Events
Active Children A day of activity at the Wingate Institute, 12 February 2008
The 'activity village' at the Wingate Institute is a very special place. A place of real fun for the children and also for those fortunate enough to accompany them on their day of activity.
The children from the fourth grade at the Hassan Arafe and the Itamar Ben Avi schools in Jaffa went to the village as part of the multicultural project run by A New Way. In the framework of this project three meetings have already been held, meetings which concentrated on drama and art under the direction of the professional facilitators of the association. This time the children left their home town of Jaffa for a day aimed at turning them into 'active children' --namely, active sports.
However, as already said, there was much more to this day. The children learned that sport is important and good, but that, in addition, this was a day of pure pleasure. A day of fun, but not a day for lazing around. On the contrary, the children learned many important lessons: order and obedience, responsibility, cooperation, striving for achievement, respect for others, and much more. The main contribution came from the wonderful and experienced leaders at the village, who knew how to achieve discipline and order without raising their voices, shouting, or punishing. They managed to inspire all with motivation: the motivation to succeed, and the wish to see their friends succeeding as well.
A major contribution was through the practical and clever educational policy: everyone joins in, and all could succeed; every achievement contributes to the success of the entire group; the activities are varied and enjoyable.
The children pass through four stages: a game of basketball and volleyball by simulation; an introduction to capoera accompanied by the beating of enormous Brazilian drums; a game of challenge in which the group has to guide a long pole through twists and turns, an exercise which demands a high level of cooperation, patience, and initiative - and they were very successful! In addition there was an obstacle course which necessitated speed and balance.
And the main point: during all of this activity it was impossible to differentiate between the pupils from Hassan Arafe and those from Itamar Ben Avi, impossible to say who is Jewish and who is Arab - all tried hard and enjoyed the joint activity.
The accompanying team, the members of A New Way who initiated and organized this wonderful event, could only be impressed and feel satisfaction: Illana, the coordinator of the project; Shosh and Yael the experienced volunteers of the organization; Dala and Fuad, teachers at the Hassan Arafe school, Hadas, the teacher from the Itamar Ben Avi school; and Silvana, the mother of Yana, who joined the event.
Finally, many thanks to the Wingate Institute and to Coca Cola who support this activity and enable it to take place.
Music in aid of acceptance of the 'other' and Jewish--Arab coexistence
The launching of the new album of Israeli music by Putumayo World Music attracted a large crowd, which filled Club 24 in the Tel Aviv port on the evening of Sunday, October 14, 2007.
Putumayo produces select albums of music of the world and this time chose to assemble some of the best music produced in Israel. Alongside known artists already internationally recognized, like David Broza, Amal Murkus, and the project of Idan Raichel, there were also gifted artists at the beginning of their career. The album presents the multicultural Israeli experience. It includes artists who are influenced by the oriental Mediterranean musical tradition and Ethiopian music together with musicians who are part of the cosmopolitan scene in Tel Aviv. The participating artists, both Jews and Arabs, both Israeli-born and immigrants, convey a message of coexistence.
This spirit, which is characteristic of Putumayo World Music from its inception, is behind the decision of the company to donate the proceeds from the event and two percent of all sales of the disk in Israel to the two nonprofit associations, A New Way and Latet. The choice of A New Way was not by chance. It is the result of the identity between the aims of the two groups: the strong desire to advance the dialogue between nations, to bring different cultures together, and to promote tolerance and understanding throughout the world.
Some members of A New Way were present at the event, and firstly Dr Tikva Bracha, the executive director of A New Way, who was at the forefront of the cooperation between A New Way and Putumayo. This was a wonderful start to the activities of A New Way in the new school year.
An enjoyable meeting
For the sixth-grade pupils from the al-Zahara and HaMaapilim schools in Lod, the date of Tuesday, 8 May 2007, marked a special experience, an event organized by A New Way, which has been arranging various activities in Lod over the last few years. The organization brings together Jewish and Arab pupils, all residents of the town, close neighbors and yet distant strangers. This time a major event was organized and all the pupils of the sixth grade were invited. stories of those who were born here and were uprooted from their homes and their land, from Biram in the Galilee and from Ein Hud on the Carmel. All share the feeling of having been torn away which is shared by all refugees, and the strong feeling of longing for the splendors of the past in the places they were forced to leave.
