From birthright to MASA
Like many other young Jews of his age, Andrew Zakim was first introduced to Israel during a birthright trip.  Previously, Israel existed for him mostly through interactions with Israeli counselors at his Jewish camp, Cedar Lake, and his father’s stories about a teen group tour in Israel in the 1970s.

Andrew soon began planning his return to Israel.  “I met cool people on that first trip,” Andrew said.  “I came back on a Hillel alternative spring break trip after the Second Lebanon War, and I met more cool people.  It gave me more reasons to return.” 

The friends Andrew met in Israel had a different vibe than in the States.  “People are a lot more open in Israel; it’s easier to branch out.” Andrew became friends with Jews and Arabs alike.   

Notes for Peace
When Andrew returned to NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, he started the non-profit Notes for Peace, which seeks to build tolerance among Arabs and Jews in Israel through artistic collaboration.

While this project fulfills the Tisch School of the Arts’ senior capstone requirement, which is similar to a senior thesis, professors in his school consider Notes for Peace an ambitious endeavor.  It includes initiatives for children, as well as students, such as a two-week summer music and arts camp for Jews and Arabs; campus organizations that help sponsor recreational intercultural events; a music education program that facilitates the donations of used and new arts equipments to Israeli and Palestinian public schools; and a scholarship to enable talented Israeli and Palestinian students to study music at U.S. arts or music programs.   The MASA Building Future Leaders program helped Andrew launch these initiatives in Israel. 

Andrew sees music as one conduit for aiding in the peace process in Israel.  “If the situation of Israeli Arabs and underprivileged Jews was improved, then Israel could focus on fixing its security issues,” Andrew said.

When his mother came to visit him during Passover 2008, Andrew rode with her through the city on one of Haifa’s main bus lines.  “I had her look around and notice the different types of people who were on the bus – Arabs, Jews, Christians,” Andrew said.  “Then we got off and I told her that a suicide bomber blew up that bus four years ago.  She understood then—when you attack a place like that in Israel, it’s not just against the Jews.  It’s against coexistence.”