For at least 25 years i have stated, written, advocated for educational programmes such as this one. To achieve a viable solution to the incessant wars between Arab and Jews, all our children - Israeli and Palestinian - must learn to respect one another by creating shared spaces, to remove hatred from curriculum and replace it with empathy, to develop trust by becoming trustworthy, and to live in peace because we have learned respect, empathy, and trust. This is how to overcome terrorism. An eye for an eye leads only to blindness.
“It sounds trite, but in a country still working to face the moral truth of Occupation, in which the polarization is constant, racism rampant, and in which there is little trust on all sides.. this matters.”
It doesn’t sound trite. This is not small. It holds hope and possibility of a different way of doing things.
Thank you so much for this, Danya. This concrete work towards peace and connection isn't glamorous and it isn't fast, but it endures and you're right, it provides us with a template for a way out of this endless struggle.
As a pre-school teacher, I began to follow the Hand in Hand school years ago. I wholeheartedly admire the families who participate. Now that I am a grandmother, I hope my American-Israeli grandchild will be able to attend the program when he is old enough!
I’m curious what kind of personal work prepared the staff to be able to continue the work and guide the community in naming truths and staying open hearted.
For at least 25 years i have stated, written, advocated for educational programmes such as this one. To achieve a viable solution to the incessant wars between Arab and Jews, all our children - Israeli and Palestinian - must learn to respect one another by creating shared spaces, to remove hatred from curriculum and replace it with empathy, to develop trust by becoming trustworthy, and to live in peace because we have learned respect, empathy, and trust. This is how to overcome terrorism. An eye for an eye leads only to blindness.
We should all be so lucky to learn to walk Hand in Hand. Thank you for your work. 💜
This is exactly the story we need to read right now. Thank you so much for sharing this bit of your life with us.
Bless you. Thank you. So many prayers.
“It sounds trite, but in a country still working to face the moral truth of Occupation, in which the polarization is constant, racism rampant, and in which there is little trust on all sides.. this matters.”
It doesn’t sound trite. This is not small. It holds hope and possibility of a different way of doing things.
You can’t fight violence with violence.
Thank you so much for this, Danya. This concrete work towards peace and connection isn't glamorous and it isn't fast, but it endures and you're right, it provides us with a template for a way out of this endless struggle.
Thank you so very much, Danya, for amplifying this powerful model of hope....
It’s a beautiful story, and a great reminder that no amount of darkness can overcome even the smallest light.
Thank you. This is beautiful, especially in the midst of horror.
As a pre-school teacher, I began to follow the Hand in Hand school years ago. I wholeheartedly admire the families who participate. Now that I am a grandmother, I hope my American-Israeli grandchild will be able to attend the program when he is old enough!
There is so much more hope and nuance in this than anything else I’ve read in months.
Thank you dear friend for sharing this with us.
Thank you for naming what is true, Rabbi.
I’m curious what kind of personal work prepared the staff to be able to continue the work and guide the community in naming truths and staying open hearted.
Another such model: https://youtu.be/BJZ5R-Dyy6k?si=nj8kKwTo4oE8v2P7
This video of the start of the school year--with all of the shared joy among Israeli Jewish and Palestinian students--now breaks my heart: https://www.facebook.com/100009027471414/videos/6396421760411413/
The only truth that must be taught is that this land is called Palestine and that Israel is an occupation.