Biographical Note

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.

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