Articles

• Environmental and Climatic Justice Course begins
  5 July

  The course began with a successful weekend workshop from Thursday July 1 to Saturday July 3

• Oasis Art Gallery: Projects we are working on: April - December 2021
  27 June, by Dyana Shaloufi-Rizek

  New exhibitions, artists-hosting-artists, workshops and renovations

• SFP / ACAP Jewish-Arab Urban Planners/Architects Forum meets in the wake of disturbances in the mixed cities
  4 June

  The forum met to discuss the background to the recent violence and joint projects to address planning issues of the mixed cities

• Emergency medical supplies delivered to Gaza
  2 June

  Emergency funding from the American Friends of Neve Shalom - Wahat al-Salam, supplemented by additional donations from the village, enabled shipment of supplies.

• News media during the Gaza conflict of May, 2021
  31 May

  Much interest was expressed in our village’s unique model for shared society while violence raged all around.

• Messages of Peace
  16 May

  The children, parents and teachers of our binational primary school produced this video with messages of peace, during the current situation of violence

• Opinion: The Current Events in Israel’s Mixed Cities
  16 May

  "the only way to attain peace and calm it through real dialogue between Jews, Palestinian citizens of Israel and citizens of Palestine..."

• Workshops for educators on binational issues
  16 May

  Two graduates of the School of Peace are setting up a group in which educators can discuss and learn more about these issues.

• SFP: Mobilizing staff, freelancers and graduates to meet the current crisis
  16 May

  In the midst of activity, violence, and political uncertainty, the School for Peace has been looking at what we can do to make a difference.

• US envoy Hady Amar meets with Samah Salaime
  16 May

  US Dep. Assist. Secretary of State for Israel and Palestinian Affairs Hady Amar met with civil society leaders to discuss the current crisis between Arab and Jewish relations in Israel

• Newsletter - January - March 2021
  20 April

  Our educational projects during the first quarter of 2021

• Update on the art gallery, January-March 2021
  13 April

  The Gallery Courtyard
  The artworks displayed in the gallery’s courtyard continue to delight guests and give them a first taste of the art gallery. The courtyard successfully conveys our artistic vision and purpose, so we hope to add more artworks to it in the future.
  Rabia Qadi Barhoum, a new resident in the village, has already given some hours to create a mosaic around the gallery’s side door; she will continue working on it soon:
  The delay in repairing to water-damage (...)

• 2020 Annual Report of the School for Peace
  8 April

  The School for Peace overcame all obstacles to produce an amazing year of activities

• The results were outstanding; the challenges are great
  31 March

  After being elected as the first Arab woman to lead the community, Rita Boulos tells about what the new position means to her.

• Elections in the community
  26 March

  On 10 March 2021 the village held elections for the board of the municipal society

• Upgrading the Garden of Rescuers
  20 March

  Thanks to GARIWO and the WASNS friends associations for their support for some wonderful improvements and additions.

• Annual report of WASNS Educational Institutions, 2020
  16 March

  Full report in PDF format

• International Rescuers Award Ceremony, 2021
  15 March, by Hezzi Schouster

  March 4 2021: The Spiritual Center and the community honored the organizations Médecins sans Frontières and Physicians for Human Rights in the 2021 with the annual award for contemporary rescuers.

• Int’l Women’s Day - Reception at the French Embassy
  9 March

  WASNS development director Samah Salaime attended a reception at the residence of French ambassador M. Éric Danon, together with four influential Arab and Jewish women in Israel

• Learning Facilitation Skills
  7 March

  On March 5, 2021, The SFP facilitators training course met to hear Dr. Adel Mana’s lecture on the Nakba and learn facilitation skills through peer facilitation.

• PSCC reopens with a live performance and film screening
  1 March, by Hezzi Schouster

  On Tuesday, February 23, the Spiritual Center reopened after a long period in which it was able to hold only virtual events.

• Panel discussion with actor/filmmaker Muhammad Bakri following recent court ruling
  4 February

  An online event hosted by the PSCC

• Building a peaceful future between Jews and Palestinians in Israel
  6 January

  In an interview for "Christian Today" Rayek Rizek, author of "The Anteater and the Jaguar" is asked about what life in the village has taught him.

• Building a peaceful future between Jews and Palestinians in Israel
  6 January

  Rayek Rizek is interviewed in Christian Today

• Urgent! Covid-19 medical equipment for Gaza
  19 December 2020

  An emergency campaign to buy Facial CPAP masks for Gaza hospitals

• Creating in the Oasis Gallery Courtyard
  1 December 2020, by Dyana Shaloufi-Rizek

  After five years, the dream has come true: a perfect occasion for this year’s development of the Gallery

• Online event Nov.19, 2020: Where do we go from here? Building a vision for a shared society and peace
  16 November 2020

  We are delighted to invite you to a conversation with Dr. Roi Silberberg, new director of the School for Peace

• Update on the Nadi Youth Club
  13 November 2020

  November, 2020 : A quiet Spring; a successful summer, and a good prospect for the coming months.

• Sorrow at the passing of Palestinian negotiator and politician Saeb Erekat
  11 November 2020

  On his untimely death, the village sends deep condolences to the Erekat family, to the entire Palestinian people, and to all seekers of peace in the region.

• Art and sculpture workshop beautifies the Gallery
  10 November 2020

  On Tuesday, October 27 a group of 6 artists worked all day to create some amazing external sculptures for the Art Gallery forecourt.

• A new director for the School for Peace
  7 October 2020

  Dr. Roi Silberberg tells of his excitement in taking up his new position and about School for Peace programs in the coming year.

• Press release: Arson attacks in WASNS
  7 September 2020, by Samah Salaime

  2 fires set in educational institutions within a week. Our reaction to stories that have appeared in the press.

• A second arson attack; this time at the peace library
  7 September 2020

  In the early morning hours of Monday, September 7, there was arson of another building, the Fred Segal Peace Library.

• Arson attack on the School for Peace
  7 September 2020

  On the morning of Tuesday, September 1 - the first day of the new school year - we woke up to a very difficult reality. The main building of the School for Peace burned down during the night.

• The new school year begins amidst feelings both happy and sad.
  7 September 2020

  Sept 1, despite the tragic fire that took place at The School for Peace in the early hours of the same day, the school opened for the year as scheduled.

• The Primary School’s new bilingual syllabus
  12 August 2020

  The primary school’s 5-year program to develop, document and publish a multi-year curriculum addressing the needs of our multicultural education has finally been realized.

• Equipment and medicines for Gaza Hospitals
  30 July 2020

  WASNS purchases emergency medicines and helps buy a water generator

• Passing of Anne Le Meignen, village co-founder
  27 July 2020

  With great sadness and deep sorrow we announce the passing of Anne Le Meignen.

• REPORT FOR THE WASNS EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS March - June 2020
  15 July 2020

  A challenging period; but lots to tell about!

• Opening of a new exhibition at the Art Gallery
  29 June 2020, by Dyana Shaloufi-Rizek

  WASNS during the Coronavirus period: artistic perspectives of the village and of the lives, occupations and interests of its residents

• The School for Peace: A quick update
  24 June 2020

  As we gradually emerge from the COVID-19 restrictions, we have already begun to resume in in person activities.

• Thinking group meets to discuss a new School for Peace branch in the north
  24 June 2020

  A highly motivated group of SFP graduates met to conceptualize a regional branch of the School for Peace

• Shared Cities leadership course opens
  23 June 2020

  On Friday, June 19, with great excitement, we opened the first course since the Coronavirus period – this time in person!

• Declaration: Planners against the Annexation
  19 June 2020

  from the School for Peace graduate community of Arab-Jewish planners

• Lawyers change agents course meets again
  16 June 2020

  Lawyers change agents course meets again (this time in person!)

• Fifth (online) meeting of the environmental justice dialogue course
  16 June 2020

  On Friday, April 17, 2020, the School for Peace dialogue conducted another exciting meeting of its environmental justice course.

• COVID-19: reclosure of the school
  12 June 2020

  In the framework of Israel’s COVID-19 policies, we we must close the school and kindergarten until June 23, because our asst. kindergarten teacher has tested positive for the coronavirus

• Anne Le Meignen goes for hospital care
  8 June 2020

  After consultation with her, we decided to accommodate her at the private St. Louis French Hospital in Jerusalem, which specializes in palliative care.

• Emergency Conference: Danger – Annexation
  3 June 2020

  In the wake of the “Deal of the Century” the new Israeli Government declared its intention to annex Palestinian Territories. The conference analyzed the expected severe implications of the process, on both sides of the ‘Green-Line’. Watch the conference video.

• SFP grad community of mental health workers kindle new social action projects
  26 May 2020

  The second session of the activist community of mental health workers from graduates of School for Peace / Psychoactive change agents courses

• “How Arabs Crushed the Curve and Became Israel’s Coronavirus Success Story”
  24 May 2020

  Rasool Sa’ada, “Arab society’s representative on Israel’s coronavirus task force” is a SFP change agents course graduate.

• Emergency Conference: Danger Annexation
  22 May 2020

  JUNE 1: Online conference organized by graduates of the School for Peace / Arab Center for Alternative Planning change agents courses

• "Undermining National Narratives with Family Stories..."
  21 May 2020

  "... An oral history project in a Palestinian-Jewish school". This chapter in the scholarly work, "The Teaching of the History of One’s Own Country" is based on the experience of Bob Mark at the WASNS primary school.

• School for Peace brochure
  20 May 2020

  Updated 2020.

• School reopens
  3 May 2020

  The school and kindergarten have begun to reopen following easing of restrictions during the pandemic

• Volunteer Application Form
  28 April 2020

  Please fill out only after reading Volunteer conditions

• SFP: Post navigation Working in the Shadow of the Coronavirus
  20 April 2020

  The Corona virus has taught us that the world is small and fragile and we must work together to make it a better place.

• SFP: Online Meeting of Jewish and Arab urban planners and architects
  20 April 2020

  Second meeting for the community / Forum of Graduates of SFP/ACAP change agents courses held an online meeting to discuss joint actions

• Michal Zak on a meeting with grandmothers
  14 April 2020, by Michal Zak

  Michal Zak describes a women’s-only meeting conducted in the framework of International Women’s Day.

• “Fighting Back Against COVID-19 in Israel’s Bedouin Community”
  14 April 2020

  SFP graduate, writer and activist Ruth Ebenstein interviews SFP graduate Jamal Alkirnawi, founder of NGO A New Dawn in the Negev on vulnerabilities of the Bedouin communities to the Coronavirus outbreak

• “Towards a republic of Israel”
  12 April 2020

  First meeting of a group of researchers attempting to create the conceptual syntax of an Arab – Jewish partnership in Israel

• 2nd meeting of 2020 change agents course for legal professionals
  12 April 2020

  The change agents course for legal professionals hosted Joint List party chairman MK Ayman Odeh for a lively discussion – watch video (Hebrew language)

• Annual Report of the Educational Association
  8 April 2020

  an overview of the activities of the School for Peace, Primary School, Spiritual Center, Art Gallery, Youth Center, Visitors Center, Communications & Development Office

• Zoom meeting with Rosita Poloni in Bergamo
  7 April 2020, by Hezzi Schouster

  Rosita spoke to us from her home at the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in Italy

• School for Peace Annual Report 2019
  3 April 2020

  In 2019 over 600 Jews and Palestinians participated in SFP programs, workshops and conferences.

