“WE'RE REGULAR TEENS, WE JUST LIVE IN A SPECIAL VILLAGE”

with contributions from Ori Sonnenschein, Rami Mannaa

“My big prayer is for peace.” — Rami

Ori Sonnenschein, who is Jewish, and Rami Mannaa, a Palestinian and an Israeli citizen, know something about what it takes to get along with their neighbor. They grew up in a small village in Israel, where Jews and Arabs have chosen to live closely together for over twenty-five years. The village, which is located midway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, is named Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam, or the “Oasis of Peace.”

Rami, who finished high school in July, has lived in the village with his family since he was four years old. Ori was born in the village and returned there to live, after spending three years with his family in the United States, as a young child.

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