My name is Sam Stein, and I am an American-Israeli human rights activist living in Israel. I grew up in a very sheltered religious and right-wing environment and was taught that the occupation of Palestine didn't exist, and all criticism of Israel was anti-Semitic. After exploring different perspectives as a young adult, I've learned that this is very much not the case. The occupation is real, and it kills. Since seeing the reality more clearly, I've become determined to fight back against the injustices that have been perpetrated in my name. For the past year and a half, I've been engaging in anti-occupation work in solidarity with Palestinian residents of the West Bank, who live under constant threat of violence, harassment, home demolitions, and other horrors by the hands of extremist settlers and the Israeli military. In February, I will be joining the Center for Jewish Non-Violence on their new project "Hineinu." As a part of Hineinu - which is Hebrew for "Here We Are" - I, along with other Israeli and Diaspora Jewish activists, will live on the ground in a Palestinian village with Palestinian activists. This will allow me to dedicate myself full-time to assisting the local villagers in activities such as gardening, shepherding, construction, and, unfortunately, the documenting and protesting of potential home demolitions. Hineinu will also serve as an incredible opportunity to engage in community-building and youth development activities that will bridge the cultural gap between Palestinians and Jews and Israelis, helping us form meaningful connections with each other and break down the walls that divide us.
