Dedicated Peace Activist, Vivian Silver, from a Personal Perspective
It is with great sorrow that we heard the news of Vivian Silver’s murder at the Hamas massacre that took place on October 7, 2023, and we share our condolences with her family, friends, and colleagues. Vivian was a renowned peace activist and the founder of one of the Anna Lindh Israeli Network Organization’s Arab-Jewish Center for Empowerment, Equality, and Cooperation – Negev Institute for Strategies of Peace and Economic Development, AJEEC NISPED.
AJEEC NISPED, an integral part of the Israeli Anna Lindh Network, serves as a center for education, training, and project development for societies in transition. The institute is actively involved in developing and implementing numerous projects in the Negev region of Israel, focusing primarily on the Negev Bedouin community and initiatives promoting Jewish-Arab cooperation and shared society building.
Vivian Silver's legacy extends beyond her role as a founder of AJEEC NISPED. She was a passionate peace activist, contributing significantly to organizations such as Women Wage Peace and The Road to Recovery, where she played a crucial role in driving sick Palestinians from Gaza to Israeli hospitals.
Tamar Engel, CEO of Oranim College, pays tribute to her friend, Vivian. She reflects, "Vivian established and managed many civil social NGOs and was devoted to creating peace within Israel and with our neighbors. Following Operation "Rock Ethan" in 2014, Vivian was there from the beginning of the Women Wage Peace movement, a broad movement of strong women dedicated to resolving the Palestinian issue through agreement and negotiation.”
Engel further shares her personal connection with Vivian, expressing the profound impact Vivian had on her life. "I miss Vivian’s wisdom, broad knowledge, warmth, friendship, and love. It is unfathomable to me how people like Vivian, who longed to live in peace, encountered such cruelty.
Engel, like all of us, was deeply concerned when we feared she was among the 240 hostages taken to Gaza. Engel says, “Now, I am hurting more after the identification of Vivian, my mentor from Kibbutz Be-eri.
Vivian embodied compassion, wisdom, knowledge, love, and a commitment to peace. Despite her small stature, she exuded a radiant smile and extensive experience in leading social movements. Vivian’s understated yet powerful leadership style combined humility and humor in an irresistible manner. Engaging with her taught me invaluable lessons and allowed me to witness her remarkable talents. My heart aches from her loss.”
