Yesterday marked the one-year anniversary since the Hamas-led attack on Israel and ensuing and ongoing violence in Israel, Palestine, Israel, and Lebanon. We mourn the tragic loss of life that has ensued over the past year and pray for those whose lives have been upended in heart-wrenching ways. 

Our work at Interfaith America is focused on civic pluralism here in the United States. Obviously, this work has also been deeply impacted by what is happening around the world. It’s been an incredibly challenging year. 

And yet, we continue to feel resolve.

Just two weeks after October 7, 2023, Jenan Mohajir – who is Muslim and the mother of three beautiful Palestinian children – and Rebecca Russo – who is Jewish and has multiple personal and familial connections to Israel (and is also the mother of three beautiful children) – came together to publish an op-ed insisting on “the importance of seeing each other and each other’s people as fully human.” Several months later, they recorded a podcast episode on how their friendship had withstood months of war. Now, one year later, they sat down to have a conversation on what the past year of war in Israel/Palestine has meant to them, their communities, and their friendship.