About 180 pupils, accompanied by their teachers and some members of A New Way, assembled on the lawns of the Community Center of Kefar Bilu. The morning was spent playing cheerful games and holding competitions organized by the experienced youth leaders of 'Rikma Enoshit'. The leaders divided the children into six groups, each including both Jewish and Arab pupils, and for three hours the groups did their best to succeed and to win. To achieve this aim they learned to cooperate, to help each other, to sing and encourage their own groups, and together enjoyed the activities which children love: to play, and to be energetic, cheerful, and enthusiastic.
This was a morning of fun and imparted an important lesson: our neighbors, the 'others,' are so much like us, they are children just as we are, and it is possible to live together in peace and in friendship.
A visit to the Arab-Hebrew Theater in Jaffa
The play 'Longing' produced by the Arab-Hebrew Theater in Jaffa tells the story of many people in this country: the tales of refugees, displaced people, and emigrants. The actors, Jews and Arabs, tell the stories of those who were forced to leave their homes and their culture and arrived here from Berlin, from Cairo, from Tashkent, and also the stories of those who were born here and were uprooted from their homes and their land, from Biram in the Galilee and from Ein Hud on the Carmel. All share the feeling of having been torn away which is shared by all refugees, and the strong feeling of longing for the splendors of the past in the places they were forced to leave.
The principals and teachers from the al-Zahara and HaMaapilim schools in Lod sat in the audience, and closely followed the stories which were presented on the platforms around the small theater hall. Before the play, Dr Tikva Bracha, the executive director of A New Way, introduced all the participants, some of whom already knew each other from previous meetings. All spoke enthusiastically of their love for the children and for their work at the schools. If only it had been possible to have another round of introductions in which everyone could tell his personal story and that of his family we surely would have heard stories very similar to those told by the actors. Stories of refugees and the children of refugees, and stories of uprooted people. However, even if these stories have not yet been told, all those present at the theater that evening left with strong emotions and with a deeper feeling of understanding and identification.
The evening was initiated and organized by Hassan Shohana, the principal of al-Zahara, and was enthusiastically supported by Orna Shalev, the principal of HaMaapilim. Cooperation was possible due to the project of A New Way among the pupils from the two schools over the past years, which, according to Orna, provided an important contribution, enabling these neighbors, so close and yet so distant, to get to know each other.
The meeting at Neve Shalom
It would not have been possible to find a more suitable venue than Neve Shalom for holding a seminar on the subject of coexistence. This village was established by Jews and Arabs as a joint community searching constantly for another reality, one of equality, in which every member could give full expression to his identity.Pupils from the eleventh grade of the Jaljulie High School and the Rothberg High School in Ramat Hasharon who arrived at the seminar at noon on 14 December 2006, began this dialogue about a year ago, and continued at eight meetings which took place under the patronage of A New Way. The seminar at Neve Shalom was preceded by a very successful meeting of the pupils together with their parents.
During the seminar the pupils toured the village, and heard a review from two of the old-timers, Ilan Frish and Eyas Shebeta, who is also a coordinator of projects for A New Way.
During the evening the pupils participated in creative drama workshops and saw the moving film 'A Trumpet in the Wadi' which depicts the complicated reality of coexistence in a mixed Israeli town. After the film a surprise awaited the pupils: a meeting with the main actress, Haula Dibsi, who is also a member of Neve Shalom.. Haula was able to enthrall the pupils due to her charismatic character and her direct answers. Despite the brief time available, she managed to show them the difficulties, but also the prospects, involved in coexistence.
The next day the pupils heard a most informative lecture on the coexistence of Jews and Arabs in Israel, a lecture which mainly focused on the demographic aspects. During the break following the lecture the pupils demonstrated the possibility of coexistence by a joint basketball game which was a perfect expression of the ties formed among them during the meetings. During the closing discussion pupils brought up a variety of different subjects and also discussed barriers and difficulties, and also progress and a more open approach. The bottom line of the closing discussion was sharp and clear: all participants stressed the importance of the project, and asked the association to enable a continuation of the meetings.