• Work under the shadow of the Coronavirus
  30 March 2020

  On Friday, March 27, 2020, participants in the SFP Environmental Justice change agents course conducted an exciting and different kind of meeting.

• WASNS community in the time of the corona virus crisis
  26 March 2020, by Samah Salaime

  The Hotel and Visitors Center
  Sadly, the hotel has been forced to close due to the restrictions imposed by the Health Ministry. All of the workers have been sent home on unpaid leave. This is very painful for us, especially as many of the workers had become part of the community, even if they did not live in the village. The visitors Center is also closed to local and international visitors for the same reason.
  The Primary School
  Along with the rest of the country, the teachers of the (...)

• Int’l Rescuers Day 2020 - awards to Latrun Abbey, Bella Freund, Issa Kurdia
  17 March 2020

  Our awards committee focused this year on the heroic rescue of people in the framework of our regional conflict

• An evening to honor our grandmothers
  6 March 2020

  As one of two events for International Women’s Day, we had an evening for women only, spotlighting our grandmothers.

• Visit from American interfaith coalition
  27 February 2020

  A visit by Americans engaged in intefaith work

• Belgian group from Religions for Peace visit
  26 February 2020

  An interreligious group from Religions for Peace made a 2-day visit to the village.

• "One Land for Two Peoples" - an evening in honor of Martin Buber
  19 February 2020

  The PSCC convened a seminar on Martin Buber and his idea of a bi-national state

• Second session of the 2019-2020 Environmental Justice course
  18 February 2020

  With doubled participation, the course is truly underway!

• Hagar Edlund Exhibition
  10 February 2020, by Dyana Shaloufi-Rizek

  On Sunday Feb. 10, the Gallery opened an exhibition of the artwork of Hagar Edlund, who grew up in the community and was living here at the time of her early death in 2004.

• Acquaintance Day at the Primary School
  4 February 2020

  On Friday, January 31, parents interested in sending their children to the school came to get acquainted or to register.

• Former intern Verena Massl wins award for her thesis
  31 January 2020

  Verena won this year’s Karl Golser prize for her thesis "Growing Up in a Bubble - Bilingual Education Experienced by Jewish and Palestinian Students in Israel"

• "I was profoundly moved" - an American visitor writes
  31 January 2020

  "I was profoundly moved by the visit. The courage displayed by you and the others at Neve Shalom... represents a personal commitment and strength we are deeply touched by and admire."

• Conference launches alumni action network for architects & planners
  2 January 2020

  The School for Peace and the Arab Center for Alternative Planning convened a founding conference for a new graduates’ action network for architects and planners.

• Bustan, a shared Arab-Jewish Community project by SFP graduate Dan Segal
  2 January 2020

  A graduate of the SFP shared cities courses shares with us his shared community project in the Galilee

• Winter holiday celebrations at the Spiritual Center
  1 January 2020, by Hezzi Schouster

  On Sunday - December 29, 2019 we met to celebrate Hanukkah and Christmas.

• Post navigation Academic dialogue course at Ruppin college concluded
  30 December 2019

  The 2019 academic course at Ruppin College, which explored the Jewish-Arab conflict through a mixed Jewish-Arab dialogue-encounter group and theoretical study, has just ended.

• Christmas visit to the Latrun Abbey
  27 December 2019

  A group of village residents made a holiday visit to our neighbors

• Establishing a network for graduates of SFP courses for mental health professionals
  26 December 2019

  Graduates of SFP courses for mental health professionals meet to establish a network for sharing and encouraging their work as change agents.

• Dr. Yael Sternhell in a lecture on attorneys as change agents
  26 December 2019

  On Friday, December 13, 2019, we were delighted to host Dr. Yael Sternhell for the lecture: “Legal struggles for civil rights, a comparative historical perspective.”

• Environmental Justice course begins
  23 December 2019

  The School for Peace opened its 4th Environmental Justice Program with an intensive conflict dialogue workshop.

• December Newsletter
  22 December 2019

  Just in time for the holidays, our winter update

• Appeal for playground equipment in 2020
  20 December 2019

  We are appealing to you to help us raise $75,000 for a new school playground

• Holiday celebrations at the Kindergarten
  19 December 2019

  On December 17 we held our winter holiday celebration in the kindergarten, combining three festivals in one joyful occasion.

• The Spiritual Center screens one last film for 2019, gets ready for 2020
  18 December 2019, by Hezzi Schouster

  "Five Broken Cameras" was the final film screened in this year’s successful "Community Cinema" series.

• The School for Peace opens registration for change agents courses
  15 December 2019

  2020 registration opens for the SFP’s courses for leaders in shared cities, legal professionals, environmentalist and media professionals (more are coming)

• A meeting with friends from around the world
  14 December 2019

  2019 Annual meeting of WASNS Friends Associations renews ties and commitments of support

• Elections for the board of the association of educational institutions
  13 December 2019

  On December 12, the community elected a new board for the association of educational institutions.

• Samah and Lihi’s USA tour: developing new contacts; renewing old friendships
  13 December 2019

  In late November and early December, they spoke before audiences and met with supporters on the east and west coasts.

• “The Honey Path” project of the Primary School
  11 December 2019

  A special program to learn about biodiversity through beekeeping

• Fifth change agents course for Arab and Jewish planners concludes with a workshop in Peki’in/Buqei’a
  11 December 2019

  On the weekend of December 6-7, the participants completed the course with a program that included a lecture, panel discussion and tour of the village.

• Visit to the Spanish Embassy
  10 December 2019

  Dev. director Samah Salaime was invited to the Spanish Embassy to meet with the ambassador and deputy chief of mission.

• Evening in honor of the Int’l Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, at the PSCC
  5 December 2019, by Hezzi Schouster

  The evening included a film screening, the film’s director and testimony by two bereaved women.

• Weekly activities at the Nadi
  1 December 2019

  Every Sunday Malak and Nai, with youth coordinator Lihi Levian Joffe organize the younger children for an artistic program

• The School for Peace opens 4 courses in universities and colleges
  11 November 2019

  Courses open at Tel Avi., Ben-Gurion, Haifa universities and Ruppin College

• A tour in East Jerusalem-Al-Quds for the architects and planners group
  3 November 2019

  Members of the course for architects and planners tour East Jerusalem/Al-Quds

• Fragrance of the South
  1 November 2019, by Dyana Shaloufi-Rizek

  Khader Hassan Oshah Exhibition at the art gallery

• A visit by Baroness Deech; and about her upcoming lecture
  17 October 2019

  On Sept. 27, Baroness Deech visited. She will be giving the 10th annual Philip Rueff lecture this November in Bloomsbury.

• Michael Sfard addresses SFP course for human rights lawyers
  16 October 2019

  Well-known human rights lawyer gives presentations in the framework of our change agents course

• Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, Virginia visit
  14 October 2019

  On Monday, October 14, a group from the United States, all members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, Central East Region visited the village.
  Rita Boulos welcomed and introduced them to the village, its objectives, and the core values that provide the courage to confront the harsh realities of our region. They visited the primary school and the spiritual center. At the art gallery they met with its curator Dyana Shaloufi Rizek. They concluded their visit with a light meal (...)

• Yesh Din visit
  3 October 2019

  15 Israeli and Palestinian human rights activists from the human rights organization paid us a visit.

• Shabab Exhibition
  1 October 2019, by Dyana Shaloufi-Rizek

  Young artists expressing themselves through art with various methods, materials and tools.

• "Artists Hosting Artists" workshop in Nazareth
  30 September 2019, by Dyana Shaloufi-Rizek

  On August 7 we held an Artist Hosting Artists workshop in Nazareth for 20 Jewish and Palestinian participants and 3 other visitors.

• Visit by German development workers
  26 September 2019

  Sept 20: a group of Ramallah-based German development workers visited WAS-NS and remains of nearby ruined Palestinian villages destroyed in the 1967 war.

• Newsletter of the Educational Institutions, September 2019
  16 September 2019

  Opening words (by Development Director Samah Salaime)
  I am delighted to send you the newsletter of the Wahat al-Salam – Neve Shalom educational institutions.
  The summer months were full of activity and change. We completed a successful year and opened the school year with a number of children who are completely new to our system.
  The School for Peace has new programs and challenges; the Pluralistic Spiritual Community Center is blossoming with weekly and monthly activity; the Nadi Youth (...)

• The Opening of the 2019-2020 school year
  16 September 2019

  The new year opened with more children than ever before, new teachers, and the exciting launch of our new curricula.

• Change agents course for Israeli & Palestinian mental health workers concluded
  16 September 2019

  June 22 2019: with a final workshop and ceremony, the SFP successfully completed an 18-month change agents course for mental health professionals

• Recent film screenings at the Spiritual Centre
  16 September 2019

  In Spring and Summer of 2019, the PSCC organized 3 screenings of significant local cinema, each in the presence of the director.

• Interview with Samah Salaime on her appointment to the board of Hebrew U.
  10 September 2019

  Samah is the first Arab women to serve on the University board. Here she tells about her goals

• Visit of German Ambassador, H.E. Dr. Susanne Wasum-Rainer
  4 August 2019

  Her successful visit in April set the stage for continuing warm contacts and cooperation.

• School for Peace completes change agents course for leaders in shared cities
  29 June 2019

  On June 28-29 we held the final meeting for the Arab - Jewish Shared Cities Leadership Course. The participants initiated a number of significant projects

• Elenora’s graduation
  28 June 2019

  The end of the school year was very special. Thirty-five years have passed since the school’s first class. Tom Edlund was the school’s first graduate. His mom, Ety, was the school’s co-founder, together with the late Abdessalam Najjar, (Allah yerhamo).
  Today, Elenora, Ety’s granddaughter and Tom’s daughter graduated from school. 35 years and three generations of peace education - very (...)

• Samah’s speech to graduates of the Open University
  20 June 2019

  Samah Salaime (acting director of the WASNS educational institutions & development director) was keynote speaker at the University’s graduation ceremony)

• Ramadan Nights
  8 June 2019

  This year we held three Iftar meals, breaking the fast, during the month of Ramadan.

• Lihi Levian Joffe, head of WASNS Youth Activities
  6 June 2019

  In early 2019, Lihi became the coordinator of the Nadi Youth Club

• Eid Mubarak!
  4 June 2019

  Kids from our youth club take holiday sweets to hospital children

• A School for Peace - Nava Sonnenschein’s decades of hard conversations.
  2 June 2019

  Lilith (US Jewish Feminist mag) has an article on School for Peace director Nava Sonnenchein.

• Report to supporters of the Primary School: March - May 2019
  30 May 2019, by Samah Salaime

  Renewing our thanks to all of our friends who support our Primary School. Your contributions have allowed it to grow and flourish.

