Carlos Santana, one of the world’s greatest guitarists, performed July 30 in Tel Aviv’s Ganei Yehoshua Park. But before his concert began, screens on the sides of the stage lit up and a film produced by the Hand in Hand Foundation was displayed to the 25,000 fans who filled the area.

“When our children grow up in a strife-ridden region, when Jews don’t meet Arabs and the reverse, how can we ensure that the children won’t grow up to hate?” someone in the film asked. Two children in the film waved a poster on which was written, in Arabic and Hebrew, “Bring them to the same classroom.”

Santana likes to tell his concert fans that the Milagro (Miracle) Foundation he founded with his family members chose to invest in children because they are the future of the world. The Hand in Hand Foundation shares the same goals as Santana’s philanthropic foundation, especially now.

Milagro Foundation Executive Director Shelley Brown told Al-Monitor on behalf of Carlos Santana that the connection between the Santana family foundation and the Hand in Hand foundation was born in 2003, when the Milagro foundation managers were introduced to the idea of advancing peace between Israelis and Palestinians through children and their parents, and by creating joint schools; an idea they found exciting. She said that upon his arrival to Tel Aviv for his concert, Santana expressed his enthusiasm over Hand in Hand activities and achievements and asked to meet its representatives. He also asked to donate part of the concert benefits to Hand in Hand's future activities. ''Santana was swept by emotions in Tel Aviv. The meeting with the foundation's representatives who are working to advance peace and understanding between the two peoples just added to his excitement,'' she added. ''You are a blessed beam of light. What you are accomplishing is admirable,'' said Santana to the representatives, according to Hand in Hand Executive Director Shuli Dichter.