Writers Matter International
Writers Matter Israel: Finding Hope and Empathy Through Writing - Bringing together Arab and Jewish students.
Since those tragic events of October 7, 2023, Writers Matter Israel has offered a safe and compassionate space for high school students, both Israeli Jewish and Israeli Palestinians, to process their thoughts, emotions, and personal experiences through writing. The program includes student voices from Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank. Hundreds of students and teachers have participated in writing about their lives - finding structure and support to express their pain, hope, and resilience in the face of unimaginable challenges.
Beyond statistics lies the shared human story. Nearly everyone on both sides has suffered loss—family members, friends, neighbors—while living under constant threat and fear. Writing has become a refuge and a bridge, helping students rediscover their own humanity and that of others.
The Writers Matter program is non-political, focusing instead on self-care, empathy, and mutual understanding.
Writers Matter Israel partners with Debate for Peace in Israel - https://debateforpeace.org/
Publications
Two Sides, One Humanity: An Israeli-Palestinian Poem
The following poem was co-written by a Jewish Israeli author and a Palestinian author as part of the Writers Matter program led by Professor Bob Vogel. The juxtaposition of two stories (fictional names based on the tragic reality of the ongoing war and surrounding conflict) illustrates how there are two human sides to the conflict.
Two Sides, One Humanity: An Israeli-Palestinian Poem (https://debateforpeace.org/2024/05/02/two-sides-one-humanity-an-israeli-palestinian/)
Posted on May 2, 2024 by Debate for Peace Model UN
in the news
“Students from Israel visit Philadelphia to share stories of living through war.” (https://6abc.com/post/writers-matter-philadelphia-students-writing/14642969/?userab=abcn_du_cat_topic_feature_holdout-474*variant_b_redesign-1939%2Cabcn_popular_reads_exp-497*variant_b_7days_filter-2077%2Cabcn_ad_cadence-481*control-a-1962%2Cabcn_news_for_you_exp-496*variant_b_test-2075%2Cotv_web_content_rec-445*variant_c_trending-1851)
Posted on April 10, 2024 by 6ABC
“Book Launch at the Israeli Embassy In Jerusalem - Writers Matter Israel: Finding Hope and Empathy Through Writing." (https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/h6Fiqg_qS731-cvsedZu-oQ0 lWJJ4oHouLAkWHxTl1qbABMQwjEwmtQIoFxjEU.U2n_h7OBuTGVTwNT)
Passcode: .2uaf$wB
Posted on December 15, 2025
“Jewish and Palestinian Teens Write—and Brave the United States—Together.” (https://momentmag.com/jewish-palestinian-teens-writers-matter/)
Posted on April 30, 2024 by Momentmag
“La Salle Professor Robert Vogel Helps Jewish and Arab Students Come Together.” (https://www.jewishexponent.com/la-salle-professor-robert-vogel-helps-jewish-and-arab-students-come-together/)
Posted on January 3, 2024 by Philadelphia Jewish Exponent
Writers matter israel is co-directed by:
Robert Vogel, Ed.D,
Professor Emeritus, Department of Education, La Salle University
Phone: (215) 806 - 1433
Website (Writers Matter): https://www.writersmatter.org/
Website (Personal): https://www.bobvogel.org/
Steven Aiello
Director, Debate for Peace
Phone: (972) 528194878
Website (Debate for Peace): http://debateforpeace.org/
Writers Matter
Writers Matter provides a unique window into the lives of children ages 12 to 14 living in one of the most tense and complicated regions of the world, full of conflict and violence. These challenges are not only rooted in their worlds of religious and political conflict, but also in everyday problems of communication common within friends and family.
The Israeli-Jewish, Israeli-Palestinian/Arab or Palestinian living in the Palestinian Territories, all share an uncertain future and face seemingly insurmountable challenges each day of their lives. However, regardless of geographical location, religion, politics, or personal trauma, they all share one thing in common - they have big dreams for the future.
Writers Matter (Hebrew Translation)
Writers Matter provides a rare and unique window into the lives of children ages 12 to 14 living in one of the most tense and complicated regions of the world, full of conflict and violence. These challenges are not only rooted in their worlds of religious and political conflict, but also in everyday problems of communication common within friends and family.
This edition of Writers Matter is translated into Hebrew and can be purchased by clicking on the image to the left.
An Arabic version is also available and can be purchased by contacting Dr. Robert Vogel at vogel@lasalle.edu.
The Write path
Writers Matter provides a rare and unique window into the lives of children ages 12 to 14 living in one of the most tense and complicated regions of the world, full of conflict and violence. These challenges are not only rooted in their worlds of religious and political conflict, but also in everyday problems of communication common within friends and family.
This edition of Writers Matter is translated into Hebrew and can be purchased by clicking on the image to the left.
An Arabic version is also available and can be purchased by contacting Dr. Robert Vogel at vogel@lasalle.edu.
The Write Path II
Writers Matter provides a rare and unique window into the lives of children ages 12 to 14 living in one of the most tense and complicated regions of the world, full of conflict and violence. These challenges are not only rooted in their worlds of religious and political conflict, but also in everyday problems of communication common within friends and family.
This edition of Writers Matter is translated into Hebrew and can be purchased by clicking on the image to the left.
An Arabic version is also available and can be purchased by contacting Dr. Robert Vogel at vogel@lasalle.edu.