thousands have tried to bring peace to the Middle East politicians diplomats
the Middle East politicians diplomats
the Middle East politicians diplomats religious leaders even rock stars
religious leaders even rock stars
religious leaders even rock stars they’ve all tried they’ve all failed but
they’ve all tried they’ve all failed but
they’ve all tried they’ve all failed but I I’ve found the solution in one word in
I I’ve found the solution in one word in
I I’ve found the solution in one word in one word backgammon in two words Shh
one word backgammon in two words Shh
one word backgammon in two words Shh you’re laughing but I’m serious games
you’re laughing but I’m serious games
you’re laughing but I’m serious games can be an incredibly powerful force in
can be an incredibly powerful force in
can be an incredibly powerful force in at least one tragic moment in history a
at least one tragic moment in history a
at least one tragic moment in history a game had even started a war it was a
game had even started a war it was a
game had even started a war it was a summer of 1969 when the football war
summer of 1969 when the football war
summer of 1969 when the football war broke out between Honduras and El
broke out between Honduras and El
broke out between Honduras and El Salvador
Salvador
Salvador during qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup
during qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup
during qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup fans fought violently and took to the
fans fought violently and took to the
fans fought violently and took to the streets and the nations dissolved all
streets and the nations dissolved all
streets and the nations dissolved all diplomatic ties football was just a
diplomatic ties football was just a
diplomatic ties football was just a trigger of course this conflict was
trigger of course this conflict was
trigger of course this conflict was about economic policy and immigration
about economic policy and immigration
about economic policy and immigration but still what started as a game had
but still what started as a game had
but still what started as a game had become a full-blown war if the game
become a full-blown war if the game
become a full-blown war if the game started a war is it so crazy to imagine
started a war is it so crazy to imagine
started a war is it so crazy to imagine a game might end one as well today we’re
a game might end one as well today we’re
a game might end one as well today we’re talking about bringing peace of the
talking about bringing peace of the
talking about bringing peace of the Middle East but our beginning was modest
Middle East but our beginning was modest
Middle East but our beginning was modest it all started about nine months ago I
it all started about nine months ago I
it all started about nine months ago I was sitting together with Jewish and
was sitting together with Jewish and
was sitting together with Jewish and Arab friends at he dives house in
Arab friends at he dives house in
Arab friends at he dives house in Jerusalem we had convened to discuss the
Jerusalem we had convened to discuss the
Jerusalem we had convened to discuss the next steps of the project we’ve been
next steps of the project we’ve been
next steps of the project we’ve been working on to bring Jews and Arabs
working on to bring Jews and Arabs
working on to bring Jews and Arabs together around a shared love for Middle
together around a shared love for Middle
together around a shared love for Middle Eastern music but we couldn’t agree on
Eastern music but we couldn’t agree on
Eastern music but we couldn’t agree on anything
anything
anything and very quickly our conversation
and very quickly our conversation
and very quickly our conversation deteriorated into a heated debate then
deteriorated into a heated debate then
deteriorated into a heated debate then in the middle of all of this my good
in the middle of all of this my good
in the middle of all of this my good friend Dole made a suggestion he said
friend Dole made a suggestion he said
friend Dole made a suggestion he said guys let’s take a break how about we
guys let’s take a break how about we
guys let’s take a break how about we play something maybe some backgammon
play something maybe some backgammon
play something maybe some backgammon shesh Besh to be honest the last thing I
shesh Besh to be honest the last thing I
shesh Besh to be honest the last thing I wanted to do was play some silly game
wanted to do was play some silly game
wanted to do was play some silly game I thought it would be a waste of time
I thought it would be a waste of time
I thought it would be a waste of time and a distraction but Dole insisted it
and a distraction but Dole insisted it
and a distraction but Dole insisted it was about six or seven minutes into the
was about six or seven minutes into the
was about six or seven minutes into the game when it had already become quite
game when it had already become quite
game when it had already become quite clear that Mahmoud was kicking dolls ass