• Long night under threat of fire
  24 May 2019

  Our dear village just went through a long and nerve-racking night, as a wave of wild fires broke out in the nearby woods.

• Book launch: Time of White Horses
  31 March 2019

  On Monday, 25.3.2019, the PSCC held an evening in honour of the publication of "Time of White Horses" by Ibrahim Nasrallah.

• News: January to March 2019
  16 March 2019

  A selection of recent news from the village

• Event in honor of the Int’l Women’s Day
  16 March 2019

  The village conducted a well attended evening around International Women’s Day.

• A Sisterhood for Change
  15 March 2019

  Hadassah reports on women’s activists Samah Salaime (of WAS-NS) and Hamutal Gouri, and their effective"feminist coalition combating domestic violence." (Audio, 32 min)

• Adam and Mohammed speak in schools in Northern Germany
  14 March 2019

  Second generation members Mohammed Ighbariyeh and Adam Ben Shabat were invited on a short speaking tour in School of Northern Germany.

• Visit of Women Wage Peace
  10 March 2019

  On March 1 we hosted a group from the Gedera branch of Women Wage Peace. Rita Boulos and Boaz Kitain received them in the Oasis Art Gallery.

• Sister Aziza and Sylvana’s story
  8 March 2019

  On the day she was honored with an award by WAS-NS, Sr. Aziza visited the Violence against Women exhibit, where she found a painting of someone she had known before her death.

• Int’l Rescuers Day 2019 contemporary rescuers award to Azezet H. Kidane
  7 March 2019

  This year WAS-NS presented the award for contemporary rescuers to "Sister Aziza", for saving lives and performing humanitarian activities around the world.

• Roundtable on "Shrinking Spaces in the public discourse in Israel"
  6 March 2019

  C&D director Samah Salaime participated in a Roundtable organised by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) which took place in ZOA House, Tel Aviv.

• The Power of Dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians
  28 February 2019

  A new book by Nava Sonnenschein.

• ’It’s Impossible to Reduce Me’: The Most Up-and-coming Jewish Comedian Dares You to Put Her in a Box
  16 January 2019

  Noam Shuster has become a popular standup comedian. Article in Ha’aretz.

• Tami and Yuval featured in Piano Journal
  15 January 2019

  WAS-NS members Tami and Yuval in the journal of the EPTA: "Coexistence between Arabs and Jews is what we believe in... it’s the only way."

• "She’s gone" - Exhibition on Violence Against Women
  14 January 2019

  Violence Against Women is the fifth exhibition to take place at the Oasis Art Gallery. May violence end in all its forms, including the murder of women.

• Community Cinema: Screening of "Locked Down"
  3 January 2019

  The opening of the "Community Cinema" project was a resounding success. The opening film was the film "Locked Down" by director Liat Mer, who accompanies three women prisoners at the Neve Tirza women’s prison.

• Spiritual Center in 2018
  1 January 2019

  A report of the year’s activities

• Newsletter of the American Friends of NSWAS - December 2018
  18 December 2018

  AFNSWAS latest newsletter is out

• "Israeli & Palestinian Partners for Peace" - Jewish-Arab duo promote harmony
  28 November 2018

  Montreal’s City News reports on the visit of Development director Samah Salaime and village member Vered Marom’s speaking event at McGill U.

• Telling our story across N. America
  22 November 2018

  WASNS development director Samah Salaime and long-term member Vered Marom have been touring the US and Canada and speaking with a variety of audiences.

• "The Accusation" – an evening on North Korea
  18 November 2018

  On Nov 15, 2018, we gathered at the Spiritual Center for an evening on the newly translated book "The Accusation" by a North Korean writer "Bandi"

• Our binational school enjoys the annual olive picking festival
  28 October 2018

  This old Palestinian tradition is also a tradition in WAS-NS!

• Artists from around the country take part in a special encounter
  24 October 2018

  In yet another workshop of our "Artists Hosting Artists" series, Palestinian and Jewish artists gathered from around the country with our hosting artist, Dorit Bat Shalom.

• Exhibition: Nonviolence Action
  15 October 2018

  On October 15, 2018 a new exhibition "Nonviolence Action" opened in the Oasis Art Gallery in Wahat al Salam Neve Shalom.

• Beyond Dialogue - Nonviolence and Social Action (Conference)
  15 October 2018

  The conference, taking place October 15, 2018 at the Peace and Friendship Library in WAS-NS, brought together Palestinians and Jews from Israel and from around the world

• Refugee Exhibition at the Gallery
  11 October 2018

  The Oasis Art Gallery hosted an exhibition around the complex, urgent and timely issue of refugees.
  Artists: Asad Azi | Eitan Altman | Bila Berg | Abed Abdi
  From the invitation:
  The experience of refugees is a long journey that never ends. Refugees have been present throughout history and on all continents.
  In our own time and place we see the lingering effects of the Shoah and its aftermath; the endless Nakba. We see the rapidly growing number of refugees who flee wars, hunger, (...)

• Visit by Danish Embassy staff
  4 October 2018

  We were thrilled to receive the Danish Embassy staff, including the Chief of Mission, H.E.Charlotte Slente

• A tribute to the great artist Gershon Knispel (1932 - 2018)
  16 September 2018, by Dyana Shaloufi-Rizek

  Gershon Knispel, who passed away on September 7, 2018, attended the opening of our exhibition, "Barriers to Peace" last year on November 18 . It proved to be his last joint exhibition.
  With great pride, appreciation and gratitude, I would like to share with everyone this information that will remain etched in my heart as long as I live.
  In my visit to the great artist Abed Abede last year, I learned from him that the amazing, great artist Gershon Knispel had returned to our country for (...)

• Summer Camp for Palestinians, 2018
  3 September 2018

  This year, the summer camp for Palestinians was conducted for a group of 35 Palestinian children from the O.P.T. living in an institution for at-risk children in Tulkarem

• Children of the Nadi perform a play for the village
  27 August 2018

  In January 2018 the Wahat al-Salam - Neve Shalom Theater Group opened for the younger of the two groups in the Nadi Youth Club (grades 4-8). The theater group was directed by actress Yasmin Bar Shalom Agmon, who grew up in the village and is currently studying acting in the Nissan Nativ Acting Studio.
  In the beginning of 2018, the Nadi became a unit of the village’s educational association, whereas previously it was part of the municipality. The theater group was among the first Nadi Youth (...)

• A happy Eid al-Adha to all friends of Wahat al-Salam - Neve Shalom
  21 August 2018

  The community takes its leave of 40 orphans who spent a week with us, and sends good wishes to everyone for a happy holiday

• Summer 2018 Newsletter
  5 August 2018

  All the news from April to July 2018

• Thousands attend "Mega Arabic Lesson" in Tel Aviv to protest Nation-state Law
  31 July 2018

  Organized by a consortium of Israeli civil society organization, the event was held to protest the controversial nation-state law, passed this month, that downgrades Arabic as one of the country’s official languages.

• Statement on the Nation State Law
  25 July 2018

  with the passing of the law, “Israel as the Nation-State of the Jewish People”, the aggressive right-wing government has erected yet another set of barriers dividing its citizens.

• A Middle East oasis of peace
  19 July 2018

  "The experiences of one man helping to end conflict" - about WAS-NS member Rayek Rizek and his book "The Anteater and the Jaguar" (external site)

• Hidden from View - Palestinian Women and Cities
  21 June 2018

  On Sunday, May 6, 2018, at 19:30 a special evening to launch Manar Hassan’s book "Hidden from the Eye - Palestinian Women and Cities" was conducted jointly by the Wahat al-Salam spiritual center and the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute. The event was held at WAS-NS.
  It was a very moving evening. The audience came from all over the country - people who knew Manar Hassan or her work surrounded her with warmth and love.
  Prof. Hanna Herzog of Tel Aviv University and of the Van Leer Institute in (...)

• School for Peace wins the Goldberg Prize
  14 June 2018

  June 13: Nava Sonnenschein and Harb Amara of the School for Peace were awarded the Institute of International Education’s 2018 Victor J. Goldberg Prize for Peace

• Quartet from Philadelphia Orchestra visit
  4 June 2018

  The performance opened with a piece masterfully played by children of the primary school.

• "Bissan and Gal, children of the possible coexistence"
  25 May 2018

  Vita International article, interviewing 2 young members of the community

• Statement of opinion on the violence at the Gaza border
  25 May 2018

  These are extremely difficult days for all of us who wish, work, and educate for peace in our region; for all of us who advocate for equality and justice; for all of us who believe in a two-state solution; for all of us who thirst for vibrant democracy, including Palestinians, Jews, Arabs, and Israelis.
  It is urgent that we raise our voices!
  Palestinian and Jewish members of Wahat al-Salam – Neve Shalom truly believe that peace is possible between the two peoples. We have chosen to live (...)

• Bissan and Gal in Italy
  10 May 2018

  Two young members of WASNS have been creating waves in Italy, during a tour hosted by the Italian Friends of the village.

• Peace by Design: The Story of Wahat al-Salam/Neve Shalom
  5 May 2018

  Thanks to American student Tom Austen for this film of 8:30 minutes, based on interviews with village residents.

• WAS-NS residents address audiences in the US
  29 April 2018

  WAS-NS village members Samah Salaime and Noam Shuster Eliasi visited the US as guests of the American Friends of Neve Shalom - Wahat al-Salam.

• Spring 2018 newsletter
  14 April 2018

  Re-cap of recent news from the village and its educational institutions

• Book Launch: "The Children Laugh"
  9 April 2018

  On April 4, 2018, the PSCC held a book launch of a Hebrew - Arabic edition of a children’s book by renowned Syrian author Zakaria Tamer

• Muna Boulos and Eden Zohar in Germany
  1 April 2018

  In early March, Muna Boulos and Eden Zohar set out on a tour in Germany organized by the German Friends Association.

• BBC Witness (audio and video)
  28 March 2018

  BBC Witness produced a 9 minute audio feature, broadcast on BBC World Service, and a 4 minute video feature, published on BBC World.

• Up & coming politicians working on joint projects
  18 March 2018

  The 2nd cohort of our Up & Coming Politicians program in a weekend workshop in Beit Jala. Under the guidance of Shahira Shalabi, the group has been developing projects and writing up their work plans.

• An Oasis of Peace in a Land of Conflict
  28 February 2018

  An article by Martin Leeper for the Palestine Monitor (redirects to external website)

• Mixed cities course visits the Naqab/Negev
  6 February 2018
• No Human Being Is Illegal – No to Deportation of Refugees!
  4 February 2018
• "Rescuers of 1929"
  29 January 2018

  On January 10th the Pluralistic Spiritual Community Center hosted an evening to launch the new book, "Rescuers of 1929: Stories of Rescued Jews and Palestinians in Hebron and Jerusalem".

• Screening of the film, "In her Footsteps".
  24 January 2018, by Hezzi Schouster

  On Monday, 15.1.2018, the Spiritual center screened the film "In Her Footsteps" with the participation of director Rana Abu Frecha.

