Under the banner "We Refuse to be Enemies," several hundred Jews, Arabs, and community members gathered on a rainy, snowy evening in December to eat, talk, sing, and dance together. Sponsored by the Eugene Middle East Peace Group, the event featured several speakers representing the Jewish and Muslim faiths. The evening fell mid-way between Channukah and Eid el-Fitr, the Jewish and Muslim holy days, respectively (Eid el-Fitr is the last night of Ramadan).

Music was provided by the Eugene Peace Choir and by Americanistan, a band which plays music inspired by cultures of the Middle East. MCs Jonathan Seidel and Maha Hamide worked with the band to create two new peace songs in three languages--English, Hebrew, and Arabic--which were sung by the entire gathering. Israeli dances and Arabic debke (folk dance) to the music of Americanistan completed the evening's entertainment.

Fabulous traditional Arabic and Jewish food created by the Lane Community College culinary arts department, in conjunction with restaurateur Ibrahim Hamide, provided a delicious, satisfying, and symbolic opportunity for Jews, Arabs, Christians--and anyone who eats food!--to sit together and celebrate our common humanity.

It was an event that made one proud to be a human being, a peace worker, and a part of a light of hope, however small, for the world.

This year's celebration was the fourth annual gathering sponsored by the Eugene Middle East Peace Group.

-Submitted by Dunyah, Director of Americanistan, an world music band of musicians based in Eugene, Oregon.