clear that Mahmoud was kicking dolls ass
clear that Mahmoud was kicking dolls ass that it suddenly hit us not only is
that it suddenly hit us not only is
that it suddenly hit us not only is backgammon fun and engaging not only is
backgammon fun and engaging not only is
backgammon fun and engaging not only is it a game that both Jews and Arabs know
it a game that both Jews and Arabs know
it a game that both Jews and Arabs know how to play but also in just six or
how to play but also in just six or
how to play but also in just six or seven minutes of playing together it had
seven minutes of playing together it had
seven minutes of playing together it had completely diffused all tension we were
completely diffused all tension we were
completely diffused all tension we were laughing picking sides making fun of
laughing picking sides making fun of
laughing picking sides making fun of each other’s poor backgammon skills and
each other’s poor backgammon skills and
each other’s poor backgammon skills and the original debate was completely
the original debate was completely
the original debate was completely forgotten that’s how we started the
forgotten that’s how we started the
forgotten that’s how we started the Jerusalem double project a series of
Jerusalem double project a series of
Jerusalem double project a series of backgammon tournaments that take place
backgammon tournaments that take place
backgammon tournaments that take place in Jerusalem in Arab and Jewish
in Jerusalem in Arab and Jewish
in Jerusalem in Arab and Jewish neighborhoods
we wanted to bring Jews and Arabs
we wanted to bring Jews and Arabs together beyond the daily grind we
together beyond the daily grind we
together beyond the daily grind we wanted to create a joint cultural
wanted to create a joint cultural
wanted to create a joint cultural experience in which everyone can share
experience in which everyone can share
experience in which everyone can share and we wanted to create crossover
and we wanted to create crossover
and we wanted to create crossover between neighborhoods that for
between neighborhoods that for
between neighborhoods that for generations have been completely
generations have been completely
generations have been completely segregated so where to start we hosted
segregated so where to start we hosted
segregated so where to start we hosted the first backgammon tournament in Beit
the first backgammon tournament in Beit
the first backgammon tournament in Beit Hanina an Arab neighborhood in East
Hanina an Arab neighborhood in East
Hanina an Arab neighborhood in East Jerusalem it wasn’t easy to convince our
Jerusalem it wasn’t easy to convince our
Jerusalem it wasn’t easy to convince our Jewish friends to cross the divide and
Jewish friends to cross the divide and
Jewish friends to cross the divide and venture into Arab Jerusalem but we
venture into Arab Jerusalem but we
venture into Arab Jerusalem but we didn’t give up this is Ezra Ezra is a
didn’t give up this is Ezra Ezra is a
didn’t give up this is Ezra Ezra is a religious Orthodox Jew from West
religious Orthodox Jew from West
religious Orthodox Jew from West Jerusalem who really didn’t want to have
Jerusalem who really didn’t want to have
Jerusalem who really didn’t want to have any of what we were organizing when we
any of what we were organizing when we
any of what we were organizing when we tried to convince him to come he asked a
tried to convince him to come he asked a
tried to convince him to come he asked a few basic questions why would I go to
few basic questions why would I go to
few basic questions why would I go to bed honey nah isn’t it dangerous
bed honey nah isn’t it dangerous
bed honey nah isn’t it dangerous where will I park will they steal my car
where will I park will they steal my car
where will I park will they steal my car do they have cell phone service in Beit
do they have cell phone service in Beit
do they have cell phone service in Beit Hanina a million and one reasons why not
Hanina a million and one reasons why not
Hanina a million and one reasons why not to come but we didn’t give up maybe it
to come but we didn’t give up maybe it
to come but we didn’t give up maybe it was something about what we were doing
was something about what we were doing
was something about what we were doing or maybe it was how much we insisted
or maybe it was how much we insisted
or maybe it was how much we insisted maybe it was it after all it’s just a
maybe it was it after all it’s just a
maybe it was it after all it’s just a game and backgammon for Ezra and so many
game and backgammon for Ezra and so many
game and backgammon for Ezra and so many others has a comforting familiarity of a
others has a comforting familiarity of a
others has a comforting familiarity of a game we’ve all been playing since
game we’ve all been playing since
game we’ve all been playing since childhood whatever it was it was enough
childhood whatever it was it was enough
childhood whatever it was it was enough to pique Ezra’s interest and convinced
to pique Ezra’s interest and convinced