• Two WAS-NS residents counted as "most influential activists"
  10 January 2018

  Two members of WAS-NS are listed among Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper’s most influential social activists of 2017.

• The Spiritual Center’s celebration of Christmas and Chanukah
  31 December 2017

  On Monday, December 18, 2017, we met in the White Dove hall to celebrate Chanukah and Christmas.

• School for Peace: Video: Rawnak Natour – Up & Coming Politicians Program
  25 December 2017

  A 2-minute video interview

• School for Peace: Irit Keinan Meets with Leader for Change
  21 December 2017

  Following the tour in Jaffa, participants from the Leaders for change in Mixed Cities course met local activists who are leading current social struggles in the city

• "A Local Habitation and a Name"
  12 December 2017

  The spiritual center of Wahat al-Salam held an evening in honor of the launch of Amer Dahamshe’s book ""A Local Habitation and a Name"."

• The School for Peace Annual Report 2017
  5 December 2017

  The SFP recounts an intensive year of activities

• SFP Mixed Cities Course: Intensive Day in Jaffa
  29 November 2017

  The Leaders for Change in Mixed Cities course embarked on an intensive tour in Jaffa, organized by the group’s Jaffa residents.

• Planners Course Meets with Alaa Ghantous
  21 November 2017

  The Urban Planners and Architects as Change Agents group met in Eilaboun for their monthly meeting

• Art Exhibition Opening: Barriers to Peace
  20 November 2017, by Dyana Shaloufi-Rizek

  The opening of the exhibition in Gallery yesterday was full of warmth, support and a high level of artistic activity.

• Book launch: ’The crazy dream of Neve Shalom Wahat al-Salam’ A new book in Italian on Bruno Hussar & the Village
  30 October 2017

  Italian Friends of WASNS have published a new book on Bruno Hussar’s history and on the Village: ’The crazy dream of Neve Shalom Wahat al-Salam"

• Event honoring the singer Charles Aznavour and his family‎
  27 October 2017

  Legendary singer Charles Aznavour was personally invited by WASNS member Prof. Yair Auron in the framework of the Garden of Rescuers project.
  The event was organized with the participation of the Embassy of France.
  The ceremony in the rescuers’ garden to award a tribute to the singer and his family for their part in saving Armenians and Jews during World War II in occupied Paris was moving and dignified.
  Afterwards, M. Aznavour was invited to the auditorium, where he heard a performance (...)

• Third Cycle of Up & Coming Politicians Opens
  19 October 2017

  The School for peace opened the third cycle of the Up & Coming Politicians, Israelis and Palestinians, as Change Agents for future peace & justice.

• "Unique Partnership for Peace signed by Oldham Forum & Holy Land Village"
  17 October 2017

  by Richard Outram, Secretary of the Oldham Pledge to Peace Forum
  October 6 at 5:08pm: At a ground-breaking ceremony held yesterday (5 October) in the Council Chamber at Oldham Council, a unique partnership for peace was signed by representatives from a village working for peace in Israel, Neve Shalom-Wahat al-Salam; a British group supporting their work, the Oasis of Peace UK; and the Oldham Pledge to Peace Forum.
  Neve Shalom – Wahat al-Salam was founded in 1970 mid-way between Tel Aviv (...)

• Dr. Nava Sonnenschein at the Global Peacebuilders Summit
  15 October 2017

  Dr. Nava Sonnenschein, Director of the School for Peace, participated in the Global Peacebuilders Summit in Germany,

• New Steering Committee for the PSCC
  1 October 2017, by Hezzi Schouster

  The new committee met for the first time September 17.

• The Swiss Ambassador visited, meeting with...
  29 September 2017

  The Swiss Ambassador H.E. Jean Daniel Ruch visited, meeting with key people and touring the village’s educational institutions.

• Leaders for Change in Mixed Cities Visit Haifa
  26 September 2017

  One of the core objectives of the Leaders for Change in Mixed Cities program by the School for Peace is studying the unique aspects of mixed cities in Israel...

• Silk Road
  19 September 2017

  It was a magical evening.

• Up & Coming Politicians Preparing for Negotiations
  13 September 2017

  The 2nd group from our Up & Coming Politicians course met in Beit Jala for a bi-national preparatory meeting

• Summer Full moon gathering at the PSCC
  20 August 2017

  On Thursday, August 10 at the Pluralistic Spiritual Center we held a public gathering on the occasion of the full moon.

• The Anteater And The Jaguar: Is This Our Destiny?
  17 August 2017, by Bob Fenton

  Village resident Rayek Rizek shares his journey in Israel, Palestine and in the Oasis of Peace, discusses the history of the village and explores key questions concerning the Middle East conflict.

• Reuven Moskovitch (1928 - 2017)
  9 August 2017

  On August 6, Reuven, one of the early members of Wahat al-Salam - Neve Shalom, was buried in the village cemetery

• School for Peace: Meet Our Newest Staff Member
  8 August 2017

  The School for Peace is excited and proud to have welcomed a new member to our staff this month - Ameer Fakhoury

• Local authority reverses decision affecting enrolment at the school
  1 August 2017

  The Primary School will be able to open 2 first grade classes, after all.

• Symposium: Is the Two-State Solution Still Viable?
  19 July 2017

  Seventy people, including physicists and School for Peace graduates, attended the symposium under the title: Is the Two-State Solution Still Viable?

• Full report from a SFP youth encounter workshop
  19 July 2017

  Last February a youth encounter took place between at Givat Brenner and Orthodox Nazareth high schools. Here’s a full report, including participants’ quotes

• WAS-NS school children in Arab Language Day event at the Knesset
  14 July 2017

  A 4th grade Jewish pupil tells her hope - in Arabic - that all Arab and Jewish children will learn each other’s languages

• Class of ’17 - the 6th grade graduation at the school
  22 June 2017

  On June 22, the 6th grade graduation party and other end-of-year class parties were celebrated at the Primary School.

• THE RUNDOWN | Israel’s Neve Shalom celebrates co-existence at Ramadan break-fast
  22 June 2017

  Video report on I-24 News (interviewing Rita Boulos)

• Memorial to our old supporter and friend, Jesse Zel Lurie
  21 June 2017

  On Wednesday, June 21, the village gathered to remember old time friend and donor to the village Jesse Zel Lurie

• George and Anna Dalaras visit the School for Peace
  20 June 2017

  "The most important thing in your work is that you do here you dig deep to find the roots of bad of aggressiveness and uproot the hatred."

• 50-OUT Political Rave commemorates, protests the ongoing Occupation
  10 June 2017

  Wahat al-Salam - Neve Shalom and a range of speakers and artists shout that 50 years is enough.

• End the 1967 Occupation: Event June 10th
  6 June 2017

  Watch this space for live video coverage of the event from 19:30 Jerusalem time (16:30 GMT / 12:30 PM US EST) Sat. June 10

• SFP: Round Table with Dr. Marwan Darweish
  3 June 2017

  In an evening attended by 40 people, Dr. Darweish spoke about his research on 45 dialogue organizations.

• Second meeting of Planners and Architects
  3 June 2017

  Participants met at the Arab Center for Alternative Planning in Eilaboun to hear a lecture from Dr. Hanna Sweid.

• Opening of a 3rd course for Change Agents in Mixed Cities
  3 June 2017

  In a two day workshop we opened the third Change Agents from Mixed Cities course in Wahat Al-Salam Neve Shalom.

• Interview with Dr. Nava Sonnenschein on Vice News
  3 June 2017

  Nava spoke about the Up-and-Coming Politicians course which the SFP runs together with Inmaa Palestinian Center

• “Fifty years of occupation are 50 years too many”
  3 June 2017

  The speech Eli Bitan, participant in our politicians’ course, gave at the Tel Aviv peace rally

• “We need this kind of dialogue”- Participant in our Politicians course writes about his experience
  3 June 2017

  Avi Dabush who just graduated from our first Up-and-Coming Politicians course writes about his experience and conclusions.

• Mateh Yehuda School Principals Visit
  24 May 2017

  Some 30 principals of schools within the Mateh Yehuda Regional Council visited the Primary School.

• First Meeting of "Artists Hosting Artists" series of workshops
  16 May 2017

  On April 5, the "Artists Hosting Artists" of the WAS-NS Peace Museum got underway with its first of a series of workshops.

• Annual Report, 2016
  16 May 2017

  The School for Peace report of its activities in 2016

• SFP: Yeela Raanan, participant in our up-&-coming politicians course lights a torch in alternative ceremony
  7 May 2017

  In acknowledgement of her social and political activism and work in the Negev and the country.

• Photos from the third meeting of our second up-and-coming politicians group
  4 May 2017

  The group met to hear a lecture about the Nakbah and to engage in dialogue

• Historical Timeline
  19 April 2017

  A timeline with important dates in the history of the village

• Jewish and Arab architects and architects participate in a study tour in Jaffa
  9 April 2017

  Tour organized by the Jewish-Arab Planning Forum, which was established by grads of the SFP-ACAP change agent training courses for planners.

• Yonatan Shapira launches his debut album “Numu Numu” at the Peace Library
  3 April 2017

  Yonatan Shapira, a graduate of the School for Peace and a facilitator there, launched his debut album Numu Numu in a special concert at the Peace Library .

• Final workshop in the change agent course for leaders in shared cities
  3 April 2017

  On March 17, the School for Peace conducted its final workshop in its change agents course for leaders in shared cities.

• Community Vegetable Garden
  1 April 2017

  Eyal Tamir, who rents an apartment in the village, initiated a community vegetable garden, caring for which has become a popular Saturday morning activity for the residents.

• International Day of the Rescuer 2017
  31 March 2017

  On March 7, in our newly established “Garden of Rescuers” near the Spiritual Center, we celebrated an event for two present day rescuers.

• Hundreds of School for Peace grads call on PM to halt Arab house demolitions and find alternative planning solutions
  27 March 2017

  SFP change agent course grads petition the PM to halt Arab house demolitions and find alternative planning solutions that promote peace

• Forty Up-and-Coming Politicians, Jews and Palestinians, Meet in Aqaba, Jordan for a five-day workshop
  20 March 2017

  The second group of Up-and-Coming politicians met at the beginning of this month for a 5-day dialogue workshop in Aqaba, Jordan.

• Pictures from the monthly meeting of the Change Agents in Mixed Cities program
  16 March 2017

  Participants in the School for Peace Mixed Cities Change Agents program met in the Negev

• Up-and-Coming politicians dare to dream their vision of a shared future
  13 March 2017

  Photo of the day – our first group of Up-and-Coming politicians in the current cycle are daring to dream their vision of a shared future

• Opening of the new school library and computer room
  5 March 2017

  On Tuesday, February 27 came the long awaited opening of the new school library, in the presence of the family who made the project possible

• New Municipal Society Board voted in
  3 March 2017

  On March 3, the community voted in a new board. Anwar Dawood was voted in as chair.

• Nature Activity with parents, teachers and children of the Primary School
  17 February 2017

  The community of parents, teachers and pupils enjoyed an activity in nature, in the corner of the woods by the village.

