Press

Givat Haviva Photography Project Fosters Jewish-Arab Teen Interactions

Jenan Halabi, coordinator of Through Others’ Eyes, Givat Haviva’s photography program for teenage Israeli Arabs and Jews, describes in this interview with Frends of Givat Haviva how the art is used to build a shared society. “The camera is a tool that brings them together,” says Halabi, about the students who participate in Through Others’ Eyes, four of whom will visit the U.S. in September.

This Jewish-Arab Campus Hopes to Spark a Bottom-up Movement for a Shared Israeli Future

"The best way to educate children for democracy is through education for a shared society. It's not a luxury, and it's not 'something nice' for the children – it's a battle for the right to equality in Israel," asserts Givat Haviva CEO Michal Sella in this Haaretz feature article. At the Givat Haviva – The Center for a Shared Society campus on the outskirts of Wadi Ara, an area in northern Israel with a predominantly Arab population the eternal flame of coexistence between the two peoples burns brightly, despite the harsh winds trying to extinguish it, Haaretz states. Givat Haviva houses a large number of projects, all dedicated to promoting coexistence between Arabs and Jews in Israel. "The clearest rupture in Israel is between Jews and Arabs," says Sella, "which is why those relations hold the greatest potential to transform conceptions of reality. "Your attitude toward the 'other' society, whether you are a Jew or an Arab," she continues, "is the clearest indicator of your approach to democracy, equality and the rule of law. If you believe others are citizens with equal rights, you possess a foundation of democratic thought. There's a sense that Israel's liberal society doesn't fully appreciate what an important arena the education system is, and that it needs to be invested in. It's true that this is difficult, long-term, drab work, and it's true that it feels like an archaic type of discourse – not high-tech – but it's critical for the continued existence of liberal life in Israel." Read the full Haaretz interview with Michal Sella about Givat Haviva’s many programs bringing Jewish and Arab citizens together.

Shared society in crisis and hope: Education’s role in Israel’s recovery - opinion

In her Jerusalem Post oped, Givat Haviva CEO Michal Sella emphasizes that the foundation for shared society remains intact since October 7, 2023, but there is an urgent need to invest in building trust between Arab and Jewish citizens. “Education offers the best approach….Israel’s government has a vested interest, indeed a responsibility, to design a comprehensive educational plan that will teach all our children how to live in a shared, prosperous society.”

Givat Haviva CEO discusses Jewish, Arab shared vision

Michal Sella, the CEO of Givat Haviva, visited the Jewish Federation of Cleveland on June 13 to talk about the organization and how the local Jewish community can contribute to its mission – to create a shared society between the Jewish and Arab citizens in Israel. “We want to create a space where there is a lot of hope for Israeli society, where we can talk about values of equality and democracy. We’re trying to equip our kids with tools that will allow them to live in a shared Jewish society, because Israel will forever be a shared society. It’s important for American Jews to know that and to understand, and to give them a glimpse into the reality of Israel right now,” Sella told the Cleveland Jewish News.

Houstonian helps build bridges between Jews and Arabs in Israel

Friends of Givat Haviva Interim Executive Director Jonathan Lack tells Houston’s Jewish Herald-Voice why, as an American Jew, he has long been involved with Jewish-Arab relations in Israel, and the pivotal role Givat Haviva has played since 1949 advancing understanding between Israel’s Arab and Jewish citizens. At Givat Haviva Arab and Jewish citizens “can work on things that benefit both communities. I’m passionate about this because I love Israel, and I want to see it through better times,” Lack says.

Amid war, these Palestinians and Israelis say it’s imperative to talk peace

Mohammad Darawshe, director of strategy at Givat Haviva, Israel’s oldest and largest organization working for a shared Jewish-Arab society, says bridge-building is challenging for Palestinian Israelis, The Christian Science Monitor reports. “As peacemakers they have a very underutilized role. But if empowered by Israel and by Palestinians on the other side, then they could play a significant role in peacemaking thanks to our bilingualism and dual identity,” he says. “There’s real capacity there; it’s not a handicap. It’s because we are not 100% Israeli or Palestinian.”