to pique Ezra’s interest and convinced him to do something he had never done
him to do something he had never done
him to do something he had never done before cross a divide between Jewish and
before cross a divide between Jewish and
before cross a divide between Jewish and Arab Jerusalem Ezra was joined that
Arab Jerusalem Ezra was joined that
Arab Jerusalem Ezra was joined that night by a hundred and fifty people of
night by a hundred and fifty people of
night by a hundred and fifty people of whom a third were Jews from West
whom a third were Jews from West
whom a third were Jews from West Jerusalem and in the end of the evening
Jerusalem and in the end of the evening
Jerusalem and in the end of the evening he was pretty glad he showed up because
he was pretty glad he showed up because
he was pretty glad he showed up because ladies and gentlemen I am excited and
ladies and gentlemen I am excited and
ladies and gentlemen I am excited and proud to present the Beit Hanina
proud to present the Beit Hanina
proud to present the Beit Hanina backgammon champion Ezra
would you believe it this guy he
would you believe it this guy he literally needed to drag to the event
literally needed to drag to the event
literally needed to drag to the event ended up winning the competition that
ended up winning the competition that
ended up winning the competition that evening and while he may have won the
evening and while he may have won the
evening and while he may have won the real victory for me was it Ezra attended
real victory for me was it Ezra attended
real victory for me was it Ezra attended every single one of the backgammon
every single one of the backgammon
every single one of the backgammon events we’ve organized since including
events we’ve organized since including
events we’ve organized since including this one which took place just three
this one which took place just three
this one which took place just three months later this time in West Jerusalem
months later this time in West Jerusalem
months later this time in West Jerusalem and Jewish West Jerusalem where five
and Jewish West Jerusalem where five
and Jewish West Jerusalem where five hundred people showed up Jews and Arabs
hundred people showed up Jews and Arabs
hundred people showed up Jews and Arabs men and women young and old religious
men and women young and old religious
men and women young and old religious and secular showed up to see with their
and secular showed up to see with their
and secular showed up to see with their own eyes what backgammon had made
own eyes what backgammon had made
own eyes what backgammon had made possible in our beloved city of
possible in our beloved city of
possible in our beloved city of Jerusalem this is what it looks like
there are at least two reasons this idea
there are at least two reasons this idea has rally the support and captured the
has rally the support and captured the
has rally the support and captured the imagination of thousands first quite
imagination of thousands first quite
imagination of thousands first quite simply it’s a game what we know as kids
simply it’s a game what we know as kids
simply it’s a game what we know as kids but tend to forget as adults is the
but tend to forget as adults is the
but tend to forget as adults is the important role games play in our lives
important role games play in our lives
important role games play in our lives as infants we play as a form of practice
as infants we play as a form of practice
as infants we play as a form of practice that helps us develop skills we need
that helps us develop skills we need
that helps us develop skills we need later in life by the time were kids we
later in life by the time were kids we
later in life by the time were kids we play in a way that mimics or reflects
play in a way that mimics or reflects
play in a way that mimics or reflects the real world as teenagers or
the real world as teenagers or
the real world as teenagers or adolescents we play as if the game and
adolescents we play as if the game and
adolescents we play as if the game and its consequences are in fact the real
its consequences are in fact the real
its consequences are in fact the real world by the time we’re all grown up as
world by the time we’re all grown up as
world by the time we’re all grown up as adults we live and construct our lives
adults we live and construct our lives
adults we live and construct our lives and patterns of play whether courtship
and patterns of play whether courtship
and patterns of play whether courtship relationships even politics were
relationships even politics were
relationships even politics were constantly engaged in the world of games
constantly engaged in the world of games
constantly engaged in the world of games recent studies show that games and play
recent studies show that games and play
recent studies show that games and play are important not only in the
are important not only in the
are important not only in the development of our social faculties but
development of our social faculties but