• “This course gave me the strength to speak up”
  17 February 2017

  The SFP and the Arab Center for Alternative Planning, hold the final meeting for our change agents course for Jewish and Arab urban planners and architects.

• Second course for up and coming politicians opens
  12 February 2017

  On Friday, February 3 2017, the SFP opened a second course for up-and-coming politicians.

• Olive Tree, sabra plantings
  10 February 2017

  Members of the social democratic movement plant a tree in memory of Emil Grunzweig. We also planted cuttings of sabras from ruined Palestinian villages.

• A day for peace heroes
  8 February 2017

  The gift of an olive tree from the Palestinian Authority, hosting of the Peace NGO forum and performances by well known singers made for a special day.

• WAS-NS takes part in mass rally in Tel Aviv
  5 February 2017

  Representatives of the community and graduates of the School for Peace were among those demonstrating against racism and incitement

• School for Peace graduates protest in Tel Aviv
  5 February 2017

  Thousands of Jews and Arabs, among them SFP grads, demonstrated against racism and incitement

• Get together for new families
  1 February 2017

  The community held a festive evening for a group of ten recently accepted families, and village members.

• Arab and Jewish planners and architects planning actions to stop the demolition policy affecting Arab communities
  31 January 2017

  A group of SFP change agent grads meet to consider how to act effectively together in order to bring about change that will permit Arab towns to develop

• German Deputy Minister of North Rhine - Westphalia and delegation visit WAS-NS
  30 January 2017

  "Thank you for being a thorn in the flesh and for doing wonderful work" - says Sylvia Löhrmann on visit

• Condolence visit to Umm al-Hiran
  27 January 2017

  A delegation from WAS-NS visited Umm al-Hiran to offer condolences as well as to protest home demolitions and expressions of racist incitement

• The SFP mixed cities change agents course meets in Qalansawe to express solidarity with residents whose homes were demolished
  20 January 2017

  A special meeting took place for the course for change agents in mixed cities. At the initiative of the participants, the course met at the community center of Qalansawe.

• SFP graduates meet to consider educational challenges in teaching acquaintance with the other
  18 January 2017

  Graduates of five SFP teachers courses on learning the literature of the other people (“Two People Write from Right to Left”) met for a follow-up meeting

• The guide for leftists who want to stop preaching to the choir
  7 January 2017

  This article by WASNS resident Noam Shuster Eliasi appears in +972 magazine (links to original article)

• The Zoo Lab in 2017
  3 January 2017

  The Zoo Lab encourages primary school students to learn about, interact with, and care for animals.

• Mixed Cities Change Agents Course projects launched
  2 January 2017

  a meeting took place in the framework of the mixed cities change agents course, in order to discuss and implement the course graduates’ final projects.

• The School for Peace completes its 34th facilitator training course
  29 December 2016

  This year’s facilitator training course ended on the weekend of December 8-9, 2016.

• Primary School Newsletter - Winter 2016
  19 December 2016

  The newsletter wraps up all of our posts for the first half of the school year!

• “My preconceptions were put to the test”
  18 December 2016

  With a summary session in early December, the SFP successfully completed a 14-month training course for Jewish and Arab environmental justice leaders.

• The Primary School in 2016-2017
  15 December 2016

  The Primary School, like the children who study there, is learning, growing, meeting new challenges, and trying its very best!

• Evening of Recognition for Fire Fighters and Rescue Workers
  14 December 2016

  On December 8 we honored the firefighters, rescue teams and police who worked to save the village and its residents from the recent forest fire.

• AFNSWAS Year End Newsletter
  8 December 2016

  Innovation fuels our future | Primary School | School for Peace | Spiritual Center updates & more

• A student petition
  6 December 2016

  The pupils present the school management with a signed petition to expand the educational system up through 12th grade.

• Music Education
  1 December 2016

  This year we have been working hard to enrich our music education at the school, by bringing in new teachers.

• The new school library: almost there!
  1 December 2016

  Work began on the new library in the summer and continued in the fall. Now we are engaged in purchasing furniture and equipment.

• Learning about democracy
  30 November 2016

  In the fall, the School’s main theme is democracy. Historical examples & practical experience give our kids a head start as responsible junior citizens.

• Incitement against the Arab population
  28 November 2016

  The SFP calls to stand up against the surge of incitement that has chased the fires in the attempt to create divisions between Jews and Arabs.

• “World Network of Singing Children” at the Primary School
  25 November 2016

  With the help of two special guests from abroad, our third graders came together to sing songs of peace.

• Fire ! - and a clean up operation
  25 November 2016

  After a forest fire closed down the school for a day, the kids & teachers worked hard to gather up all combustible materials from the school yard.

• Messages of Peace
  16 November 2016

  The third grade class at the primary school received a very special surprise from an Italian school.

• Up-and-Coming-Politicians meet in Aqaba
  16 November 2016

  The course participants traveled to Aqaba, Jordan in the course of their SFP change agents course

• Environmental justice leaders tour Northern Israel
  11 November 2016

  Participants in the SFP change agents course for leaders in environmental justice visited projects showing Jewish-Arab cooperation or lack of cooperation in the field of environmental justice.

• Courses open at three universities
  7 November 2016

  In the first week of November 2016 the School for Peace opened three semester-long courses at Tel Aviv, Ben Gurion and Haifa Universities.

• An Instructive Tour of Wadi Ara
  7 November 2016

  On 4 November, Jewish and Arab participants in the change agents course for planners toured Wadi Ara in Northern Israel.

• Preparing for a simulation of negotiations on a permanent settlement
  6 November 2016

  The EU supported Change Agents Training Course for Up and Coming Politicians that the SFP runs together with Inmaa met for a binational meeting in eit Jala.

• Meeting of Mixed Cities Change Agents Course
  1 November 2016
• A meeting for grads of “Two People Write from Right to Left” program
  1 November 2016

  Graduates of the program for teaching the literature of the other met in the framework of a mutual support group.

• Olive Harvest Day
  31 October 2016

  Families & teachers gathered for the school’s annual olive harvest. The harvest took place in the village and this lovely autumn day was full of activities.

• Autumn holidays at the Primary School
  31 October 2016

  October had many holidays and since there were more of these for the Jews than for Palestinians, the Arab children also enjoyed some uninational days.

• The Primary School staff visit the UK
  24 October 2016

  Carmella and Raida Aiashe Khatib were in the UK to meet with supporters, speak on behalf of the Primary School and visit two British Schools.

• Visit of Leymah Gbowee
  21 October 2016

  In the framework of an occasion organized by the Women Wage Peace organization, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Leymah Gbowee of Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace visited WAS-NS

• 2016 Facilitator Training Course gets underway
  21 October 2016

  In September 2016 the School for Peace opened its annual and prestigious facilitator training program.

• Mapping environmental hazards
  21 October 2016

  A meeting of the SFP environmental justice course in Northern Israel

• School for Peace list of programs for 2016-2017
  11 October 2016

  The SFP has exciting plans for its 2016 - 2017 activity year

• Opening Event for the 2016-2017 activity year
  9 October 2016

  The School for Peace conducted its annual event for the opening of activities for the 2016-2017 scholastic year.

• International Peace Day
  30 September 2016

  On September 21, in honor of the day, the Palestinian and Jewish children engaged in music, art and sports activities.

• Launch of the 2016- 2017 School Year
  29 September 2016

  As the new school year began, parents, village members, and special guests from Latrun abbey joined in welcoming a new batch of happy first graders.

• Report following the Global Peacebuilder Summit
  15 September 2016

  Nava Sonnenschein describes her strong impressions from the summit, which brought together peace builders from more than 30 conflict zones around the world.

• Projects by graduates of the SFP Literature Course
  12 September 2016

  The opening of the school year brings the beginning of many activities planned by teachers who have completed the literature teacher training course, “Two people write from right to left”

• Shared Cities Course: Tour in Nazareth and Northern Towns
  11 September 2016

  SFP Shared Cities Change Agents Course participants toured cities in northern Israel. The group met with Joint List representatives of the Upper Nazareth city council.

• From Palestine to Wahat al Salam-Neve Shalom - Summer 2016
  10 September 2016

  On Thursday, August 25 we were privileged to host a group of 35 children, their mothers and 3 fathers, from the village of Bil’in, Ramallah district, for a day of fun.

• Change Agents Course Tour of Jerusalem
  8 September 2016

  Participants in the Change Agents Course for Up-and-Coming Politicians conducted a study tour in Jerusalem.

• Leadership in mixed cities: women’s presence in the public sphere
  2 August 2016

  On Friday July 29, a meeting took place in the framework of the change agents course for activists in mixed cities.

• Leadership in mixed cities: women’s presence in the public sphere
  31 July 2016

  On Friday July 29, a meeting took place in the framework of the change agents course for activists in mixed cities.

• Teacher Training for Literature Teachers
  31 July 2016

  The SFP conducted a teacher in-service training session for 42 literature teachers on the subject of teaching Palestinian poetry in the Jewish classroom.

• WAS-NS Kids in Artsbridge 3-Week Leadership Program
  25 July 2016

  A group of young people from the village are taking part in a leadership training through arts program of the Artsbridge Instittute in Massachussetts.

• "Spirituality as Peace Work" - article
  5 July 2016

  "How do people in a conflict zone deal with violence, with the feeling of powerlessness, guilt, hatred, and pain? What role does religion play in such a situation?"
  Annalena Groppe spent some time in the village more than two years ago as part of her research for her BA thesis. Now, she has written an article based on her thesis. She explores the concept of spirituality as it is defined by the persons in the village she interviewed, and how they see this as relating to traditional (...)

• Iftar meals at the spiritual center
  4 July 2016

  This Ramadan, as in all recent years, the community held a series of weekly potluck Iftar Jamaie meals at the PSCC, i.e. evening communal meals to mark the breaking of the daytime fast.

• Party for the end of the School Year
  3 July 2016

  On Wednesday, 29th June the final celebration of the end of the year took place in the Primary School of Wahat al Salam - Neve Shalom.

• Building bridges with messages of peace
  27 June 2016, by Verena Massl

  An Italian Organisation and children of the Primary School of Neve Shalom - Wahat al Salam exchange drawings with messages of hope for peace.

• Israel’s channel 1 features Circassians event
  26 June 2016

  Israel’s Channel 1 weekly news journal "רואים עולם" featured the earlier reported event for the Circassians, an interview with Prof. Yair Auron and a recounting of their story.

• Lecture: How to use education as a means for advancing equality
  9 June 2016

  The principal of the Ort Sciences school in Lydda spoke to participants in the SFP mixed cities change agent course

• Leaders in environmental justice learn about energy and water injustice in S. Hebron Hills.
  7 June 2016

  Members of the SFP’s change agents course for environmentalists visit the S. Hebron Hills and learn how villagers are affected by environmental injustice.

