Try to imagine Jewish and Arab children growing up together in a relationship of love and friendship – studying, investigating, singing and playing together in an atmosphere of mutual esteem and respect. A New Way transforms this vision into a daily reality, and enables an ongoing dialogue based on multicultural equality in Israel.

Can one turn a dream into reality?

A New Way tries to break through the circle of alienation and enmity via meetings between Jewish and Arab schools, in which pupils, parents, teachers, volunteers, and the community all participate. We believe that through joint activity and experience it is possible to reduce the feelings of alienation which results from differences in culture, language, and religion.

For the participants the meetings open up a window to another culture: to holidays and festivals, customs, and the day-to-day life. The direct contact provides an opportunity to get to know the other as human beings who share much that is both mutual and similar.

A New Way was set up in 1998 by intellectuals who fought for the values of toleration, equality, and fraternity. The awareness of the urgent need to strengthen democracy and pluralism, to empower weak social groups, and the need for respect for 'the other' as well as a willingness to work to change the existing situation – these are the features which unite the members of the organization and its volunteers. Thousands of Jewish and Arab children of kindergarten age, at primary, elementary, and high schools have already participated in meetings arranged by A New Way, while music workshops, drama, art, and sport provide a bridge via which they learn to get to know each other.

A New Way works in mixed towns such as Jaffa and Upper Nazareth, with the Zevulun regional council, and in neighboring towns such as Ramat Hasharon with Tira and Jaljulia, Abu Gosh and Mevaseret Zion, Kaabiya and Hadera, the communities in Emek Yisrael and Yafia.

A New Way runs projects in kindergartens, in primary, elementary, and  high schools throughout the country. The project provides a link between different communities and involves the heads of these communities, heads of the departments of education, volunteers from the community, school staff, and the parents of the pupils. Due to the cooperation and the firm involvement of  the community our dream can become the reality. We hope that the success of the meetings in both communities will result in an awareness of the possibility of coexistence, of good neighborly relations,  and of mutual respect as equal and cooperating citizens of Israel.

It is possible to invest now in the next generation

The young group drawn from both Jewish and Arab schools will lead the community and strengthen it. The basic assumption is that pupils who participate in the project undergo a process of change due to the intensive meeting with the other, and as a result will be able to spread the idea of coexistence in the school and in the community.