News and Events

Hand in Hand's New Executive Director Tours U.S. in May

Shalom "Shuli" Dichter made his first visit to the States and Canada as Hand in Hand's new executive director from May 16 to June 3. Dr. Thabet Abu-Ras, co-chair of Hand in Hand's board of directors in Israel and a lecturer at Ben-Gurion University, traveled with him.

Jerusalem Students Visit the States in November

Yael (left) and SiwarTwo students from Hand in Hand's Jerusalem high school toured the West Coast of the United States in November 2010.

Project Harmony Seeking Summer Camp Counselors and Other Staff

Project Harmony, a music and theater program seeking to bridge the divide between the Hebrew- and Arabic-speaking populations of Israel, is bringing its wonderful summer camp to Jerusalem again this summer, July 3 to July 28.

Hand in Hand Student Delegation to Sweden in May

Two students from Hand in Hand's Jerusalem school traveled to Sweden for a week in May 2011 as the guests of Härnösand High School, located about 190 miles north of Stockholm.

Former Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni Visits Kfar Kara in May

Tzipi Livni, influential member of Knesset (Israeli Parliament) and former foreign minister, visited Hand in Hand's Bridge Over the Wadi School in Kfar Kara on May 13, 2011.

Pop Star Shakira Visits Hand in Hand

Shakira, center, surrounded by Hand in Hand students and staffInternational pop star Shakira delighted the children at Hand in Hand with a visit to the Jerusalem school on June 21, 2011.

Jerusalem Students Achieve Top National Scores

For Israeli high school students, the national matriculation exams are all-important. The results can determine their futures: their place in the universities and the army, their job prospects — are all shaped by their matriculation scores. Starting in the 10th grade, the exams increase in frequency and difficulty.

Hand in Hand Graduates its First Class of Seniors

The first graduates of Hand in Hand's bilingual, integrated school system received their high school diplomas at a festive ceremony on June 29, 2011. The 14 students were the first to complete 12 years of formal education at the high school in Jerusalem. They were part of a school body of 530 students.

For the New School Year: Letter From the Executive Director

Excerpted letter from Executive Director Shuli Dichter to Hand in Hand’s high school students at the start of the 2011 academic year Although this is a bilingual school, I will make my remarks primarily in Hebrew, since that is my mother tongue and because Hebrew is understood by everyone here. You don't know me yet, and I don't know you personally yet either. I hope that this year we will be able to meet.

Hand in Hand Students to Visit U.S. in October

Two students from Hand in Hand's Jerusalem high school will visit the United States in late October and early November as ambassadors of bilingual, integrated education. Haneen Kinani, a Muslim Arab in 12th grade (left), and Yael Keinan, Jewish and in 11th grade (right), will tour San Antonio, Austin, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles.

Jerusalem High School Welcomes New Principal

Hand in Hand: Center for Jewish-Arab Education in Israel started its 2011-2012 school year with a new principal leading the Jerusalem high school. Welcome to the team, Arik Saporta. At 43, Arik has already experienced and accomplished much. Born and raised in Jerusalem, he spent a year of community service after high school with the Scouts Youth Movement in Beit Shean, before serving three years in the intelligence branch of the Israeli Defense Forces.

Galilee School Holds Ceremony Honoring Prime Minister Rabin

Hand in Hand's Galilee school held a memorial last week to celebrate the life of the late Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin, assassinated on Nov. 4, 1995.

Musical Starring Hand in Hand Students Debuts Dec. 8 in Jerusalem

"Bridges," a musical performance starring Hand in Hand students alongside Norwegian and Swedish students, will debut Thursday, Dec. 8, in Jerusalem. In creation since 2009, "Bridges" is an international collaboration between Hand and Hand's Jerusalem school and a handful of schools and colleges in Norway and Sweden. Students will travel to one another's countries for performances of the play, which blends dance, poems and music in a multicultural showcase.

Executive Director to Co-Facilitate Conference on Jewish-Arab Relations in D.C.

Hand in Hand Executive Director Shuli Director will co-faciliate a conference about Jewish-Arab relations on Jan. 22 at American University in Washington, D.C. "Strengthening Israel's Democracy: Arab Citizens of Israel" is the second annual community education day of the Greater Washington Forum on Israeli Arab Issues, convened by the Naomi and Nehemiah Cohen Foundation.

Dan Hotels Makes Holiday Donation Honoring Foreign Diplomats

Dan Hotels, a luxury hotel chain in Israel, has made a generous donation to Hand in Hand: Center for Jewish-Arab Education in Israel in honor of its foreign diplomat clientele. Sheldon Ritz (left), director of sales for embassies and government ministries, presented a check to Hand in Hand Executive Director Shuli Dichter last week. The donation is in lieu of sending Christmas gifts to embassy clients.

Government Delegation Pays Important Visit to Hand in Hand

Three officials of the State of Israel responded to an invitation from Hand in Hand to visit its Jerusalem campus on Dec. 15.

Knesset Speaker Rivlin Responds to "Price Tag" Attacks

Singer/Songwriter David Broza Visits Wadi Ara School

Israeli singer/songwriter David Broza visited Hand in Hand's Wadi Ara school on Jan. 11, singing with the children and leading a discussion about peace. Broza, who penned the anthem "Yihye Tov" ("Things Will Get Better"), is known around the world for his eclectic musical styles and passionate voice for coexistence.

Jerusalem School Targeted by Extremist Vandals

Co-founder Lee Gordon responds to a disturbing Feb. 7 graffiti attack on the Jerusalem campus:

Hand in Hand Responds to Racist Vandalism with Peace Rally

More than 250 Jewish and Arab students, family members and other friends from around Israel participated in the "Rally Against Racism" at Hand in Hand's Jerusalem school on Feb. 17. The rally was a show of support for the integrated, bilingual school, vandalized Feb. 7 with racist graffiti in an apparent "Price Tag" attack.

Hand in Hand Wins National Science Competition

Junior high students from Hand in Hand's Jerusalem campus took first place in a prestigious national science competition sponsored by the Ilan Ramon Foundation on Jan. 30. Over the course of four months, Hand in Hand students advanced through three rounds of quiz questions focusing on astronomy and space, including a project about finding and extracting water on the moon. Our students made their presentations in both Hebrew and Arabic, the only school to do so and a first for the competition.

USAID Awards $1 Million Grant to Hand in Hand

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has awarded a $1 million grant to Hand in Hand: Center for Jewish-Arab Education in Israel to be distributed over the next three years. The funding, which starts this spring, supports Executive Director Shuli Dichter's vision of building "shared communities" between Jewish and Arab citizens of Israel.

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