelis experienced their first Passover Seder: at Temple Beth Or in Dayton. Six middle school students from the Israeli-Arab village of Deir al-Assad, their teacher, principal and chaperones visited the area April 9-23 on a trip put together by local author Martha Moody Jacobs.

For three summers, Jacobs has taught English to children in the village of 8,000 people in Israel’s north. On the day before their return trip, the visitors reflected on their experiences.

“I was so excited because it was the first time I was at a party for Jews,” Adan Asadi said of the Seder.

For Mais Assadi, the Seder marked the first time she heard the story that the Jewish people came out of Egypt.

Temple Beth Or member Lia Pinkus (L) with Israeli-Arab Ekram Assadi at the congregation’s Seder

“I am an Israeli and for the first time in my life, I met Jews on this night,” their principal, Hussein Assadi, said. “In Israel, I haven’t done it. Yet.”

Their teacher, Hala Yousef, read a prayer for peace in the Middle East during the Seder.

“That was my first time to talk in front of Jewish people. I won’t forget that night,” Yousef said.

Those who hosted and housed the group were from Jewish, Christian and Muslim backgrounds, many of whom are involved in local interfaith dialogue efforts.

Hussein Assadi said he was surprised to see the good relationships among Dayton’s Jews, Christians, and Muslims.

“Yeah, we do have Jewish friends,” said student Ekram Assadi, “but we don’t actually live with each other. But here, they live with each other and they understand each other.”

When asked what was their favorite activity, three of the girls shouted, “Miami Valley School.” “The pupils that we met are our new friends,” Ekram Assadi said. “That’s amazing.”

They spent a day there in addition to visits to two other area middle schools, and tours of the Dayton International Peace Museum, the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, and Cincinnati’s National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

“I wish that this trip, that I will repeat it again and again with more kids,” Yousef said. “I will have lots of things to take with me to my class, my family, to my village.”

Chaperone Dahlia Assadi said, “This program couldn’t happen if it wasn’t for Martha and we say, todah rabah (Hebrew for thank you very much) to Dayton.”