• Update from Carmella (School Principal)
  6 June 2016

  Carmella talks about the last 3 months of school: a period marked by "the national days" as well as our very own "Peace Holiday"

• Cooperation between Hagar School, Be’er Sheva & WASNS Primary School goes on.
  6 June 2016

  Our teachers visited Be’er Sheva to meet with teachers of the Hagar School and join a lecture by the author of one of two bilingual school books they have published.

• Spotlight on teachers: Nadwa
  6 June 2016

  Nadwa has been a teacher at the Primary School of NSWAS for 11 years and lives by in the neighbouring town of Abu Ghosh, from which 24 of our students come.

• Spotlight on teachers: Yasmin
  6 June 2016

  Yasmin has been teaching for 19 years, and works primarily with the 1st and 2nd grade with her main subjects being Mathematics, and Culture & Religion.

• A new library for Umm al-Hiran
  6 June 2016

  On the eve of Ramadan, representatives of the SFP course for leaders of environmental justice went to establish a library in the village of Um al-Hiran

• Honoring Muslim Circassians who saved Jewish children
  6 June 2016

  The Peace Museum organized an event to honor Circassian villagers who saved a group of Jewish children during the Holocaust.

• WAS-NS school teachers at the Knesset
  26 May 2016

  WAS-NS School teachers visit Knesset, speak at hate crimes meeting, attend plenary discussion on improvement of status of Arabic in schools

• Booklet on Bruno Hussar
  24 May 2016, by Anne Le Meignen

  In honor of the 20th anniversary year of Bruno’s death, this is a translation of articles originally published by Anne Le Meignen in 1996.

• Our Bruno
  24 May 2016, by Joseph Emmanuel

  Joseph Emmanuel (1933 - 2013) wrote this for a booklet written by Anne Le Meignen, which he translated into Hebrew.

• Bruno Hussar - Chronology
  24 May 2016

  Major milestones and events in his life.

• SFP shared cities change agents course grads visit Ramle and Lydda
  24 May 2016

  Graduates of SFP change agents leadership course for activism in shared cities organize an educational field trip

• Activists explain how they were influenced by the School for Peace change agents courses (video)
  24 May 2016
• Two SFP Change Agents Course Groups in a Joint Meeting
  22 May 2016

  A joint meeting was convened for participants in the course for leaders in environmental justice and the course for planners, architects and civil engineers.

• Annual meeting of the friends associations
  17 May 2016

  The annual general meeting of the WAS-NS friends’ associations took place in the village from May 4 - 7 with participants from 9 countries.

• WAS-NS presented Winspiration Day Award, 2016
  16 May 2016

  Bob Mark and Ranin Boulos represented WAS-NS at a ceremony in Baden, Austria at which the Winspiration Day Award 2016 was presented to our community.

• PSCC slideshow
  15 May 2016

  Slideshow made in honor of Dafna Karta Schwartz’s period of management of the PSCC

• National Days - May 2016
  12 May 2016

  Holocaust Day, Memorial Day and Nakba Day are solemn occasions marked in a spirit of brotherhood and the shared hope for a more peaceful future.

• How I was influenced by the Change Agents Course for Mental Health Professionals
  12 May 2016

  A Jewish Israeli graduate of a SFP change agents course talks about her experience of the course and how it affected her.

• At Peace Holiday, normalcy is the best act of resistance
  9 May 2016, by Samah Salaime
• The first peace holiday (slideshow)
  8 May 2016

  On May 7 the school kids, teachers and parents celebrated our very own "peace holiday", for the first time. See the slideshow with accompanying explanation.

• Bob Mark in Educational Conference
  22 April 2016

  WAS-NS resident Bob Mark was invited to speak on his bilingual education research at the 2nd Annual Symposium of the Israel Comparative Education Society.

• Celebrating Spring Renewal at the PSCC
  21 April 2016

  The PSCC organized and hosted a Spring Renewal celebration with the participation of other organizations.

• A hearty celebration in preparation of Passover
  14 April 2016

  In preparation of Passover and the spring holidays, the school community celebrated together with a picnic, a drama presentation and music.

• Holiday of Holidays
  9 April 2016

  short film on the Primary School by Talia Cohen Vigder

• Graduates of the Mixed Cities Change Agent Training Course Visit Acre
  4 April 2016

  SFP activism: Graduates of a mixed cities training change agent training course initiated a study visit to Acre and Tamra.

• Coexistence is... response by Reem
  4 April 2016

  CO-EXISTENCE IS - Reem #3 ENG from IT Neve Shalom Wahat al_Salam on Vimeo.

• Building Leadership in Mixed Cities
  24 March 2016

  From February 2015 to January 2016, the School for Peace conducted a successful course for leadership and activism in shared/mixed Arab and Jewish cities.

• Wonderful Purim celebration at the Primary School
  24 March 2016

  The school celebrates Purim with fancy dress and good cheer.

• Course for Up-and-Coming-Politicians Opens
  20 March 2016

  A new School for Peace Change Agents Course for Israeli and Palestinian up-and-coming-politicians opened with a uninational meeting for the Israeli side.

• Another successful "Journey” program
  17 March 2016

  A group of 30 Jewish, Muslim & Christian teenagers took part in a 4-day ’Massa – Massar’ ("Journey") activity.

• Youth Encounter Taking Place
  14 March 2016

  A youth encounter between Ibn Rushd HS, Kafar Kana and Ohel Shem HS, Ramat Gan. An amazing dialogue at the School for Peace going at this time.

• Environmental Justice Course Visits Negev
  13 March 2016

  Participants in the environmental justice change agents course visited locations in southern Israel as part of a tour conducted by the School for Peace.

• Report on language studies at the WAS-NS Primary School
  11 March 2016

  Pivotal to the School’s approach is its success in creating a bilingual learning environment.

• Forest of the Righteous - Planning Meeting
  10 March 2016

  On January 15 the Museum conducted the first extended planning meeting for the Forest of the Righteous project.

• Visit by British Friends Group
  3 March 2016

  A group brought by the British Friends of NSWAS toured the Village and sites in the region.

• The 2014-15 SFP Course for Urban Planners, Civil Engineers & Architects
  24 February 2016

  A longterm change agents course for urban planners, architects and civil engineers has recently concluded. Here’s our report.

• News from the Primary School - February 2016
  24 February 2016

  "It’s 2016 and we are well into the school year. Despite the very difficult political situation... I’m happy to let you know that the School and our pupils are thriving."

• Recent news from the School for Peace
  17 February 2016

  The SFP has been busy in the recent period with a variety of exciting new courses and activities.

• "Coexistence is no Dream" - Israel Channel 1 Kids TV film
  3 February 2016

  Young people in WAS-NS tell how they cope with the atmosphere of violence and racism shaking the country and offer some advice.

• Delegation of Swiss Friends of WAS-NS received by Mr. Ban Ki Moon
  2 February 2016

  In Zurich, UN Sect. Gen. Mr. Ban Ki Moon, received the Swiss Friends of WASNS as one of a number of NGOs involved in implementing the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,

• “Free ourselves from Occupation” Meeting
  2 February 2016

  WAS-NS and the School for Peace initiated a meeting of the Forum to Free Ourselves from the Occupation with leaders of peace and human rights NGOs and left-wing parties.

• 2015 Annual Report of the School for Peace
  27 January 2016

  The School for Peace boosted its activities, advanced the Peace College, won international awards, and secured funding for future activities.

• New EU funded project launched
  24 January 2016

  A new EU funded project is being launched with Palestinian organization INMAA. A new EU funded project is being launched along with the Palestinian organization INMAA.

• December Holidays Event
  17 December 2015

  The PSCC invited everyone to celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas and al Mawlid al-Nabawi. We took the opportunity to thank the abbot and monks of Latrun Abbey for the original gift of the lands to Wahat al-Salam - Neve Shalom. Ronit Shefi played and sang for us, Michal Moses conducted activities for children, Raida beautifully told the story of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and delicious holiday fare filled our (...)

• An Evening of Recognition and Healing
  9 December 2015

  In November the Museum/PSCC held a special evening remembering Palestinians who in 1929 acted heroically to save their Jewish neighbors.

• How Israel erases Arabic from the public landscape
  6 December 2015

  The Israeli government has begun omitting the Arabic name for Jerusalem from its street signs, erasing not only the language from the Israeli consciousness, but Palestinian identity itself.

• How to build peace in Israel / Palestine, by WAS-NS member Noam Shuster
  1 December 2015

  WASNS member Noam Shuster was invited to speak at the One Young World conference in Bangkok (November 2015)
  From the description found on YouTube:
  Educated in a bi-lingual and bi-national school, Noam speaks fluent Arabic which strengthens her Middle Eastern identity that is based on her family’s roots in Iran. She has worked in peacebuilding programmes with Israelis and Palestinians since a young age and joined the international peacebuilding organisation, Interpeace, in 2012. At (...)

• Evi Guggenheim awarded NCBI Bridge-Builders Prize
  1 December 2015

  Evi Guggenheim Shbeta is among 22 recipients of the "Bridge Builders" Prize awarded by NCBI Switzerland.

• The Shoah, The Rebirth and the Nakba - Panel Discussion
  30 November 2015

  On November 25th, a panel discussion took place at the launch of the Arabic edition of Prof. Yair Auron’s book, The Shoah, the Rebirth and the Nakba.

• Youth Encounter between Givat Brener and Nazareth
  30 November 2015

  Sixty-one teenagers are taking part in a youth encounter and engaging in a dialogue at the SFP. The workshop is being observed by facilitator trainees.

• The Educational Association gets a new chairwoman
  29 November 2015

  On November 12, the village held elections for the board of the Association of Educational Institutions. Samah Salaime was elected as as chair

• Meeting and Tour in Sakhnin
  27 November 2015

  The School for Peace change agents course for Jewish and Palestinian architects and engineers met November 27 in Sakhnin

• Election of the members of the Student Council in our Primary School
  22 November 2015

  Thursday 12th November was election day at the Primary School. The students had to vote in a new council + president and vice-president of the Student Council.

• Newsletter of the Primary School, Autumn 2015
  15 November 2015

  Letter from Carmella; opening of the school year; olive harvest; new teachers; plans for the library...

• Against All Odds: The Story of a Binational Village
  9 November 2015

  Amia Lieblich’s book on Wahat al-Salam - Neve Shalom, which first appeared in Hebrew, has now been translated and published in English.

• Honoring the Righteous: second event
  9 November 2015

  The Peace Museum hosted members of the Armenian community in Israel and guests for abroad for a second event in its “Honoring the Righteous” series, the first of which took place last March.

• Rabin memorial event at the School
  9 November 2015

  The Primary school conducted a memorial activity commemorating the 20th anniversary of the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin.

• Olive picking and community action
  30 October 2015

  Saturday 17th October was one of those days that will stay in our memory forever. In a region where everything, even the olive harvest is politicized, it was very moving to see the Palestinian and Jewish pupils of the primary school picking olives together, in a peaceful and relaxed atmosphere. The sun was shining and the air was scented with the delicious smell of fresh olives just picked from the trees. Meanwhile, members of the village came together to clean the school grounds and other (...)

• Coexistence Under Fire
  30 October 2015

  Israel Channel 2 News Journal from 2015/10/25 with English translation.

