What a wonderful article, “Optimism survives on 25th anniversary of Seeds of Peace’’ (July 23), you brought to your readers! This outstanding Seeds of Peace Camp continues to bring a flame enhancing new friendships between youth from warring countries. They live side-by-side for a month with people they had been led to hate. At the camp, nestled among the pine trees in Maine, you will see teenagers swimming, playing baseball, cricket and tennis.

In July 2002, my husband and I visited the camp with the blessings of Rabbi Rosenberg and Jerry Fischer, executive director of the Jewish Federation of Eastern Connecticut. What an exciting day! We met and talked with 16-year-old Saja Abuhiljeh, a Palestinian from Jordan, Yassin Ghoez from Egypt, and Yaakov Sadan from Israel. We sat in on a "Coexistence Session" for two hours.

Emotions were high when conflicts were discussed, but respect was of the utmost. We left at the end of the day feeling happy and grateful that we had learned so much. It is an experience that will stay with us forever.

Claudia Shapiro

Waterford