Middle school students enjoyed an engaging afternoon while parents had an informative evening with Mohammad Darawshe, a faculty member of the Shalom Hartman Institute and the Director of Strategy for Givat Haviva. This organization aims to establish a “model society in Israel” emphasizing the importance of a shared society between Jewish and Arab communities. Founded in 1949, Givat Haviva is the oldest institution in Israel dedicated to promoting reconciliation between these two groups.
Middle School Session
Mr. Darawshe’s presentation for middle schoolers focused on how stereotypes develop, the importance of avoiding stereotyping others, and how living in mostly non-integrated communities in Israel—where Jewish and Arab people rarely interact—can lead to false narratives about one another.
Adult Session
In the evening session, Mohammad discussed the mission and work of Givat Haviva. He shared data reflecting the significant decrease in trust between Arab and Jewish Israelis since October 7th and how that distrust is impacting life for both populations on college campuses and in the workplace. Most notably, Mohammad spoke of the importance of developing well-trained facilitators who can bring people together to talk, listen, and help each see the humanity in the other. This is the work Givat Haviva is known for.
As Rodeph Sholom School strives to uphold our commitment to a “lifelong love of and responsibility toward the State of Israel and its people (ahavat Yisrael),” we were thrilled to welcome Mohammad Darawshe and learn about the extraordinary efforts Givat Haviva is making in the region and how we can contribute to that effort. We extend our deepest gratitude to Mr. Darawshe for taking the time to meet with our community.