A summary of the past year -- at the sea shore
'When the cannons roar the muse are silent' runs the well-known saying. But this is not so with A New Way. Indeed, no one imagined that on the very date that the annual general meeting was to take place -- on 8 August 2006 -- we would be at the height of the second war in Lebanon. A difficult and painful war which aroused strong emotions, and left its mark on all of us, both Jews and Arabs -- but it did not diminish the success of the event. Maybe just the opposite. During such a time it was even more important to be present at the meeting, to meet our friends from the 'other' group and to reassure ourselves that the cannon and rockets were not able to spoil the friendships which had been formed, the deep sense of obligation, and the strong feeling that we have no other way than to work together.The meeting in Jaffa, at the Abu Nassar Hinawi restaurant, facing the blue sea, was almost like a family meeting: many hugs and kisses, much back-slapping and laughter, and many stories. There was real joy over actual meeting itself, but also a feeling of satisfaction about the end of an active and successful year.
As usual, the meeting was divided into two parts. The first and formal part was devoted to the general meeting of the organization, and followed the rules of procedure. The accountant presented the financial report for the current year and showed that, despite the great difficulty in getting financial support, the association had succeeded in widening and deepening its activity and managed to reach the end of the year without a deficit. The chairman, Amos Lapidot, and the executive director, Dr Tikva Bracha, reported on the activity of A New Way during the year and, as is their way, spoke briefly and modestly.
During the second and less formal part, we heard a fascinating lecture by Amos Lapidot on the importance and relevance of democracy and equality, which reminded us of our aims and why they are so important. We then enjoyed the music of Tal and Bassel. We parted with real hopes and renewed energy for the activities of A New Way in the coming school year.
A Workshop in the countryside: Kerem Maharal: Tuesday, 11 July
When we boarded the minibus which took us to the course we really did not know what to expect. And I must admit that when we reached our destination we were rather taken aback. To where did they bring us? True, the view is beautiful, but what exactly will we do here in the middle of nowhere? The setting rather resembled a youth camp -- mud huts and toilets without running water, but after a short while we began to fit in with the surroundings and atmosphere with growing enthusiasm.The person who established this site, on a green hill by Kerem Maharal, gave full credit to the nature and the beauty of the surroundings and gave our time there a sense of magical charm. This feeling was enhanced by the sun-shades which allowed the breeze to penetrate in all directions, the shade of the giant oak tree, the music of a shepherd's reed pipe -- joined by Fuad on his darbuka -- and of course by the food which was pure, natural, and healthy The calm atmosphere influenced all of us, and with the renewed contacts between members of the association, both Jews and Arabs, volunteers and instructors, hearts opened up and conversation flowed.
The content was also special. The first part was led by Amit Segal of the Keren Shefa group, and with great skill and sensitivity he gave out exercises in inter-personal and group communication. The second part was directed by Tikva, Eyas, and Yael, who led a discussion on the educational activity of the organization during the year. The points raised were important and from what was said one could feel the deep sense of obligation of all participants. At the end we experienced a special activity facilitated by Yael and Eyas, in which every participant was given the opportunity to open up to the group members, to get to know them better, and to expose them to some of his feelings and sensitivities.
There is no doubt this course benefited all of us and as a result we will be better facilitators and better volunteers. We learned to be more open, more tolerant, more attentive, and more willing to accept the other. The results could already be felt on the way home, in the minibus, when everyone was freer and more joyful, like school children returning from an end-of-year trip. The volunteers from Lod broke out in song, Fuad accompanied them on his darbuka, and all enthusiastically joined in.
