Rizek Abusharr
Item Information
- Title:
- Rizek Abusharr
- Description:
-
Portrait photograph of Rizek Abusharr seated with clasped hands.
- Creator:
- Porges, Dan
- Date:
-
[2000?–2007?]
- Format:
-
Photographs
- Location:
- Springfield College Archives and Special Collections
- Collection (local):
-
College Archives Digital Collections
- Series:
- YMCA Hall of Fame Papers
- Subjects:
-
Young Men's Christian Association of North America
International Young Men's Christian Association
Springfield College
Abusharr, Rizek
YMCA
YMCA Hall of Fame
Jerusalem International Y.M.C.A.
Portrait photographs
- Places:
-
Massachusetts > Hampden (county) > Springfield
- Link to Item:
- http://cdm16122.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15370coll2/id/76
- Terms of Use:
-
Text and images are owned, held, or licensed by Springfield College and are available for personal, non-commercial, and educational use, provided that ownership is properly cited. A credit line is required and should read: Courtesy of Springfield College, Babson Library, Archives and Special Collections. Any commercial use without written permission from Springfield College is strictly prohibited. Other individuals or entities other than, and in addition to, Springfield College may also own copyrights and other propriety rights. The publishing, exhibiting, or broadcasting party assumes all responsibility for clearing reproduction rights and for any infringement of United States copyright law.
Contact host institution for more information.
- Publisher:
-
Springfield College
- Notes:
-
Born into a family that traces its roots in Jerusalem back 500 years, 12-year-old Rizek Abusharr was recruited to do yard work at the Jerusalem International YMCA (JIY), along with Palestinian classmates and an equal number of Jewish boys. Abusharr never left; he spent his entire career working at the JIY, becoming the first indigenous director general in 1998. The hallmark of Abusharr’s work was his commitment to build tolerance among the different faiths in Jerusalem. He ensured that equal numbers of Jewish, Arab, and Christian participants were represented in programs, membership, and on volunteer boards. Under his leadership, the JIY was recognized as a haven of peaceful co-existence in a region where conflict and distrust are commonplace. His work earned the JIY a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize. He was recognized with the Marthe Laube Prize for Tolerance and Democratic Values and an honorary doctor of Humanics degree from Springfield College.
- Identifier:
-
rg103-2007-abusharr-r-portrait-02