Dozens of Jewish and Lebanese students came together Wednesday to overcome animosity between their peoples and aid war-torn Lebanon.

The Hillel Jewish Student Organization and the Lebanese Student Association co-sponsored the event at the Oklahoma Memorial Union to eat and raise money for land mine removal in southern Lebanon.

Unlike many events pertaining to the Middle East, “A Night of Peace: Open Mines” was designed to provide a solution rather than prove a political point said Daniel Reches, international business junior and Hillel member.

While the land mine crisis is a huge problem, it has escaped the attention of the OU community, Reches said.

The problem extends back to the 1975-1990 Lebanese Civil War and the Israel occupation of Lebanon which ended in 2000.

War is not just fighting on a battle ground, said Ephraim Alajaji, political science junior and member of the LSA. The mines bring continuous suffering to the Lebanese people, Alajaji said.

Civil engineering junior Yonathan Reches, who spearheaded the event, called the land mines an impediment to peace.

“Peace can never flourish where there is reminisce of death,” he said.

Marc Breidy, civil engineering senior and LSA president, said Wednesday’s event was the first time Hillel and the LSA had partnered.

Jewish organization supporting the removal of Israeli mines from Lebanon makes a powerful statement, psychology senior Amy Hamilton said.

Yonathan Reches said his idea raised debate among Hillel members. Some worried sponsoring the event would imply Israel was responsible for the situation.

“It’s very difficult to undo hatred, but we have to start somewhere,” he said. “War may be contagious, but so is peace.”