• "Coexistence Under Fire" - Media Reports on WASNS
  28 October 2015

  The escalation in the conflict has seen an increase of media interest in the village. Here are some links to interviews, TV and radio articles and more.

• Visit by heads of German welfare organizations
  22 October 2015

  A distinguished group comprising the heads and senior members of many German welfare organizations visited WAS-NS in the framework of a current official tour of the country.

• Palestinian-Jewish musical duo offer ’a glimmer of hope’ at the Oasis of Peace Primary School
  14 October 2015

  A glimmer of hope in the current darkness of the Middle East: A duo of musical ambassadors for peace performed at the Wahat al-Salam - Neve Shalom school.

• Statement on the current situation
  12 October 2015

  The residents of Wahat al-Salam / Neve Shalom condemn the cycle of violence and call on both sides to put an end to it.

• Video Report of the Masa-Massar Program
  1 October 2015

  A beautiful video with interviews with participants of the PSCC’s Masa Massar program

• School for Peace Newsletter for Summer 2015
  3 September 2015

  The SFP recounts recent successes and looks forward to an exciting new activity year

• A new school year for the Palestinian & Jewish children of the Primary School
  1 September 2015

  September 1 marks the end of the long summer break and many bright beginnings for our pupils and the school

• Tour of Jisr az-Zarqa
  23 August 2015

  In the framework of its course for urban planners, architects & civil engineers, the SFP initiated a tour of Jisr az-Zarqa.

• School for Peace End of Year Summary Event
  22 August 2015

  On July 30, 2015, the School for Peace organized an event for the end of its activity year. Some 30 Arab and Jewish facilitators and activists who work with the SFP came, as well as WAS-NS residents.

• The Earth Caravan brings a message of hope
  12 August 2015

  On the 9th of August, just 3 days after the 70th anniversary of the Hiroshima atomic bomb, WAS-NS Peace Museum hosted the "Earth Caravan.

• Lecture on legal aspects concerning Arabs in mixed cities
  28 July 2015

  As part of the 2015-2016 training course for change agents in Israeli mixed cities Att. Kais Nasser gave a lecture on legal aspects affecting the Arab population

• SFP wins S.E.R. Reconciliation Award
  28 July 2015

  The SFP has been informed by the S.E.R. Foundation (Germany) that the Program for Palestinian and Israeli Literature Teachers has received the S.E.R. Reconciliation Award 2013 – 2014

• How we celebrated Ramadan
  17 July 2015

  As every year, the community gathered for a weekly festive iftar meal, special activities and songs.

• An anniversary event for the Primary School
  16 July 2015

  The Primary School celebrates an anniversary with a photo exhibition & meeting of alumni

• An anniversary event for the Primary School
  16 July 2015

  The Museum mounted a special photo exhibition for the Primary School’s celebration of three decades of work.

• Rita Boulos speaks at the Palestine Committee organization in Munich
  13 July 2015

  WAS-NS member Rita Boulos spoke and attended two cultural events of the Palestine Committee between June 18 and 20, 2015

• Photos, videos from the end of the school year
  13 July 2015

  The 2014-2015 school year has come to a close; the children and teachers have till the end of August to enjoy their summer break.

• Primary School Newsletter - Summer 2015
  12 July 2015

  As the long summer break begins, we look back on the events that made this such a wonderful school year.

• Surviving the ups and downs: Israel’s first Arab-Jewish school turns 30
  6 July 2015

  (Article appearing in +972 magazine)

• Massa-Masar-(“Journey”) - an exciting program for Jewish, Muslim & Christian Young People
  30 June 2015

  A group of 30 Jewish, Muslim and Christian teenagers on a 4-day Journey to visit and learn together about Israel’s diverse communities.

• Int’l conference on Dilemmas of Recognition in Asymmetric Conflicts
  22 June 2015

  On 4-5 May 2015 the SFP, in cooperation with two universities, convened an int’l conference on Dilemmas of Recognition in Asymmetric conflicts: the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict in a Comparative Perspective.

• Samah Salaime Ighbariyeh
  26 May 2015

  Samah was born in 1975 in the northern village of Turan, where she also attended school. She is married to Umar Ighbariyeh and the couple have three boys: Warad (18), Muhammad (14) and Adam (7). In September 2000, just before the birth of Muhammad, the couple came to live in Wahat al-Salam - Neve Shalom. Their decision to move to the village came as a result of a process that had begun years previously. Umar had been working as a facilitator and project manager at the School for Peace and, (...)

• More than cheesecake!
  25 May 2015

  With Shavuot falling on a Sunday this year, the WASNS Primary School teachers prepared an experiential learning program for the Thursday preceding the holiday.
  Although Shavuot (Pentacost / Festival of Weeks) is celebrated among secular Israeli Jews nowadays mostly as an occasion for the family to get together and enjoy a dairy meal - especially cheesecakes - it is traditionally an important festival: one of the three ancient pilgrim holidays. The festival has two other associations. It (...)

• Dr. Raid Haj Yehia
  25 May 2015

  Spotlight on members: Dr. Raid Haj Yehia

• Concert for Franca Ciccolo
  24 May 2015

  A concert was organized by the Italian Friends of Neve Shalom - Wahat al-Salam, and dedicated to the memory of Franca Ciccolo, a founding member of the association, who died in 2014.

• Garden for Franca Ciccolo
  24 May 2015

  A garden for our long-time friend in Italy, Franca Ciccolo, who passed away in 2014, was inaugurated in the village.

• Commemorating Nakba Day at the Primary School
  19 May 2015

  On Wednesday, May 13th, the students and teachers of Wahat al Salam – Neve Shalom Primary School commemorated the Nakba.

• Helping a family from Gaza
  18 May 2015, by Communications and Development Office

  As part of the Humanitarian Aid Project, village member Rita Boulos has been assisting a Gazan family during their daughter’s hospital stay in Israel.

• Spring 2015 Newsletter: Latest Activities & Programs
  23 April 2015

  An update that includes reporting on our activities; and introduces our new program director.

• Dilemmas of Recognition in Asymmetric Conflicts: The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict in a Comparative Perspective MAY 4-5, 2015
  10 April 2015

  With the Inst. of Advanced Studies of Hebrew Univ. & the Walter Lebach Institute of the Univ. of Tel Aviv, the SFP has organized an int’l conference.

• Newsletter from the Primary School, Spring 2015
  7 April 2015

  Lots of interesting things happening in the Primary School this year!

• New photo album site
  1 April 2015

  We have established a new site for our photo albums, at:
  http://photos.wasns.org

• Narratives in conflict: A postcolonial interpretation of youth encounters between Jews and Palestinians from Israel
  31 March 2015, by Michal Zak

  In this article we share findings from research on encounters between Palestinian and Jewish youth from Israel. Our findings are based on narrative analysis of in-depth interviews with 100 young people who participated in structured encounter workshops during 2003–2006.

• Spring Celebration at the PSCC
  26 March 2015

  On March 21, to mark the first day of Spring, the PSCC organized a meeting for village members and people from nearby communities.

• Presentation at the House of Lords
  26 March 2015

  Noam Eliasi-Shuster:

  Neve Shalom / Wahat al-Salam (NSWaS) Second Generation Ambassador

  On the eve of the Israeli General Election, the Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon and
  the Lord Beecham held a reception with WAS-NS member Noam Eliasi-Shuster, in support of the Oasis of Peace

• Anti-racism meeting at the Nadi
  26 March 2015

  A group of students visit the youth club from Tsafit High School for a discussion on activism to raise awareness about racism

• "Honoring the Righteous" Special Event at the Museum
  18 March 2015

  On Tuesday, March 10, the event, "Honoring the Righteous" took place in the newly opened Museum.

• School for Peace 2014 Annual Report
  16 March 2015

  The School for Peace provides a 15-page overview of all of the activities that it conducted during the 2014 calendar year

• Presencing Collective Challenges Workshop in WASNS
  15 March 2015

  On March 12 the PSCC held a day long seminar to explore the competencies that can grow out of conflict areas, and how we can cultivate them in order to create an excellence in crisis resolution.

• "The Palestinian/Israeli Paradise Minutes From The Gaza Strip "
  9 March 2015

  Video produced for NCRV by freelance film maker Saskia Adriaens, Autumn 2014. 17 min, Dutch/English/Arabic, with subtitles in English

• WASNS School children planting and growing together
  3 March 2015

  At Tubishvat / Eid i-Shajarah , the holiday of the trees, and the following weeks, the Primary School children participated in several planting activities in and around the school.

• Letter from the new director of the Nadi Youth Club
  28 February 2015, by Nadine Nashef

  Nadine Nashef, 23, talks about herself and her intentions for the Nadi this year.

• Update from the Nadi
  17 February 2015

  A new year of activity at the Nadi has begun, with a new director.

• Newsletter from the Primary School
  11 January 2015

  In PDF format, a seasonal update on the Primary School

• Celebrating three winter holidays
  22 December 2014

  The Primary School and the village celebrate Hannukah, Christmas and Mawlid

• Coexistence is...
  21 November 2014

  2 minute video made by Italian friends of WAS-NS

• "Reverse the equation / get free of the occupation" conference
  16 November 2014

  "How to reverse the equation and get free of the occupation" was the subject of a conference organized in Wahat al-Salam - Neve Shalom on October 22

• First glimpse of the museum
  31 October 2014

  In October 2014, during our annual meeting for friends associations, we were able to show our international friends the new Museum, Gallery and Archive.

• New Friends in Norway
  7 October 2014

  A new association of friends of Wahat al-Salam Neve Shalom is being established in Stavenger Norway by a group of people with an active interest in our region.

• Visit by French Ambassador Patrick Maisonnave
  24 September 2014

  On Monday 22nd September we were honored to receive in the village French ambassador Patrick Maisonnave.

• Nava Sonnenschein gives presentation in S. Africa
  11 September 2014

  While in South Africa, Dr. Nava Sonnenschein gave a seminar on the work of the SFP.

• A new principal for the Oasis of Peace Primary School
  10 September 2014

  The 2014-2015 school year has launched with a new principal, Carmella Ferber, who was chosen from among many candidates to lead the school forward into its 31st year.

• Despite it all: Sulha – Jews & Palestinians meet at the PSCC
  10 September 2014

  On August 21-22, despite the sounds of missiles and bombs that could be heard from the hills of Wahat al-Salam – Neve Shalom, 80 Jews and Arabs; young families with children, youth and older individuals from Israel and Palestine met at the Sulha monthly meeting.
  This time, the meeting lasted two days, combining music, workshops on shared communication and dialogue circles. Jewish and Arab participants came from all over Israel, East Jerusalem, and Palestine as well as from the WAS-NS (...)

• The Primary School opens for its 31st year
  9 September 2014

  Thirty years after it began in September 1984, the Primary School welcomes a new group of first graders - and a new principal too!

• Death of Palestinian poet Samih al-Qasim
  20 August 2014

  The village mourns the passing of the great Palestinian poet Samih al-Qasim

• Our statement on Gaza
  20 August 2014

  The ceasefire broken; the violence renewed with no end in sight. Our thoughts.

