Podcast: Peace Initiative for Israel & Palestine: Ep. 2 – Meet Mohsen Mahdawi

Or, listen on Spotify

We continue our four-part series from the Peace Initiative for Israel and Palestine hosted at Commune Topanga by featuring Mohsen Mahdawi, a passionate activist and bridge-builder at Columbia University, currently in his senior year.

Mohsen underscores empathy as the foundation of his work for justice as a path to peace, especially in understanding others’ perspectives, including Israelis and Jews, without compromising on the Palestinian Thawabit (fundamentals) despite the challenging circumstances. In this conversation with Jeff, Mohsen shares his story of growing up in a Palestinian refugee camp and the significant trauma he experienced there. Despite losing an uncle, two cousins, and his best friend during the Second Intifada, and more recently, four additional cousins in the West Bank, Mohsen remains steadfast in his hope for justice and peace. Together Mohsen and Jeff discuss the importance of empathy, cross-cultural dialogue, addressing trauma, and peaceful advocacy for change.

About the Commune Podcast

Hosted by Jeff Krasno, the Commune podcast features thoughtful conversations for modern times. Not always comfortable but definitely needed, we explore both humanity and our human-ness. How can we live healthy, purpose-filled lives and be in service of something bigger? Guests include spiritual teachers, poets, scientists, philosophers, and activists for food sustainability, functional medicine, mental and physical health, and collective healing.