Friends of Givat Haviva Update
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Dear Friend,
Over a year has passed since the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas and the ensuing conflict in Gaza. Israel continues to face regional threats from Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, and the Houthis, alongside domestic challenges like judicial reform debates and settler violence. In such turbulent times, only extremists believe in simple solutions.
This period calls for remembrance and action. We honor the victims of the October 7th attack, both Jewish and Arab, and pray for the release of Israeli hostages. We mourn the innocent lives lost and acknowledge those displaced or left homeless by the conflict.
US Friends of Givat Haviva is committed to promoting peace. Your support sustains programs like the Shared Communities Program and Intensive Hebrew and Arabic Language Programs, which bring hope and solutions to a divided region.
In October, Givat Haviva leaders Michal Sella and Mohammad Darawshe participated in events in Atlanta and the San Francisco Bay Area, strengthening partnerships and raising awareness. More recently, Givat Haviva joined a panel on peace at the Z3 Conference in Silicon Valley, sharing our work in building a shared society. We also launched our new website and welcome your feedback.
We continue building partnerships with Jewish Federations, synagogues, and other organizations to support joint initiatives among Israel's Arab and Jewish citizens. These collaborations are central to advancing coexistence.
This newsletter includes updates on Givat Haviva’s programs and links to articles about our work. We hope these resources keep you informed.
If you’d like to collaborate through virtual or in-person events, please reach out. Together, we can create a more peaceful future. Please share this newsletter with others who may support Givat Haviva’s mission.
Please note below we are doing a live update from Israel on December 1st at 2 pm eastern time.
As Thanksgiving approaches, I am grateful to work with Jews and Arabs dedicated to building a shared society in Israel. Their commitment reminds us that peace is possible through unity.
Warm Regards,
Jonathan Lack
Interim Executive Director and Board member, Friends of Givat Haviva
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A new activity year begins under the shadow of a prolonged and expanding war. Israeli students are starting another school term burdened by a heavy cloud of suffering, detachment, and uncertainty, all of which affect their ability to feel safe and envision a better future. Creating any positive experience for the younger generation and their educators is incredibly challenging when the reality surrounding them is so harsh. The war, the abandonment of hostages, and the daily toll of lives lost paint a difficult picture.
In recent weeks, we have witnessed dangerous developments. The continuation of the judicial overhaul, the undermining of the rule of law, and a flood of proposed legislation seek to prevent those opposing government policy from participating in the democratic process. These laws will first impact the Arab society in Israel, and then all those who do not support the government. The law to intimidate teachers, allowing for the dismissal of educators suspected of "supporting terrorism" without proof or due process, and the law facilitating the disqualification of lists from running for Knesset is just the beginning. A series of bills imposing severe sanctions on “suspects of supporting terrorism” have been introduced, with a definition so broad that it could encompass almost any citizen critical of the state or the war.
Despite this, the light surrounding us comes from hundreds of educators, thousands of young people, artists, and young leaders, as well as diverse communities who still seek out Givat Haviva’s activities. Israeli society, it seems, remains life-affirming despite the horrific displays of extremism and racism within it. We are starting the year with some trepidation but also with full participant lists and a positive shortage of space and available dates for our programs. We are expanding our wonderful team to open additional projects and collaborate with new partners. We know that saving this country and society from within requires Arabs and Jews, who yearn for life and peace, to work together. We hope and pray that by our next update, a deal will have been reached to bring home the hostages and end the war and the indescribable suffering of civilians in Gaza.
All the best,
Michal Sella
Executive Director, Givat Haviva
מיכל סלע מנכ"לית
ميخال سيلع مديرة عامة
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Zoom Update December 1 at 2:00 pm Eastern
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You are invited to a Zoom briefing with Givat Haviva's leadership. Michal Sella, Executive Director, and Mohammad Darawshe, Director of Strategy, will share updates on Givat Haviva's impactful work promoting a shared society among Jewish and Arab citizens of Israel.
This vital mission continues amidst a time of war, unrest, and unprecedented political challenges in Israel. Learn firsthand how Givat Haviva is fostering dialogue and building understanding during these turbulent times.
Why Join?
- Hear directly from two of Israel’s foremost leaders in shared society initiatives.
- Discover how Givat Haviva’s work is creating hope and unity amid significant challenges.
- Help expand the conversation—feel free to share this invitation with others who might be interested in supporting this important mission.
The briefing will be on December 1st at 2:00 pm Eastern Time
Register here
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Inaugural Principals' Conference for the Shared Language Program
As the year began, 20 principals from schools across the country gathered at Givat Haviva for the annual kickoff of the "Shared Language" program. The event opened with warm greetings from Ola Najami, director of the Jewish-Arab Center for Peace at Givat Haviva. Later, Dr. Samir Qadaan delivered a compelling lecture on societal impacts on the Arab community.
The "Shared Language" program, now running in middle schools for over a decade, enables students to learn Hebrew naturally with a native Hebrew-speaking teacher integrated into regular classes. This approach fosters deep personal connections, mutual understanding, and cultural enrichment.
The Jewish-Arab Center for Peace at Givat Haviva wishes teachers, principals, and students a productive and inspiring year.
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"Birth Pains" Exhibition
On display at the Givat Haviva Art Gallery is "Birth Pains." This exhibition, featuring 27 Arab and Jewish artists, centers around the theme of birth and explores the creation of life and the traumas often accompanying it, which are rarely discussed or addressed. These traumas ripple through various relationships – from the child, through the mother and father, to medical staff. How do we cope with such profound pain that it becomes trauma? How will we address the collective traumas we carry? And how will we build a new society in Israel? The answers may be causally connected.
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Art Camps at the Gallery
An art camp for 50 youth offered a guided tour of the "Birth Pains" exhibit and a wealth of multidisciplinary workshops aligned with Givat Haviva’s values, including screen printing, charcoal figure drawing, camera obscura, and airbrush painting.
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