The parent-pupil meeting to mark the work of A New Way at the HaMaapilim and al-Zahara schools in Lod, 21/6/2006
HaMaapilim is situated in an old building , but every corner shows evidence of the efforts by the staff to care for the place. The principal Orna Shalev, Sima Baruchis the class teacher and the children of the fifth grade and their parents joyfully receive the guests -- the fifth grade pupils from al-Zahara with whom they met many times during the school year, and their parents. Also present of course are the dedicated volunteers of A New Way –Nihaya Abdu El Hadi, Samira Arandes, Shosh Shahori, and Yael Peled -- who acconpanied the project with dedication, and with them are the members of A New Way -- the director Dr Tikva Bracha, and the coordinators of the projects Eyas Shebeta and Yael Gur. All are happy to meet and are excited about the festive event celebrating the end of the year.It all starts with a surprise. Samira, who recorded all the meetings on her video camera, shows a short film. The children watch, fascinated at seeing themselves on the screen. After the film it is time for greetings. The two school principals and the director of the organization welcome all and stress the importance of the meetings between the children and their parents -- both Jews and Arabs -- neighbours who are so close and yet so far. Pupils also speak. The pupils from HaMaapilim give a welcome in the form of rap dance and a pupil from al-Zahara reads a greeting in verse. Then come the performances, and no doubt -- all of the pupils want to become actors and singers. All were born to be stars! The girls from HaMaapilim sing the song 'Salaam aleichem, let us say shalom' in a very professional way and two girls from al-Zahara give a brilliant presentation of the well-known fable about the poor shoemaker, his wife, and the good dwarfs. The pupils from HaMaapilim present the song 'Yahad' accompanied by darbukas, and the boys from al-Zahara excel in a lively debka dance. The performance ends and it is time for presents. The school principals present flowers and certificates to the members of A New Way and all pupils receive a gift from the pupils of the other school and from the organization. Then all go outside to enjoy the refreshments so carefully prepared by the hosts, all get together, excited, and thank each other for the cooperation, wish each other well, and hope that the positive activity will continue in the coming year.
Parent-pupil meeting to mark the end of a year of activity at the Weizmann and al-Zahara schools in Jaffa, 18/06/06
At 6.00 pm many pupils and parents, mostly mothers, assemble in the well-kept library at the Weizmann Junior School in Jaffa. The children are dressed for the occasion and they are happy and excited. When Tal Goldstein and Fuad Jubran the instructors, arrive, the children rush to help them bring the darbukas from the car. The place is slightly overcrowded, but room is found for all. Jewish and Arab mothers sit together. Many visitors arrive in honour of the event: the principals of the two schools, Orna Babayov and L'umran Abu Cheit, the teachers, and the senior educational staff; Dr. Tikva Bracha (the executive director of the organization), the project coordinators Yael Gur and Eyas Shebeta, and the dedicated volunteers,Raja Kahuji and Lamia Chatib and Sylafa Mua'shar, who accompanied the project week after week.Of course one cannot start without the heartfelt greetings, and all give credit to all. The school principals present the organization members with flowers and letters of appreciation, the members of A New Way praise the cooperation of the pedagogical staff. And indeed, anyone who followed the project during the year knows how much patience, equanimity, initiative, and good will is needed for the project to succeed.
The heroes of the event take the stage: the Jewish and Arab children of the two schools and their dedicated and excellent instructors: Tal Goldstein and Fuad Jubran. The children are excited and somewhat shy due to the audience, but mainly are very happy to appear and concerned that the performance should succeed. Their eyes are fixed on Tal and Fuad, but also search out their mothers who are among the audience and watching them. Tal and Fuad hardly exchange a word: they mainly instruct the children by movement and sound -- a smile, and an encouraging and informative look.
What is on the program?
A representative example of the rhythmics program run by A New Way during the year: intercultural meetings based on sound and on movement. Thus for example, second grade children sing a song in Hebrew and in Arabic and dance to music written by Beethoven, and then they move on to the rhythm of an Arabic dance tune. Next third graders appear, dancing with ease and enjoyment at a jazz tempo. However, there is no doubt that the height of the performance is the appearance of the third-grade darbuka band. This is a performance in which all participate -- each child receives a darbuka. They listen to the rhythm played by Fuad and follow him accurately. Next each child becomes a soloist who can decide on his own rhythm and all his friends follow him in unison. The audience joins in with clapping and they encourage the young players to give an encore. And whoever looks at the faces of the children cannot but notice the joy and pleasure. They love to appear before their parents, and are very proud of their success. But above all they simply enjoy playing together. The joy of drumming comes from deep down -- it comes from the heart and gives all a feeling of friendship and of belonging, a feeling shared by all in the room during that enchanted evening.
