By AMIE BARON

I first witnessed the power of philanthropy to effect positive change within the community while interning at the Walter and Elise Haas Fund’s Jewish Life Program through a Stanford Sand Hill Fellowship last summer. The Jewish Life Program heavily focuses on outreach to the broader Bay Area community. During my internship, I primarily focused on two projects: developing opportunities for Muslim-Jewish relations and dialogue, and reviewing applicants for the Post 9/11 Civic Engagement Fund, a collaboration of eight Bay Area foundations seeking to fight discrimination by supporting Muslim, Arab and South Asian organizations. The volatility of the times, and the extreme tension caused by the Hezbollah-Israeli war added a definite sense of urgency to my work. The effectiveness of dialogue became increasingly intangible, yet evermore significant and essential.

There are many organizations across the United States in which Muslims and Jews come together, realizing that while individuals may not see eye to eye on many issues, they still hold in their hearts a dream for peace and a deep respect for the “other’s” humanity. I know Stanford’s Jewish and Muslim communities can also come together in harmony — to eat together, to talk together, and to share and learn from each others’ customs and observances. Why? Because we already have.

On Oct. 2, 2006, at the conclusion of Yom Kippur and during the month of Ramadan, approximately 200 students joined together at Tresidder to break their fast. As a chair of the Jewish Student Association, I partnered with Adnan Majid ‘07, of the Islamic Society of Stanford University, and Jon Canel ‘10, of Hillel, to co-plan and organize a “Ramadan/Yom Kippur Joint Break Fast.” While speaking to all who had attended, I marveled with delight at our success. Before me was a sea of Jews, Muslims and friends from all backgrounds, eating and talking together.

Later in October, Arab and Jewish students came together again at the “One Voice” event I spearheaded with sponsorships by the Jewish Student Association, Stanford Israel Alliance and Coalition for Justice in the Middle East. Despite significant political differences among sponsoring organizations, students still engaged with each other. The group Seeking Harmony in Israel and Palestine, which Tala Al Ramahi ‘07 mentioned in her editorial (“Yes, dialogue is good,” May 4), grew out of that evening.

We can heal our campus community from the trials of this year by making a lasting commitment to effectively and respectfully work together, as we already have. Dialogue is strongest when it leads to purposeful action, and in some way touches more people than just the participants. Our Break Fast has inspired students at other schools. While a single event like this on our campus is wonderful, it is simply not enough. One of the greatest difficulties surrounding Muslim-Jewish relations and dialogue is sustainability. Let us face the challenge and create a respectful campus environment where we come together with strength, passion and drive to build lasting bridges of understanding and tolerance.