November 2026 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

At a time when divisions seem to dominate the headlines, it is encouraging to witness the growing interest in Givat Haviva's work to build a shared society among Israel's Jewish and Arab citizens.

Over the past month, I had the privilege of accompanying Mohammad Darawshe, Givat Haviva Director of Strategy, during portions of his extraordinary speaking tour across the United States. From university campuses and synagogues to Jewish Federations and community gatherings, his message of hope, equal citizenship, and shared responsibility resonated deeply with audiences searching for a constructive path forward.

One particularly moving response came from an educator in Houston who told Mohammad, "I have been starving for optimism in any form, and you are the first taste I've had in three long years." His words capture something we have heard repeatedly: people are hungry for hope, but they also want meaningful ways to make a difference.

And that is precisely what Givat Haviva offers - not simply a vision of a more inclusive Israel, but educational programs and initiatives that bring Jewish and Arab citizens together to build trust, understanding, and a shared future.

This month marks another important milestone. For the first time, Givat Haviva will be featured at the Jewish Federations of North America's General Assembly, on November 9, followed by our participation in American University's conference on shared society November 15 - 16. Both represent significant opportunities to broaden awareness and strengthen support for our mission.

Thank you for being part of this effort. Together, we are demonstrating that even in the most challenging times, progress is possible - and that each of us has a role in making it happen.

L'Shalom,

Jonathan Lack Executive Director & Board Member Friends of Givat Haviva

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The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) has invited Givat Haviva Director of Strategy Mohammad Darawshe to speak at the group’s largest annual gathering, the General Assembly (GA), in Washington, DC, on November 9.

The session, “Building a Shared Society: A Conversation with Mohammad Darawshe,” will be the first time Givat Haviva is on the JFNA GA agenda. In the conversation with moderator Renée Wizig-Barrios, President and CEO, Jewish Federation of Greater Houston, Darawshe “will reflect on his own journey, the experiences that shaped his commitment to coexistence, and the challenges and possibilities he sees for Israel today,” states the JFNA GA program. “What does it take to build trust across deep divides and what can we learn from the people working every day to create a more inclusive, connected Israel society?”

Click here to register for the JFNA GA.

Friends of Givat Haviva will host a panel discussion and dinner in Washington, DC, on Sunday, November 15, before the opening of the American University (AU) shared society conference. Mohammad Darawshe and Dikla Tomer Kaial, Director of Givat Haviva Jewish-Arab Center for Peace Education Department; Sami Jinich, Friends of Givat Haviva Community Engagement and Program Associate; and David Heller, Friends of Givat Haviva Board Chair Emeritus will be among the speakers at The Meltzer Schwartzberg Center for Israel Studies conference, planned in coordination with Friends of Givat Haviva.

View the invitation and event registration details.

During the month of October, Mohammad Darawshe continued to travel weekly throughout the United States, with multiday stays in Atlanta, Boston, Houston, New York and San Francisco, to spread the word about Givat Haviva’s educational programs improving understanding between Israel’s Jewish and Arab citizens. His key message was that despite profound challenges, progress is possible through education, engagement and a sustained commitment to shared society.

In addition, media sought Darawshe’s views in the runup to Israel’s election day on the priority issues for Arab citizens, potential Arab voter turnout and role of Arab political parties. “For Arab citizens, the first thing about elections is to assert citizenship, to assert equal participation in the political system. Basically, to say that we are part of this entity called the State of Israel, and we are not here as guests, we are as homeowners of the state,” Darawshe stated on NPR’s On Point the day before Israelis went to the polls.

Friends of Givat Haviva in Houston

Mohammad Darawshe brought a message of hope and cautious optimism to Houston during a four-day visit. He met with students and faculty at The Emery/Weiner School (EWS); addressed a gathering at Congregation Emanu El, co-sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston, an FOGH partner; and joined Amb. David Satterfield for a discussion at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.

His message resonated particularly strongly at EWS, where he addressed 400 students. “I just heard you address our Upper School students,” stated Justin Olitzki, EWS’ director of admissions. “To my great surprise, I found myself quietly weeping throughout. I have been starving for optimism in any form, and you are the first taste I’ve had in three long years. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”

At the prestigious Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University, Ambassador David Satterfield, the institute's director, engaged in a one-hour conversation with Mohammad before an audience of more than 200 – with additional viewers participating virtually – for a discussion titled “Israel, Arab Israelis, Palestinians: What Is Their Future Together?”

Watch Mohammad at the Baker Institute.

“Arab-Israeli citizens will play a role in the country’s present and the country’s future,” Amb. David Satterfield observed.

Ambassador David Satterfield, Director of the Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University, with Jonathan Lack and Mohammad Darawshe.

Congregation Emanu El's Rabbi Oren Hayon interviews Mohammad Darawshe.

From left to right: Robert Shoss, Board Chair, Jewish Federation of Greater Houston; Jonathan Lack; Sara Sandhaus, Senior Manager, Community Impact and Partnerships, Jewish Federation of Greater Houston; Josh Barvin; Mohammad Darawshe; and Renée Wizig-Barrio

Friends of Givat Haviva in Atlanta

In Atlanta, over two days, Mohammad addressed the J Street Leadership Summit, met with leadership at the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, addressed an American Jewish Committee Atlanta breakfast, and visited The Atlanta Journal-Constitution to brief the editorial board on Israel’s Arab citizens, Jewish-Arab relations, and Givat Haviva.

