Adam Ben Shabath

As has been said many times in the past, identity is like an onion: There are layers of family and country, religion and political persuasions, favorite sports teams, musical preferences and on and on. But for many, such as 23-year-old Adam Ben Shabath, it is their hometown which stands at the center of it all. And now, as a result of the war, Adam’s village of Neve Shalom/Wahat as-Salam – with its unique population and delicate equilibrium – is being torn at the seams. Residents are questioning long-held truths – some have shifted their views, while others continue to hold firm or have even doubled down. Adam shares his own private take on the matter.