Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger

PEACE with Penny SEASON 2: Penny S. Tee Interviews Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger, Founder of Roots-Shorshim-Judur, a Peace Organization of Israeli Settlers & Palestinians September 28, 2021

Penny S. Tee interviewed one of our favorite Peace activists, Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger, who is the founder of Roots-Shorshim-Judur, a Peace Organization of Israeli Settlers & Palestinians. It is a grassroots Initiative for Understanding, Nonviolence, and Transformation. It was originally broadcast in May 2021, just after the horrific Lag B’ Omer tragedy, as well as some terrorist attacks in the West Bank.

As we’ve discussed in previous episodes, the West Bank is a harsh place to call home. Rabbi Hanan lives in Alon Shvut, Israel, in the West Bank. Currently, he serves as the Director of International Relations at Roots. He also is the founder of the American Friends of Roots, a multi-faith organization dedicated to supporting the work of Roots. Rav Hanan is a teacher and a scholar. He also could be described as a religious, Israeli settler. Not someone you’d expect who works on Peace with Palestinians.

Penny S. Tee says, “Rabbi Hanan is very special to me. He and Ali Abu Awwad were the first Peace activists that I met after our fateful trip in July 2014, and I wrote about them in my book, “BLASTED from Complacency: A Journey from Terror to Transformation in Israel. I love hearing about Rabbi Hanan’s work on Peace at Roots with Israelis and Palestinians. I find it inspiring and believe you will too.

The Lag B’Omer tragedy and the continuous terror attacks occurring at this time truly emphasized the repeated challenges faced by Israelis. Rabbi Hanan also spoke of the impact of learning the Palestinian narratives and meeting Palestinians face-to-face in his Peace work, personally and for others.

I’m grateful for what the people that I’ve interviewed on PEACE with Penny are doing to help with working toward Peace as well as what they took the time to teach us. As we’ve said, it isn’t always easy to hear, but essential. We hope you will enjoy learning about life as an Israeli settler and Peace activist.”

It would be very helpful if you would share the interview with your friends. Thank you and May You Live in Peace, שלום and سلام.