Meet Soha and Lilach, Co-Teachers at the HIH Kfar Saba "Alif-Beit" School

Soha Mansour and Lilach Borovsky-Sapir are two halves of a co-teaching team at the Hand in Hand Kfar Saba “Alif-Beit” School. Together, they’ve continued to model partnership, mutual respect, and inclusion for their students—even throughout the upheavals of the past year. Our teachers may not wear capes, but they chose to become peace-building educators—and that makes them real-life superheroes. None of this work would be possible without their consistent commitment, courage, resilience, and compassion.

We recently spoke with both Lilach and Soha, and asked them some important questions about what it’s like teaching at a Hand in Hand school, especially during times of ongoing crisis. Read more below to get to know Soha and Lilach!

Lilach Borovsky Sapir, Homeroom Teacher at the Kfar Saba “Alif-Beit” School

Who am I?
“My name is Lilach Borovsky-Sapir, I’m married with four children, and I live in Kfar Saba. I have a master’s degree in social psychology, and worked as a group facilitator in the past.”

What’s special about the Kfar Saba ‘Alif-Beit’ School?
“‘Alif Beit’ is an incubator. At our school, there’s mutual respect between staff members, and between teachers and students. There is a genuine sense of equality and Jewish-Arab partnership, and the education our students receive is especially creative and personal. I find great satisfaction in accompanying young students in their first years at school, in creating a close-knit class environment together, and in fostering an appreciation for the Hebrew language and Israeli culture among all students. I especially enjoy learning Arabic and getting to know the rich Arab culture.”

What gives you hope?
“Day in and day out, I see we are all alike, every member of our school and community—and we ultimately want the same things: to live together in dignity and equality. At least in our little island called ‘Alif Beit,’ this is possible.”

Tell us about a touching moment you experienced this past year.
“Every day here is moving for me—every time we learn, sing, dance, laugh, and play together, and when I realize I’m part of such a unique team. I was especially moved when we dedicated two full days across the school to talking about our feelings during the war, and we did so in an honest and respectful way.”

Soha Mansour, Homeroom Teacher at the Kfar Saba “Alif-Beit” School

Who am I?
“My name is Soha Mansour. I’m 32 years old, and I live in Tira with my husband and two children. I hold a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and in teaching grades 1–2. I love art—especially painting and playing music.”

What’s special about the Kfar Saba ‘Alif-Beit’ School?
“‘Alif Beit’ is a warm place, full of love, with deep mutual respect between everyone—teachers and students alike. It feels like home; it unites us and connects us. It’s a space that always provides with me a sense of security and faith that things can be better, even within the complexities of our reality. Bilingual education is a tool for promoting shared life and building a society capable of cooperation, communication, and living together. It is an investment in a future where Arabs and Jews in this country will truly be able to understand one another, and work together in a multicultural world.”

What gives you hope?
“Seeing students and staff from both cultures living and working together in partnership gives me a great deal of hope and strength. We organized weekend community gatherings and trips that brought us all together, and gave us the opportunity to strengthen our relationships—especially this year.”

Tell us about a touching moment you experienced this past year.
“One of the things that moved me this year was realizing that through my work, and thanks to bilingual education, I am able to preserve my own cultural and linguistic identity. I teach Arabic—both the language and Arab culture—to Jewish and Arab children together; and that truly moves me.”