Israeli coexistence programs run the gamut

JERUSALEM, Nov. 10 (JTA) — The range of coexistence programs in Israel includes everything from filmmaker workshops and theater activities to environmental projects, Holocaust awareness programs and summer camps. Here are just a few samples: • Association for Promoting Theater Activities, Jaffa: A city-wide theater program for junior high school students from Jewish and Arab schools in Jaffa encourages coexistence. The students acquire theater skills and cooperate in preparing and presenting a theater production. • Bible Lands Museum, Jerusalem: A project enables encounters between elementary schools students from the Arab village of Abu Ghosh and its neighboring kibbutz, Ma’aleh Hahamishah, on the subject of the biblical figure of Abraham-Ibrahim. • Center for Humanistic Education at the Ghetto Fighters’ House, Western Galilee: A year-long course furthers humanistic education through Holocaust and racism studies. • Association for the Advancement of Women, Central Galilee: A training program strengthens coexistence and business cooperation between Arab and Jewish women from Nazareth, Upper Nazareth and Migdal Ha’emek, co-sponsored by the Center for Jewish-Arab Economic Development and the Small Business Center of the Central Galilee. • LINK to the Environment: A corps of Jewish and Bedouin youth from the south meets on a biweekly basis to learn about environmental issues related to the Nahal Tsalmon Park. The youth formulate an environmental conservation plan and submit it to the National Parks Authority. • Matan (through the Association for the Advancement and Encouragement of Community Centers in Israel): A yearlong creative writing program serves Arab and Jewish high school youth from across Israel. The youth meet in both separate and integrated formats to explore coexistence issues through creative writing and translation workshops. • Educational Forum for Multicultural Educational Leadership in Bikat HaKerem/HaSajour: A community-wide coexistence program is held for the northern communities of Carmiel, Banne, Deir al-Sassad, Majd al-Krum, and Nahef. The project began with the establishment of a forum of elementary school principals from the participating communities that met on a monthly basis to learn how to work effectively as coexistence leaders in their communities.