Tell us whyyour mom
deserves to win a diamond
from Tapper's Jewelry.
were more involved in the prac- all are able to speak it fluently.)
Although those living inside
ticalities of establishing such a
community." The main problems Neve Shalom are split evenly be-
were, and have been, lack of tween Jews and Arabs, two-
funding, resources, and, initial- thirds of the pupils come from
outside the community, mostly
ly, lack of experience.
"When we started, we believed Arab villages.
Mr. Najjar says that because
only in our self-confidence, and
we learned what we know now of inferior funding, the standard
only from our mistakes and dai- of Arab schools suffers in com-
ly experiences," Mr. Najjar says. parison with their Jewish coun-
Nonetheless, the community has terparts. Therefore, many Arab
expanded, with 33 families now parents want to send their chil-
dren to the comparatively well-
living in Neve Shalom.
Apart from the dumia, there funded schools of Neve Shalom.
However, in Neve Shalom
is a nursery, a kindergarten and
an elementary school with a to- school education stops at the age
tal of 107 children, a guest house of 14, and youth then are bused
and a youth hostel. There is also to respective Jewish and Arab
a flourishing School for Peace, es- schools. The community would
tablished when community like to establish a middle and
members started bringing their high school to take the children
ideas to the outside world and ar- to the bagrut (matriculation ex-
ranging for groups of
Jews and Palestinians,
mainly youngsters, to
get to know each other.
"Our work is most-
ly educational, dealing
with the Jewish-Pales-
tinian conflict, and
helping participants
become aware of its dy-
namics," Mr. Najjar ex-
plains.
"Dynamics," as well
as "conflict," are words
Mr Najjar often uses. Mr. Najjar sees both cultural and national
By "dynamics," he differences.
means the realities of
two groups living in a majority- ams), but their resources are in-
minority situation, and he stress- adequate. The Ministry of
es the importance of acquiring Education, Mr. Najjar claims,
the tools to express oneself and has not been overly sympathet-
his emotions and ideas, as well ic to the ideals of peaceful coex-
as how to listen to and under- istence and does not consider this
stand the other side, even if you kind of work a national priori-
don't agree.
ty.
"What is essential," Mr Najjar
Mr. Najjar, 43, was born and
says, "is what you can do with grew up in Arabe, near
these diversities [another word Nazareth, in a strict Muslim
he likes to use a lot] and how family. Before studying agricul-
groups as well as individuals can ture at the Hebrew University of
try and take responsibility for Jerusalem, his only image of
the situation."
Jews was as soldiers, policemen
What is unique about this and tax officials. He says his
community is that it's truly bi- daughter Shireen, now studying
national, bi-lingual and tri-reli- for her bagrut at an Arab school
gious. Mr. Najjar never says just in Ramle, points out to him that
"Neve Shalom," which in English he still has stereotypical views of
translates as Oasis of Peace, but Jews and speaks in a prejudiced
will automatically add "Wahat manner.
"She grew up here, and is
al-Salam." Judaism, Islam and
Christianity are held to be equal- stronger and more self-confi-
ly important, but none of the dent," he says.
He believes in the two groups
community is deeply religious,
and the religions are largely living in diversity because there
taught in an educational frame- is no other choice.
work as part of one's cultural
"Palestinians and Jews will al-
ways live here, but we must rec-
identity.
In the kindergarten and ele- ognize we are not only culturally
mentary school, an Arab teacher different but also nationally we
will speak to the children in Ara- have different experiences.
bic, a Jewish teacher in Hebrew. Everyone here opposes violence
Even so, because Hebrew is the as a means of dealing with the
majority language in Israel the conflict, but we have different
lingua franca among the chil- emotional reactions and these
dren is Hebrew, which is part of are not always rational."
Although frictions and argu-
the majority-minority dynamics
about which Mr. Najjar was ex- ments in the community are not
postulating. (Jewish children of- necessarily between Palestinian
ten know Arabic perfectly as far
as reading and writing, but not
PEACE page 138
Kids 14 and under, here's your chance to tell the world, in 100 words or less,
just how great your mom really is! (Pre-schoolers can send a drawing.)
If yours is one of the _entries chosen in our random drawing, you'll win
beautiful diamond jewelry from Tapper's.
All mother's entered will receive a five gift from Ppper's
There are lots of valuable prizes to be won so bring your entry to Tapper's
by Saturday, May 3 and fill out an entry blank.
Or, you can mail your essay or drawing with the entry blank below to Tapper's
at 6337 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322
Winners will be drawn randomly from all entries recieved by deadline. One entry per child.
ATTACH ENTRY BLANK TO ESSAY OR DRAWING
CHILD'S NAME
MOTHER'S NAME
ADDRESS
ZIP
CITY
DAYTIME PHONE
L
800-337-GIFT
810-932-7700
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