|
In the photo: students in the comprehensive spoken Arabic course visiting Bartaa this month, led by teacher Samia.
|
|
|
Givat Haviva Israeli & American Update
|
|
|
Jonathan Lack
Interim Executive Director
& Board Member
Friends of Givat Haviva
|
|
|
Dear Friends,
As we approach the winter holidays—Hanukkah and Christmas—and look toward the new year, the reality in Israel is anything but simple. Amid ongoing war, a strained education system, rising violence in Arab communities, and a growing sense of insecurity among children and teens, the need for sustained, values-driven intervention has never been greater.
At the same time, there are real points of light. With the support of Friends of Givat Haviva and our partners, educators, parents, local leaders, teens, and artists are coming together at Givat Haviva to build Jewish-Arab partnership, strengthen democratic values, and create safe, inclusive spaces grounded in mutual respect. Hundreds of educators and thousands of young people are gaining the tools they need to navigate a polarized society—and to emerge as the next generation of civic leaders.
I will be traveling to Israel to attend Givat Haviva’s Annual Shared Society Conference on January 6, 2026. I am looking forward to gaining a firsthand understanding of the current realities facing shared society initiatives on the ground and will report back on my observations and insights in the January newsletter.
Wishing you a meaningful Hanukkah and a healthy, hopeful New Year.
|
|
|
Michal Sella
CEO, Givat Haviva
|
|
|
Dear Friends,
We are approaching the winter holidays—Hanukkah and Christmas—and the start of the new year. While the atmosphere in the streets should feel festive, most of us feel anxiety about what lies ahead. The Israeli education system has not responded or adapted to the most severe war Israel has ever experienced. In Arab society, we are witnessing a growing wave of crime and murder, while the government and police stand by. Children and teens are growing up with almost no sense of safety in public spaces.
At the same time, there are many points of light. Educators, parents, and local leaders are building bridges between Jews and Arabs and cultivating inclusive and equitable environments grounded in mutual respect. Hundreds of educators and thousands of teens experience this kind of education here in Givat Haviva, where our programs provide tools to cope with Israel’s polarized society and teach democratic values. These young people can and should become our future leaders.
Another positive development is the failure of Minister May Golan’s attempt to seize 1.8 billion shekels from the 2026 Five-Year Plan for Arab society. While the proposal has been blocked, we and our partners must remain vigilant.
Givat Haviva’s Annual Shared Society Conference will take place in January. We will explore the strengthening of Jewish-Arab partnership in Israel in politics, economics, education, and culture. We will also examine the connections between advancing a shared society and democracy, and Israel’s ability to grow as a liberal state, pursue broader regional agreements, and strive for peace.
We look forward to seeing you there.
To register for the annual Givat Haviva conference — click here.
|
|
Annual Givat Haviva Conference - January 6th, 2026
This year's Annual Givat Haviva Conference will be held Tuesday, January 6th at 9:00am in Tel Aviv. The conference will feature leading politicians, policymakers, civil society representatives, educators, and media professionals, who will discuss the challenges of preserving and protecting Jewish-Arab relations in Israel during times of emergency and conflict, and our ability to act within a complex reality. Led by Manu Geva, the findings from our survey, Givat Haviva Partnership Index, will be presented.
More details
|
|
New Cohort: Through Others' Eyes
This month, we launched the 26th cohort of Through Others’ Eyes. Remarkably, 20 Jewish and Arab teenagers—most of whom have likely never spoken a word to a peer from the other group—choose to come together weekly for an entire year, learn photography, and deeply observe one another, seeing the shared as well as the different.
A space of connection and conversation emerged among Arab and Jewish families who arrived with their teens. Over the course of the program, participants will explore shared and separate identities, visit one another’s homes, and at the end of the year present a joint photography exhibition of their work.
|
|
Meet the New Residents: Artist Residency Program
Last month, 10 young Jewish and Arab artists from diverse fields arrived at Givat Haviva to live here and develop the next stage of their artistic work, while getting to know the place, the community, and shared-society artistic practice. Throughout the three-month residency, the artists live, create, and work together 24/7 and are mentored by some of Israel’s leading artists. At the end of the process, they will present a joint exhibition.
|
|
More News from Campus
A new “Shared Educational Leadership Lab” was inaugurated, with the participation of education department directors from 10 municipalities in the Coastal Plain regional cluster, initiated by the Jewish-Arab Center for Peace. The program aims to create a collaborative network among municipalities and to promote shared society partnerships in educational and community spaces.
|
|
|
As this difficult year comes to an end, we are reminded how urgently Israel needs institutions dedicated to building a shared future. The safe return of the hostages brought profound relief and reaffirmed something essential: even in the darkest moments, hope must be stronger than fear, and human dignity must remain at the center of our work.
Across Israel, loss and mistrust have deepened divides between Jewish and Arab citizens. Communities that once lived side-by-side now face uncertainty about how to move forward. It is precisely in moments like this that the work of Givat Haviva becomes indispensable.
Every day—on our campus, in classrooms, in municipalities, and through joint community programs—Jews and Arabs continue to sit together, talk together, and choose partnership over polarization. Young people who have lost friends or fear for their families still choose dialogue over silence. Shared society is not a luxury; it is essential for Israel’s long-term security, stability, and future. Your support makes this work possible.
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
Friends of Givat Haviva | 500 7th Ave 8th Floor | New York, NY 10018 US
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New Cohort: Through Others' Eyes
This month, we launched the 26th cohort of Through Others’ Eyes. Remarkably, 20 Jewish and Arab teenagers—most of whom have likely never spoken a word to a peer from the other group—choose to come together weekly for an entire year, learn photography, and deeply observe one another, seeing the shared as well as the different.
A space of connection and conversation emerged among Arab and Jewish families who arrived with their teens. Over the course of the program, participants will explore shared and separate identities, visit one another’s homes, and at the end of the year present a joint photography exhibition of their work.
|
|
Meet the New Residents: Artist Residency Program
Last month, 10 young Jewish and Arab artists from diverse fields arrived at Givat Haviva to live here and develop the next stage of their artistic work, while getting to know the place, the community, and shared-society artistic practice. Throughout the three-month residency, the artists live, create, and work together 24/7 and are mentored by some of Israel’s leading artists. At the end of the process, they will present a joint exhibition.
|
|
More News from Campus
A new “Shared Educational Leadership Lab” was inaugurated, with the participation of education department directors from 10 municipalities in the Coastal Plain regional cluster, initiated by the Jewish-Arab Center for Peace. The program aims to create a collaborative network among municipalities and to promote shared society partnerships in educational and community spaces.
|
|
|
