The Movement for Reform Judaism

In the first in our series on Israeli projects, we look at the work of an initiative that was set up to build a shared future for Israel’s Jewish and Arab citizens along the lines of co-existence and equality.

It came to prominence again earlier this month, when a dispute between neighbours in the Upper Galilee Druze town of Peki’in – not far from the Lebanon border – over the placement of a cell phone antenna erupted into a full-blown riot in which 16 police officers and civilians were injured. One female police officer was taken hostage by one of the families, but was soon released unharmed.

The Abraham Fund immediate expressed regret for the “use of violence in Peki’in,” urged the “police and Arab leadership to display restraint.” The fund believes that “policing in Arab communities must be conducted on the basis of ongoing dialogue with the local leadership.”

After the October 2000 events, the Abraham Fund set up a joint police-community initiative, whose goal was the improvement of the relationship between the police force and the Arab communities which it serves. It holds diversity and cultural sensitivity training programmes for police staff, planning and problem-solving partnerships between local police and Arab community leaders, joint educational programmes for neighbouring Arab/Jewish communities.

During last month’s visit to Israel, the leadership of the Movement for Reform Judaism visited the Arab Galilee town of Deir al-Asad and met Police Commander Zohar Dvir, the head of the Israel Police Valley District, and Superintendent Haviva Shefer from the police’s department for external relations and ombudsman. During a lively discussion – attended also by the Abraham Fund’s Mohammad Darawshe and Michal Fox - the group learned about the initiative, its rationale, challenges and recent developments.

The director of the Abraham Fund, Amnon Be'eri-Sulitzeano, recently told the Economist that the October 2000 events – which accompanied the start of the second intifada – were “a big bang in the co-existence world. Many activists realised that just bringing people together isn't enough.”

The Abraham Fund is also keen to help young Jewish and non-Jewish Israelis to understand each other.

To that end, it has set up its Language as a Cultural Bridge  programme in about 100 schools throughout Galilee.

In Israel, and with very few exceptions, Jewish and Arab children learn in separate school systems. In the Arab school system, Arabic, English and Hebrew are required subjects and an integral part of the curriculum.

In the Jewish school system, however, the teaching of Arabic is not a high priority – despite the fact that Arabic is Israel’s second official language. It is also the mother tongue of more than one million of its citizens.

The fund believes that language is a transmitter of cultural values, traditions, and identity, and not only a tool for communication.

“Learning Arabic language and culture facilitates an honest and informed dialogue between the two communities, in an atmosphere of co-operation and mutual respect. Teaching conversational Arabic and Arab culture in Jewish schools reduces fear and stereotypes, strengthens commitment to democracy, tolerance and diversity, and generates inter-group understanding.  It will encourage the next generation of leaders to build a shared future.”

In the Rakefet School, in Carmiel – opposite Deir al-Asad – members of the British delegation saw the scheme at work and spoke to a group of highly motivated 10 and 11 year olds, who were enjoying every minute of their lesson by Dina, a South Lebanese Christian who came over to Israel when its Army withdrew in May 2000.

UK Friends of the Abraham Fund Initiatives (www.abrahamfund.org.uk) is a UK charity set up earlier this year to support the work of the Abraham Fund in Israel. If you would like to join its email list, or learn more about its work, please email its co-ordinator at linda.bogod@abrahamfund.org.uk."

Click here for more information on the Abraham Fund.

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