Hand in Hand American Friends of Cntr for Jewish-Arab Edu in Israel

In Israel today, Jewish and Arab citizens live in a highly segregated environment, often in closely adjoining areas and in many regions throughout the state of Israel. In the most recent census of Israeli citizens, 20% are Arab and 80% are Jewish. Today there are few opportunities for meaningful and deep interaction between members of these two major groups, especially in the fields of elementary and secondary education, which are almost entirely segregated. In 1997, Hand in Hand Center for Jewish-Arab Education is Israel was founded to build peace between Jews and Arabs in Israel through development of bilingual and multi-cultural schools. Elementary schools were founded in Jerusalem and in the Galilee region of Israel; in 2004 a third school was opened in Wadi Ara. In September 2007, the fourth Hand in Hand school through the parents's group Hagar opened in Beersheva. Under the unique Hand in Hand Education model, each school is co-directed by Arab and Jewish co-Principals; and each classroom is co-taught by Jewish and Arab teachers. Students at each grade level are balanced between Arab and Jewish children. Students at all grade levels are taught in both Hebrew and Arabic, learning to treasure their own culture and language while understanding the difference of others around them. When the Hand in Hand Center was founded in 1997, many doubted whether the experiment could work. Now there is demand for new schools, partnerships in new communities, and higher enrollment in the established programs. Source: www.handinhandk12.org