Campers from Israel and Southeast India.
were hard fought between teams
from the U.S. and Middle East. It
was here that I watched a Muslim
Egyptian high-fiving his Jewish Israeli
teammate after every point. It didn’t
matter who won—what mattered was
watching excited kids from opposite
sides of conflict coming together as
one pickleball team on the court.
The counselors loved the game and
played against Robin and me in some
friendly challenge matches. Camp
counselor Orlando was now hooked,
planning to take pickleball back to
Jerusalem.
“This camp is a country by its own…
and pickleball is one of the most
important departments that brings
joy and happiness to its campers
and staff. When pickleball came to
this camp, everyone became part of
it because the game itself created
a peaceful atmosphere between
campers. Everyone wanted to play
because it is fun and easy to learn.
Before, Free Time was the only time
campers walked around looking for
something to do. Now, as soon as the
Free Time bell is rung, the campers
run to the pickleball courts,” said
Elias Khatib, Seeds of Peace Athletic
Director, 2017.
After a year, we heard that
pickleball had been a big hit and the
overgrown tennis courts had been
resurfaced with painted lines for
pickleball. “Pickleball has changed
the culture of this camp. There are
campers who do not come from
athletic backgrounds, but they
choose to go to the pickleball courts
during Free Time because it is easy
to learn. It starts by just batting the
ball around and eventually goes to
forming friendships with kids who
otherwise would not have met,” said
Romeo.
After the pickleball sessions, we
attended the daily camp assembly
where we witnessed a somber
reminder of the world outside camp.
News had spread of fresh Israeli-
Palestinian violence. How quickly the
playful laughter dissolved into tears
and sorrow as these kids huddled
together in comfort.
“Pickleball helped a lot of these
campers forget about their differences
and has given them peace here even
for a short moment. My hope is to
bring this game to Jerusalem so we
can erase some of the animosity,” said
Khatib.
At Seeds of Peace, pickleball is
not just a game but has been a
gamechanger with international
ramifications. It has helped develop
future peace leaders from conflict
countries throughout the world, who
take back to their native country
lessons of friendships across borders,
team building, communication
through dialogue, speaking from the
heart, and building trust.
Can we dare to imagine a magical
world of peace without difference,
conflicts or borders? Pickle on for
Peace!!!
Special Thanks: In addition to Dick,
Elias and Orlando, I would also like
to thank the following individuals
for their assistance: Eric Kapenga
(Seeds of Peace Camp Communication
Director), Bobbie Gottschalk (Seeds
of Peace Photographer), Zach Scheller
(Onix Sports). •
Camp Athletic Director Elias Khatib
(Jerusalem), Camp Dialogue Counselor Dick
Romeo (Villages, FL), USAPA Atlantic Region
Asst. Regional Director Linda Einsiedler
(Falmouth, ME), Camp Counselor Orlando
(Jerusalem).
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017 |
MAGAZINE
57