AJC Atlanta Region Director Dr. Sharon Goldman led the conversation with Mohammad.

Mohammad and FOGH Media Relations Advisor Kenneth Bandler met with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution editorial board.

Friends of Givat Haviva in San Francisco

On a four-day visit to the San Francisco region, Mohammad Darawshe met with Jewish Federation Bay Area and JCRC Bay Area leadership, addressed a group of students at the University of California Berkeley Helen Diller Institute for Jewish Law and Israel Studies, and met with students and faculty at the Jewish Community High School of the Bay. He spoke at four synagogues in the region -- Congregation Netivot Shalom, Berkeley, led by Rabbi Chai Levy; Congregation Beth Sholom, San Francisco, led by Rabbi Amanda Russell; Congregation Etz Chayim, Palo Alto, led by Rabbi Chaim Koritzinsky, a member of the FOGH National Rabbinic Cabinet; and Congregation Rodef Sholom, San Rafael, led by Rabbi Stacy Friedman.

“I’m really inspired by your work and by the kind of education you are. Thank you again for sharing so much of yourself and your work with our community,” said Adi Alouf, the Jewish Community High School of the Bay Director of Jewish and Student Life, Director of Social Justice and Inclusion, and Jewish Studies Teacher.

“Mohammad’s heartfelt presentations on his and his family’s own experiences as Arab citizens of Israel, of Givat Haviva’s vital educational work and the essential support of American Jews for building a shared society in Israel made an indelible impact on a variety of audiences who were eager to learn more,” said Friends of Givat Haviva Executive Director Jonathan Lack, who lives in the Bay Area and hosted an event in his home for Mohammad.

Mohammad Darawshe in conversation with Hellen Diller Institute Visiting Professor Yoni Furas (University of Haifa), at UC Berkeley Law School.

Rabbi Chaim Koritzinsky with Mohammad during luncheon conversation at Congregation Etz Chayim Palo Alto, CA.

Mohammad and Orli Bein, New Israel Fund Deputy Vice President, San Francisco Region, discuss Jewish and Arab Partnership in Israel During a Time of Crisis at Congregation Rodef Sholom in San Rafael.

From left to right: Irene Hodes, North Bay Regional Director of JCRC; Mohammad Darawshe; Laura Cherner, Chief Community Relations Officer, JCRC Bay Area; Jonathan Lack; and Abby Friedman, FOGH Board Member.	Mohammad Darawshe joined JCRC Bay Area's Laura Cherner for an intimate gathering hosted by Carey Hagglund Condy and Jonathan Lack.

From left to right: Rabbi-Cantor Elana Rosen-Brown of Congregation Rodef Sholom; Mohammad Darawshe, Director of Strategy at Givat Haviva; and Rabbi Brian Lurie of Congregation Rodef Sholom.	Mohammad speaking at Congregation Rodef Sholom

Adi Alouf, Director of Jewish and Student Life, Director of Social Justice and Inclusion, and Jewish Studies Teacher of the Jewish Community High School of the Bay introduces Mohammad.	Mohammad presenting to students at the Jewish Community High School of the Bay (JCHS)

Friends of Givat Haviva in Boston

Following Kiddush at Temple Emanuel in Newton, MA, Mohammad and Friends of Givat Haviva Board Chair Jeff Goodman engaged in a discussion about Givat Haviva's mission and programs strengthening the ties between Israel’s Jewish and Arab citizens. Watch Mohammad’s and Jeff’s conversation

While in the Boston area, Mohammad met with Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) and JCRC leadership, spoke at Temple Emunah in Lexington, and addressed a brunch at Lehrhaus.

Friends of Givat Haviva in New York

Rabbi Michelle Dardashti, a member of the FOGH National Rabbinic Cabinet, welcomed Mohammad to Kane Street Synagogue in Brooklyn, NY, where he addressed more than 125 congregants during Shabbat services.

Students in Givat Haviva’s intensive 2-month Arabic summer course speak of the experience in universally glowing terms. Many of them came to Givat Haviva because this was the only place they could find that teaches an intensive spoken Arabic course in a country where 20% of the citizens are native Arabic speakers. Classes run five days a week from 9 am to 5 pm. Some students enter the course with no knowledge of Arabic and some have already taken it for several years. By the end of the eight-week course all students can comfortably converse - and even hold debates - in Arabic.

"The course itself, it's amazing how much knowledge you can put in just two months. I mean I arrived here with absolutely no knowledge about the Arabic language,” says Yonatan, one of the students.

Read Arabic Studies Class Recontextualizes the “Language of the Enemy”

eJewish Philanthropy quoted Mohammad Darawshe in After landmark elections in Israel and U.S., 2,500 leaders flock to JFNA General Assembly in D.C.

The Boston Globe published Givat Haviva CEO Michal Sella’s oped, Three years after the attack, what are we teaching our children? on the October 7^th anniversary.

Atlanta Jewish Times published an interview with Mohammad Darawshe, Givat Haviva Brings Israeli Jews & Arabs Together

NPR featured Mohammad Darawshe discussing the Arab vote in Israel.

CNN International interviewed Mohammad Darawshe on Election Day in Israel.

Jewish Herald-Voice published Mohammad Darawshe offers hopeful perspectives on Jewish-Arab shared society in Israel during Houston visit

Washington Examiner quoted Mohammad in Arab Israeli parties emerge as wild card in elections.

JTA extensively quoted Mohammad in Arab parties are kingmakers, but will Israel’s Jewish leaders accept them?