development of our social faculties but also in building empathy trust
also in building empathy trust
also in building empathy trust persuading us to take risks and think
persuading us to take risks and think
persuading us to take risks and think creatively one such study at McGill
creatively one such study at McGill
creatively one such study at McGill University shows how just 15 minutes of
University shows how just 15 minutes of
University shows how just 15 minutes of play are enough to transform a complete
play are enough to transform a complete
play are enough to transform a complete stranger into someone we feel the same
stranger into someone we feel the same
stranger into someone we feel the same degree of empathy towards as a friend
degree of empathy towards as a friend
degree of empathy towards as a friend we’ve known for years 15 minutes that’s
we’ve known for years 15 minutes that’s
we’ve known for years 15 minutes that’s all it takes another study on rats shows
all it takes another study on rats shows
all it takes another study on rats shows that rats whose play was suppressed
that rats whose play was suppressed
that rats whose play was suppressed during development will flee and hide
during development will flee and hide
during development will flee and hide away at first sight of danger these rats
away at first sight of danger these rats
away at first sight of danger these rats are so scared
are so scared
are so scared they hide away and they never resurfaced
they hide away and they never resurfaced
they hide away and they never resurfaced they die and hiding on the other hand
they die and hiding on the other hand
they die and hiding on the other hand rats that were allowed to play they also
rats that were allowed to play they also
rats that were allowed to play they also flee I mean who wouldn’t but here’s the
flee I mean who wouldn’t but here’s the
flee I mean who wouldn’t but here’s the amazing part when the danger is no
amazing part when the danger is no
amazing part when the danger is no longer present these rats they resurface
longer present these rats they resurface
longer present these rats they resurface they come back out into the world to
they come back out into the world to
they come back out into the world to give it another chance now these are
give it another chance now these are
give it another chance now these are amazing findings think about how they
amazing findings think about how they
amazing findings think about how they apply to what we’re talking about here
apply to what we’re talking about here
apply to what we’re talking about here today play can create
today play can create
today play can create the fee between strangers even apparent
the fee between strangers even apparent
the fee between strangers even apparent enemies and it can give us the
enemies and it can give us the
enemies and it can give us the confidence we need to trust in each
confidence we need to trust in each
confidence we need to trust in each other and in the world even after we’ve
other and in the world even after we’ve
other and in the world even after we’ve been slighted even after we’ve
been slighted even after we’ve
been slighted even after we’ve experienced pain suffering and fear so
experienced pain suffering and fear so
experienced pain suffering and fear so games can play a role in conflict
games can play a role in conflict
games can play a role in conflict resolution so far that’s clear but why
resolution so far that’s clear but why
resolution so far that’s clear but why backgammon why backgammon in particular
backgammon why backgammon in particular
backgammon why backgammon in particular it’s not nearly as reputable as some of
it’s not nearly as reputable as some of
it’s not nearly as reputable as some of its prestigious and serious counterparts
its prestigious and serious counterparts
its prestigious and serious counterparts like chess or bridge but that’s exactly
like chess or bridge but that’s exactly
like chess or bridge but that’s exactly the point we’re in the Middle East not
the point we’re in the Middle East not
the point we’re in the Middle East not in some exclusive Country Club
in some exclusive Country Club
in some exclusive Country Club backgammon is deeply rooted in these
backgammon is deeply rooted in these
backgammon is deeply rooted in these parts its origin can be traced back
parts its origin can be traced back
parts its origin can be traced back nearly 5,000 years to the Mesopotamian
nearly 5,000 years to the Mesopotamian
nearly 5,000 years to the Mesopotamian Kingdom of all now modern-day Iraq and
Kingdom of all now modern-day Iraq and
Kingdom of all now modern-day Iraq and while the game grew popular and spread
while the game grew popular and spread
while the game grew popular and spread to the West during the time of the
to the West during the time of the
to the West during the time of the Romans it’s never left the Middle East
Romans it’s never left the Middle East
Romans it’s never left the Middle East empires have come and gone but
empires have come and gone but
