Hi, my name is Mers. Jerusalem is a place in Israel where our voices are raised for inclusion. Jerusalem is a city of differing opinions about the future. It creates a container in which transformative conversations can happen—very hard conversations, even between people who have been raised to be enemies. Through music, we are able to express the impact of these encounters.

I am a musician, and so I execute a vision to create a singing movement. Our home is not defined by the song that is shared with you; it was written by our singers. The violence in October and the last war are just horrifying examples of how Israelis and Palestinians are pitted against each other by extreme leaders who need to be normal.

We know that as a Palestinian-Israeli youth chorus, we do not single-handedly have the power to stop war, but we also know that the reason wars exist is because people think in a different way.

There is a girl who is the most beautiful in the garden, with the saddest eyes. She stands in a ruin that was once a garden, and she calls out to all those.

שהילדה הכי יפה בגן, משערה עוד רחש. But when the day is done, what will be left behind? Only you and me, our future. We feel each other because of you. I know we must choose a different way. And when the day is done, what will be left? Only you and me, the future. We feel each other because of you. I know we must choose a different way.

An Anthem for Peace and Justice From Israeli and Palestinian Youth | Jerusalem Youth Chorus | TED

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An Anthem for Peace and Justice From Israeli and Palestinian Youth | Jerusalem Youth Chorus | TED

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