Paul Calvert spoke with Founder, Todd Mack, about their work in Israel.

Todd: Obviously it is more challenging. I think the key in working in those areas, is trying to stay out of the political realm, which is something we do across the board. We try to find the humanity in all of this and the commonalities between various groups, despite their viewpoint or ideology. We try to find those common threads and focus on those. It becomes a lot easier to see yourself in the other when you can see the other in you.

None of this is to say that political reform isn't needed in the region. Obviously political reform is needed, but that is not our form of activism. We are more active on a social and human level. I believe the two have to work hand in hand. We can try to bring people to the table, to give them this opportunity to discover common ground and equip them with the tools to figure out how to dialogue with one another and how to get along, but if there aren't changes in the political arena to support the changes, then changes in attitude and behaviour aren't sustainable. The flip side, and the United States has proven this better than anything with the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's, you can have changes in law until the cows come home, but if there isn't change on a human level, then there's not real change and the political and legal change isn't sustainable either.

Paul: Why do you do what you do?

Todd: Part of it is just who I am, but certainly part of it is the murder of my friend Danny. It was my life's call to action, looking at his murder and questioning why he was murdered. I was trying to address those things and thinking that arguably he was murdered because he was a Jew, or because he was an American, or because he was a journalist trying to seek the truth and tell it.

Everything that we do with Music In Common, falls within those lenses of how do we deepen understanding between the Abrahamic faiths and how do we deepen understanding between Western culture and Middle Eastern culture, American culture and Arabic culture? Also, how do we teach responsible journalism, even if the journalism is coming in the form of a song, or the form of a video? It's about this idea that the right to know the truth, is not just an American right, it's a human and a God given right. Everyone has the right to know the truth, in the same way that everyone has the right to food and shelter and water and opportunities to support their family in work.

Paul: What is your prayer for people In Israel and the Palestinian Authority?

Todd: To try to see yourself in the other and see the other in you. That is a huge first step in trying to come to some kind of understanding and some kind of agreement politically, socially and humanly.

Paul: What is your website for people who would like to know more?

Todd: www.musicincommon.org and we also have a very active Facebook, Instagram and Twitter page. Just search Music In Common and you will find us on all the social media feeds.