/Wahat al-Salam the “Oasis of Peace”

Quick Facts about NSWAS Nurturing an “Oasis of Peace” ‣ 60 families - half Jewish, half The work of Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam stems from its cross-cultural Palestinian - live in the “Oasis of founding in the 1970s by Father Bruno Hussar who envisioned a place where Peace.” Jews, Muslims, and Christians would live together and learn to listen to, ‣ The village is home to the first understand, respect, and trust one another. Born in Egypt in 1911 to secular binational, bilingual & multicultural Jewish Hungarian parents, Bruno Hussar moved to France to study during his primary school in since 1983. early 20s and converted to Catholicism. In 1970, he convinced the abbots of ‣ Since its creation in 1979, more than the nearby Trappist Abbey to lease him land for an intentional interfaith and 50,000 youth and adults have multicultural community. On a barren hillside overlooking the Ayalon Valley, participated in the School for Peace Bruno’s dream was destined to grow and flourish - inspired by the phrase from programs. the Bible: “My people shall dwell in an oasis of peace” (Isaiah 18:32). Father Bruno named the new community Neve Shalom (in Hebrew) and Wahat al- ‣ The Pluralistic Spiritual Center has Salam (in Arabic), meaning “Oasis of Peace.” Today, 60 families reside in the become a leader in interfaith village - equal numbers of Jewish and - while another dialogue in Israel. 500 families remain on a waiting list. ‣ Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam has The community of Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam is a beacon of hope in the been nominated five times for the region building what could be a tangible reality for all people in the region. Nobel Peace Prize and is the This community is a microcosm demonstrating that Jews and Palestinians can recipient of many international live together. NSWAS is a role model for Palestinians and Jews, but it is also an prizes. international example for people in conflict.

Find Us Online Website: www.oasisofpeace.org Facebook: Wahat al-Salam - Neve Shalom Twitter: @oasisofpeaceus The Primary School The School for Peace The Pluralistic Spiritual Center The idea of creating an educational The School for Peace was established In memory of Father Bruno Hussar, framework that would express Neve in 1979 for the purpose of the Pluralistic Spiritual Center's Shalom/Wahat al-Salam’s ideals of conducting outreach educational activities draw inspiration from the coexistence and equality was born work. The SFP engages in encounter resources and spiritual traditions of together with the community's first work between Arabs and Jews. This the Middle East and the world at children. The idea took shape in the work is informed by the vision of a large. Programs focus on open inter- form of a binational nursery, quickly humane, egalitarian and just society. religious and inter-cultural dialogue followed by a kindergarten and a The goal of the encounters is to and the advancement of peace. primary school. develop the awareness of the The Center coordinates seminars and Formally founded in 1983, the participants towards the conflict and lectures on spiritual and ethical Primary School (K-6) is the first their role in it, as well as to enable values. Programs include “Dirasat,” bilingual, binational, multicultural them to explore and evolve their three seminars on Feminism in Islam, Jewish-Arab school in the region. identity through interaction with the the Image of Jesus in Hebrew Offering classes to about 250 other. During many years of Literature and A Christian Palestinian children in both Hebrew and Arabic experience the School has developed Reading of the Old Testament. an educational approach that places while recognizing issues of national Another program, “Mediation in a an emphasis on elements such as identities, the school draws 90% of Multicultural Context” is developing power relations and the exploration its students from communities a topology of mediation in a of ethnic and national identities. surrounding the village. multicultural society, aiming to Special activities include a state of A leader in dialogue and conflict publish a curriculum based on pilot the art Language Laboratory, a Multi- management, activities include training of mediators and mediator- Media Resource Center, an university courses, programs for trainers, focusing on the role and Archaeology Project where children women, training programs in process of mediation between the are uncovering a Byzantine floor, a facilitation and workshops for Jewish and Arab-Palestinian society Zoo Lab for interactions with animals teenagers. In recent years, programs in this context. supported by the United States and the Ecology Project to teach “Massa-Massar” brings together Agency for International children about environmental issues. young people to discover the stories Development and the European Other bilingual schools in the region of their shared homeland and Union have focused on creating a were created based on the model of rediscover hope in the possibility of cadre of leaders in civil society and Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam’s. living together in peace. developing negotiation frameworks for future peace agreements.

Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam is also home to a new Peace College, a Humanitarian Aid Program, a Youth Club and a Guest House.

THE AMERICAN FRIENDS OF NEVE SHALOM/WAHAT AL-SALAM encourages, supports and publicizes the projects of Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam, the “Oasis of Peace.” For more than thirty years, Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam has been dedicated to dialogue, cooperation and a genuine and durable peace between Arabs and Jews, Palestinians and . Contact us at: 12925 Riverside Drive, 3rd floor • Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 P: (818) 325-8884 • F: (818) 465-9498 • [email protected] • www.oasisofpeace.org