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September 21, 2026Yom Kippur Sermon Highlights Givat Haviva
Rabbi Alex Lazarus-Klein
Congregation Shir Shalom, Williamsville, NY
Member, FOGH National Rabbinic Cabinet
There’s a moment…
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September 8, 2026Israeli Arab leader urges integration, interdependency and shared society
Mohammad Darawshe, Givat Haviva’s director of strategy, finds commonality with the Jewish Diaspora in communities like Pittsburgh, writes Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle senior staff writer David Rullo. In his extensive interview with the Chronicle, Darawshe expressed hope that American Jews will give greater thought to Israel’s Arab citizens, who make up approximately 21% of the population. “I feel that the American Jewish community lives the experience of being a minority in America, understands the mindset of the minority in Israel, and I think that they see mutual interest in trying to keep the same values that they want to keep in America to protect them as a minority,” said Darawshe. “They want to see the same values in Israel. That is the common denominator that Arab citizens have with American Jews.” Givat Haviva is proving there are ways Arab and Jewish Israeli citizens can live together, and American Jews can support those efforts, he said. “We have a lot of accomplishments that can bring pride if you are engaged in them,” he said, citing the cross-sector teachers’ program as an example. “As an American Jew you can be very proud.” Darawshe said he remains hopeful that full integration will occur. “I don’t give up hope,” he said. “I’m a father. I’m a grandfather. I don’t give up hope. I don’t have an option.” Pittsburgh was the first stop on a 21-city tour for Darawshe across the United States that began on September 3.
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