Newsletter of the Association for Peace & Understanding in the Middle East

December 15, 2004

Support for The Way to Happiness® in the 

Middle East is Highest-Ever!

Dear Friends,

Both the Los Angeles and Clearwater Benefits for The Way to Happiness^Ò campaign in the Middle East were INSPIRATIONS !!

Shuki Mizrachi of Israeli chapter speaking with supporters at L.A. benefit	Volunteers of APUME with executives (center back row)  of Israeli chapter
Danny Vidislavski, Executive Director, & Shuki Mizrachi, President of The Way to Happiness Middle East chapter	Middle Eastern Feast at L.A. Benefit

Here Are the Highlights

Danny Vidislavski, the Executive Director, and Shuki Mizrachi, the President of the Israeli The Way to Happiness chapter [The Association for Prosperity and Security in the Middle East] regaled us with stories of their experiences and with the results that are turning the tide in the tense environment of the Middle East. Ayman Batta, a Palestinian-American, spoke from the heart about working with Israeli-Americans on The Way to Happiness campaign for the Middle East. Donors opened their purses to support the hope that the campaign brings to both Israelis and Palestinians.

The Clearwater event had Highest Ever attendance and raised Highest Ever funds for any of our Clearwater events! It generated huge enthusiasm among supporters, who are now forming Clearwater’s The Way to Happiness chapter for peace in the Middle East.

The Benefit in L.A. had an attendance of 115 and far exceeded funds raised at any earlier event by us or any other chapter of The Way to Happiness Foundation.

Danny and Shuki could not stop thanking us – we American supporters-- who send them the support and the funds which allow them to continue their historic work.

To all our supporters and donors – A HUGE THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY AND DEDICATION TO PEACE AND UNDERSTANDING IN THE MIDDLE EAST!!!!!!

How the Funds Will Be Used

The funds raised will supply materials to 125 schools, both Jewish and Arab (yes, there are many Arabs who are Israeli citizens). These schools are waiting for The Way to Happiness workshops in Israel. These materials include The Way to Happiness booklets, posters, teacher’s guides, etc. And there will be funds available for workshops which will be scheduled in later months, including those that will be delivered to Palestinians by a dedicated group of Palestinian volunteers.

For weeks, the cupboards had been empty of key The Way to Happiness materials for the Middle East. Now we will be able to meet the spiraling demand. The highest-ever number of Israeli The Way to Happiness workshops were delivered in August – 48, which was then exceeded by the 67 workshops delivered in October!

Music and a Feast Hosted in a Villa

At our Saturday night Benefit in L.A., our guests were clapping and dancing in their seats to the Middle Eastern beat of the Yuval Ron Ensemble. Yuval, who tours the world, said he’s never gotten such an audience response – his musicians were feeding off it. Joy Grayson brought tears to our eyes with John Lennon’s “Imagine!” Pita Pita of Pasadena catered a Middle Eastern feast – every full mouth was saying how delicious it was – the rice with pine nuts and fragrant spices, the tastiest-ever hummus, the multitude of salads and the delicate lamb and chicken! Followed by coffee and a multitude of varieties of honey baklavas. All in a spacious villa owned by the Glucks of Mission Renaissance fame.

A comment by one of our volunteers --- “I drove a guest to his car last night after the event. He was rave, said he uses our Association as an example in his consulting. Everyone was rave! One person said, ‘Oh, So THAT’S how you do a fundraising event!’” 

First Ever The Way to Happiness Workshop in Los Angeles!

At the L.A. and Clearwater Benefits and three other gatherings, Danny and Shuki met with over 180 supporters. One guest at the Saturday night Benefit was so inspired by stories of The Way to Happiness workshops in Israel that she wanted one for a small private school that she runs here in L.A. The next morning, she started making phone calls to the parents of her students. That night, she gathered 28 of them together and Danny and Shuki gave them a workshop on The Way to Happiness booklet then and there. Two of the parents now want to deliver these workshops themselves!

You will be hearing more about The Way to Happiness workshops – they bring home the power of The Way to Happiness booklet and change lives.  

Thanks again to all of our donors, supporters and volunteers who recognize the hope that The Way to Happiness booklet brings to the Middle East and who are stepping forward to bring peace now.

Warm regards,

Alexandra Hopkins

Sr. Vice President

Association for Peace & Understanding in the Middle East

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©2004 Association for Peace & Understanding in the Middle East. All rights reserved. THE WAY TO HAPPINESS is a trademark owned by L. Ron Hubbard Library in the USA and in other countries (trademark registrations issued and other registrations pending) and is used with permission.