empires have come and gone but backgammon has always been here to stay
we even have evidence that during the
we even have evidence that during the time of the Ottomans Jews and Arabs
time of the Ottomans Jews and Arabs
time of the Ottomans Jews and Arabs would sit together in the coffee houses
would sit together in the coffee houses
would sit together in the coffee houses in Jerusalem smoke hookah or Nagila and
in Jerusalem smoke hookah or Nagila and
in Jerusalem smoke hookah or Nagila and play backgammon together and in our
play backgammon together and in our
play backgammon together and in our times in modern times look at these
times in modern times look at these
times in modern times look at these photos people playing backgammon in the
photos people playing backgammon in the
photos people playing backgammon in the laki shook in Jerusalem in a coffee shop
laki shook in Jerusalem in a coffee shop
laki shook in Jerusalem in a coffee shop in Damascus in Ramallah in Marrakech in
in Damascus in Ramallah in Marrakech in
in Damascus in Ramallah in Marrakech in Istanbul in Cairo notice how similar we
Istanbul in Cairo notice how similar we
Istanbul in Cairo notice how similar we all look and here is my grandfather and
all look and here is my grandfather and
all look and here is my grandfather and namesake a proud Syrian Jew who played
namesake a proud Syrian Jew who played
namesake a proud Syrian Jew who played backgammon in Thailand where he lived
backgammon in Thailand where he lived
backgammon in Thailand where he lived with the Egyptian and Iranian ambassador
with the Egyptian and Iranian ambassador
with the Egyptian and Iranian ambassador in the 1960s
that gammon works in the Middle East
that gammon works in the Middle East because it’s accessible and inclusive
because it’s accessible and inclusive
because it’s accessible and inclusive the rules are simple
the rules are simple
the rules are simple anyone can play anyone can win it erases
anyone can play anyone can win it erases
anyone can play anyone can win it erases hierarchy and allows people of all
hierarchy and allows people of all
hierarchy and allows people of all backgrounds to have a seat at the table
backgrounds to have a seat at the table
backgrounds to have a seat at the table politicians university professors taxi
politicians university professors taxi
politicians university professors taxi drivers car mechanics they’ve all
drivers car mechanics they’ve all
drivers car mechanics they’ve all participated in our events and while in
participated in our events and while in
participated in our events and while in the real world they may command more or
the real world they may command more or
the real world they may command more or less respect on more or less property
less respect on more or less property
less respect on more or less property make more or less money in backgammon
make more or less money in backgammon
make more or less money in backgammon neither black nor white checkers have an
neither black nor white checkers have an
neither black nor white checkers have an inherited Vantage in backgammon we’re
inherited Vantage in backgammon we’re
inherited Vantage in backgammon we’re all equal but above all that gammon is
all equal but above all that gammon is
all equal but above all that gammon is about two people sitting across one from
about two people sitting across one from
about two people sitting across one from the other staring each other in the eye
the other staring each other in the eye
the other staring each other in the eye and playing a game together go home play
and playing a game together go home play
and playing a game together go home play with your friends play with your
with your friends play with your
with your friends play with your co-workers even the ones you don’t get
co-workers even the ones you don’t get
co-workers even the ones you don’t get along with play with your kids teach
along with play with your kids teach
along with play with your kids teach them about their roots teach them about
them about their roots teach them about
them about their roots teach them about the history and culture we share with
the history and culture we share with
the history and culture we share with our neighbors if we all do our part
our neighbors if we all do our part
our neighbors if we all do our part what’s possible in a game has the
what’s possible in a game has the
what’s possible in a game has the potential to transcend the board into
potential to transcend the board into
potential to transcend the board into the real world and become a true
the real world and become a true
the real world and become a true catalyst for change and maybe just maybe
catalyst for change and maybe just maybe
catalyst for change and maybe just maybe if we all do our part together we can
if we all do our part together we can
if we all do our part together we can bring peace to the Middle East play with
bring peace to the Middle East play with
bring peace to the Middle East play with us
”
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