Hand in Hand Center for Jewish Arab Educaon in

January 2015 1 Hand In Hand – Overview • Vision: “Learning Together – Living Together” • Integrated Bilingual Schools – 5 Schools in Different Locaons; 2014 Enrollment is 1157 – Integrated Jewish-Arab student body and teaching staff – Classes taught in both Hebrew and ; MOE approved curriculum – Recognized, accredited & supervised by government (except ) – Government funds about 50% of actual school operang costs “in-kind” by allocaon of “teacher hours” • Organized Shared Communies Around Each School – 5 Locaons: Same as the HIH Schools – Parcipants are Jewish and Arab parents, staff, and other interested cizens – Some acvies are normal and fun: men’s basketball team in ; adult study groups; community gardening – Other acvies respond to external stresses: protecve escorts for HIH children harassed on busses; vigils and walks for peace and togetherness during summer 2014

January 2015 2 Opening Day 2014 – Jerusalem Grades K through 12 | Enrollment = 624

January 2015 3 Opening Day 2014 – Galilee Grades K through 6 | Enrollment = 130

January 2015 4 Opening Day 2014 – Kfar Kara Grades K through 6 | Enrollment = 240

January 2015 5 Opening Week 2014 – Jaffa Nursery to Kindergarten | Enrollment = 93

"The impact of Hand in Hand is so posive in Jaffa. It is historical. It is not just another school. It is fundamentally different than all other schools or specialty schools. This school will help the city overcome tensions in the present and the future.” Ami Katz, Head of Municipal Administraon in Jaffa January 2015 6 Opening Week 2014 – Haifa Grades Pre-K | Enrollment = 70

January 2015 7 Summer 2014 in Jerusalem In Times of Conflict – HIH Community Members Walk Together In Friendship

“In these days, when all hope for sanity seems lost, the Hand in Hand community is a beacon of light, sharp and clear, that allows me to breath and not give up on the hope for a normal life for all of the human beings in this land. It is empowering to see that the circle is expanding, that more and more January 2015 people refuse to be enemies.” 8

Summer 2014 in Kafr Qara “Neighbors in Peace”

During this summer’s conflict, Hand in Hand community members in organized weekly vigils to proclaim peace between neighbors. January 2015 9

Summer 2014 in Jaffa

Weekly Vigils For Shared Living

Hundreds of Hand in Hand community members gathered on Jaffa’s main street on many Fridays during this past summer’s conflict. Adults and children, Jews and Arabs, the community members stood together against racism, incitement and violence, and carrying signs that read: “We Refuse To Be Enemies” and "Let’s Grow Up Together“

January 2015 10 Arson Aack on Jerusalem School Followed By Outpouring of Public Support Sunday, November 30, 2014 • School opens on-me, with nearly 100% aendance of students & staff, cheered by hundreds of supporters including students from many other Jerusalem schools

• Visits of Support From Minister of Educaon, Mayor & Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem, MKs Tzippi Livni, Moshe Feiglin and Uri Ariel and others

“Harming this school is a horrific crime perpetrated by people who want to destroy any Saturday -- November 29, 2014 place that creates real cooperaon between Jerusalem School 1st Grade Classrooms Jews and Arabs despite our fears and Burned in Arson Aack differences. We will not let them do this. The “Death To Arabs” and “No Coexistence municipality of Jerusalem fully supports the With Cancer” Spray Painted on Walls school and we will ensure their connued work.” Rachel Azaria, Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem January 2015 11

Public Support Following Arson Aack

“you are proof that we can live “. . .it was inspiring to see the together in peace . . . .” teachers and students . . . and the Reuven Rivlin, incredible resilience being shown President of Israel by the school.”

January 2015 US Ambassador Dan Shapiro & Julie Fisher12

Public Support Following Arson Aack

On Friday, December 5, thousands of Jews "Now is not the me for either pessimism or and Arabs from all over Israel marched to opmism, neither despair nor dreamy show their solidarity with Hand in Hand wishes. Now is the me to work. To build. To walk together. Day in, day out. Year in, year out.” January 2015 13 Kfar Qara Student Council Elecon Day

Learning to be good cizens of a modern democracy is an important part of the everyday experience at Hand in Hand schools.

January 2015 14 Special News From Jerusalem Hand in Hand students welcome Pope Francis I to Jerusalem

“Our school was chosen to welcome the Pope because we are the only school in Jerusalem that includes the diversity of faiths.” January 2015 15

Hand in Hand – Future Plans

• Expand HIH Schools to 10+ Locaons in 10 Years – Establish 5 addional HIH schools between 2015 & 2020 (locaons TBD) – Grow each school to opmum size & grade level with highest academic standards • Establish organized shared community with each school – Engage 20,000+ individuals – Make acvies of shared communies part of normal daily life • Build partnerships with other providers of Integrated Bilingual Educaon (NGO’s, municipalies, MOE) • Use schools and communies to inspire increased support for social inclusion and civic equality in Israel

January 2015 16 Conclusion: NOW Is The Time To Expand The Hand in Hand Network of Schools & Communies The educaonal model developed by Hand in Hand screams for much greater support . . . . Now is the me to replicate it “So Inbar and Mouran and their fellow throughout the students teach us a crical lesson . . . . one act of faith can make a country . . . .

miracle.” “A Worthy Response To Racist Pyromaniacs” President Barack Obama Haaretz Editorial, December 2, 2014 (December 17, 2014) hp://www.haaretz.com/opinion/1.629536

January 2015 17