• Testimony from Gaza
  20 August 2014

  Two WASNS residents present their experiences in Gaza.

• Nava Sonnenschein receives a special blessing from Rev. Desmond Tutu
  15 August 2014

  While in South Africa, SFP director Dr. Nava Sonnenschein had the opportunity to meet with Rev. Desmond Tutu and inform him about the work of the SFP.

• Mechanisms of denial in the Israeli peace camp
  25 July 2014, by Michal Zak

  (outbound link) When pacifists in Israel refuse to address the true roots of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, they become part of the problem, not the solution

• Thoughts about the situation in the country today
  23 July 2014, by Eyas Shbeta

  Eyas speaks about the atmosphere that Arab citizens of Israel are feeling

• Why so many billions spent on war, while so little is invested in peace
  23 July 2014, by Evi Guggenheim Shbeta

  Evi writes about her experience during the current violence

• “Jews and Arabs Refuse to be Enemies” … Neve Shalom-Wahat al Salam organizes protest action
  13 July 2014

  WAS-NS was joined by a number of other groups in a rally against the the current violence

• News from the School for Peace: February – June 2014
  10 July 2014

  3 months of intensive activity

• Bye and thanks from Franziska
  10 July 2014

  Franziska sends a nice goodbye note

• The sub-text in Israel’s soul-searching
  9 July 2014, by Michal Zak

  (outbound link) Despite the hand-wringing among Israelis over the deaths of Palestinians, few want to face the true reason such hatred survives...

• PSCC Activity Report September to June 2014
  9 July 2014

  With limited resources, the PSCC has managed to accomplish a wide range of activities.

• Strategy meeting to discuss responses to the current wave of violence
  8 July 2014

  In order to formulate responses to the current wave of violence and acts of hatred, the School for Peace convened a meeting to which representatives of organizations and movements for human rights, peace and social change were invited.
  Some 24 representatives of a wide range of organizations took part in the interesting and productive discussion. Two initial activities were decided upon. The first will be a protest march in Tira on the coming weekend (see separate invitation), to be led (...)

• End of year Celebrations in the Primary School
  7 July 2014

  The Primary School has ended another successful year with celebrations, including a special show by 20 graduating 6th graders.

• School for Peace book presented to Dr. Saeb Erekat
  3 July 2014

  Dr. Saeb Erekat accepts a copy of the SFPs anthology “Two People Write from Right to Left”

• Participants in SFP Course at Ben Gurion U. volunteer at Hagar School
  2 July 2014

  As part of a joint SFP-Ben Gurion Uni course the Jewish & Arab participants are doing volunteer projects.

• School for Peace forum for Graduates
  29 June 2014

  At the heart of the SFP’s strategy for initiating social change is encouragement of its graduates to conduct action projects

• Science Day at the Primary School
  24 June 2014

  Just before the end of the School Year, the children enjoyed yet another special day of activities.

• Healthy Kids = Healthy School!
  23 June 2014

  Pupils at our Primary School were taken out of their usual routine, and classrooms, yesterday for Health Day activities. In order to make the children more aware about a variety of health issues, the school invited parents who work in health-related professions to come and give talks to the children. Each class went through a rotation of 5 half-hour talks, moving on to a different classroom for each talk.
  The talks were given in Hebrew or Arabic, with translation for those who needed, and (...)

• Colorado University Students Visit WASNS
  19 June 2014

  Students of “Justice, Human Rights, and Democracy in Israel and the West Bank” course visit the village

• "KAHANE LIVES"
  5 June 2014

  The statistics that back up the words daubed on a road sign to the village.

• My Meeting with the President of Palestine
  5 June 2014

  Pluralistic Spiritual Community Ctr director Dafna Karta Schwartz describes her visit with Peace NGO Forum to visit Palestinan Pres. Mahmoud Abbas

• SFP awarded $50 K grant by Journalists and Writers Foundation (Turkey)
  4 June 2014

  The SFP has won a $50,000 grant from [Journalists and Writers Foundation (JWF)] in Turkey, towards a joint project with Ramallah based Tawasul for teaching literature teachers.

• Update on the Peace Library
  24 May 2014

  In the recent period we installed many books, computers, furniture and multi-media system. A range of activities took place, and big plans are afoot.

• Nakba Day Tour of Lydda (al-Lid / Lod)
  16 May 2014

  Members of the community visited nearby Lydda for a tour in commemoration of the Nakba. In the evening we saw film interviews and conducted a discussion.

• Saddened by the death of Franca Ciccolo
  16 May 2014

  The community mourns the death of Franca Ciccolo of the Italian Friends of Neve Shalom - Wahat al-Salam

• Jitli at the PSCC
  30 April 2014, by C&D Office

  Our Pluralistic Spiritual Community Centre (PSCC) hosted members of the Jitli program last week. As a preparation for their summer camp trip around Israel, a select number of their young councillors were touring the country. Their stay with us consisted of an extended tour of our village, several workshops and a musical performance by a joint Jewish-Arab band.
  The group was equally divided between Jews from San Diego, USA, and Sha’ar Hanegev, Israel, and Muslims and Bedouins from Segev (...)

• Holocaust Remembrance Day 2014
  28 April 2014, by C&D Office

  In remembrance of the Holocaust, the Primary School organised a ceremony, featuring a minute of silence, singing, reading of stories, and a dance.

• Eve of Holocaust Memorial Day: "In the Spirit of Etty Hillesum"
  27 April 2014

  Some 100 persons attended the event themed "In the Spirit of Etty Hillesum" held on the eve of Israel’s Holocaust Day.

• Celebration of Passover and Easter
  3 April 2014, by C&D Office

  Just before the spring holidays, pupils at our primary school celebrate Passover and Easter with a trip to the forest and games there.

• Wish list for the Primary School: 2014
  26 March 2014

  Support needs of the WAS-NS bi-national primary school for 2014

• Remembering our dear friend Ambassador Sam Lewis
  26 March 2014, by Communications and Development Office

  Sam Lewis, who died this month, first visited in the 1970s and remained a supporter ever since.

• School teachers to visit German school
  25 March 2014, by C&D Office

  Teachers from WAS-NS will be visiting Düsseldorf to check possibilities for a student exchange project.

• Purim 2014
  16 March 2014, by C&D Office

  Purim is a Jewish holiday recalling the rescue of the Jews in ancient Persia from an evil plot to destroy them. The school kids celebrated with a customary exchange of gifts) and fancy dress.

• Good Deeds Day 2014 at the Primary School
  11 March 2014, by C&D Office

  Just before Purim, the school organised its second Good Deeds Day. Some kids were actually helping in their costumes.
  Every student helped out on campus. With spring well on the way, most of the students were asked to get the flower beds surrounding the newly refurbished and extended greenhouse ready and cleaned up. The first and second graders were given flowers and herbs to plant all over the school, and some pupils helped with the vegetable patch in the Kindergarten. Every grade spent (...)

• Musical Journey at the Primary School
  17 February 2014, by C&D Office

  A trio of multi-instrumentalists takes the children on a musical journey through N. Africa, the Middle East and India.

• A donation of books in honor of Mark & Ada Levene
  4 February 2014, by C&D Office

  The Primary School library receives a donation of books, with a wonderful story behind it.

• Tu B’Shvat / Eid I-shajara / Arbor day at the primary school
  16 January 2014, by C&D Office

  Today is Tu B’Shvat, a festival celebrating the trees. In the afternoon, the whole school attends to build flowerbeds, and craft decorations for trees. The sun is shining. Music announces the temporary end of classes, and soon the kids run out onto the playground and the lawn.
  From the nearby Trappist monastery in Latrun, two brothers have come to visit. In front of the whole school, some children present them with a gift of flowers, which are gratefully received. In return Father Paul and (...)

• Recycling to Art
  9 January 2014, by Communications and Development Office

  The arts and crafts teacher Michal, who also lives in the village, and the children of the primary school of Wahat al-Salam/Neve Shalom never fail to amaze with their creations.
  They do their work in a small house near the main school building. This unique location and its surroundings allow the children’s imagination to run free.
  For Michal, anything can be working material, therefore she collects almost everything she sees, like fallen branches, plastic and various other materials left (...)

• School class visits destroyed Palestinian villages
  6 January 2014, by C&D Office

  German school students were shown around the Ayalon-Canada park, and what used to be the Palestinian village of Imwas.

• Christmas at the PSCC
  22 December 2013, by Christina Mittermaier, Dafna Karta Schwartz

  The PSCC celebrated the holiday season, with guest musicians, friends from the Latrun Monastery and sisters from the Beatitudes Community (Emmaus)

• A little update on our 6th grade
  19 December 2013, by C&D Office

  Report on the 6th Grade The sixth grade class is taught by Reem Nashef, a long time teacher at the Neve Shalom-Wahat al Salam school. She grew up in Jerusalem and moved to NSWAS with her family in 2000. Two of her children graduated from the NSWAS primary school. Along with being responsible for the 6th grade, Reem is the school’s science and environment teacher. She works full time at the school, while working on completing her master’s degree in education. She speaks Hebrew, Arabic, (...)

• A Piano Duo in the Oasis of Peace
  8 December 2013, by Christina Valentin, Public Relations

  Among the most recent newcomers to the village is a pair of gifted musicians: Tami Kanazawa and Yuval Admony.

• Sulha Peace Project
  5 December 2013, by Christina Mittermaier

  The Pluralistic Spiritual Center in Neve Shalom - Wahat al Salam is hosting the Sulha Peace Project for a weekend of peace work

• Three generations of the Edlund family and the WAS-NS Primary School
  3 December 2013, by Christina Valentin, Glenn Chon

  Wahat al-Salam Neve Shalom is today a multi-generational village. Here we tell the remarkable stories of Ety Edlund, who, together with Abdessalam Najjar, founded the Primary School; of Tom Edlund, who attended the School from its first year of existence, of Tom’s wife Keren, and of their daughter, Elenora, who attends the school, in her turn.
  Ety and Kent Edlund joined the community in the early 1980s. Ety was from Israel, Kent originally from Sweden. Moving to WAS-NS with their three (...)

• Swedish Association visits NSWAS
  12 November 2013, by Christina Valentin, Public Relations

  On Tuesday, November 12, a delegation from the Swedish Association of Health Professionals (Vardförbundet) visited Wahat al-Salam - Neve Shalom.
  The group, which included Ms. Sineva Ribeiro (President of the Association), Maria Hallen (project manager), Hannele Kangas (a department head) and Eva Nowak (president of a local branch), received an introduction and tour of the village, given by public relations and visiting groups coordinator Ms. Rita Boulos.
  The Swedish Association of Health (...)

• Yara and Naomi - Two Children and Their Holiday Experience
  1 November 2013, by Christina Valentin

  Our friends from early childhood often remain fast friends throughout life. I thought of this today when visiting the 3rd grade class at the NSWAS primary school. There I found Yara and Naomi, who are “best friends” despite their cultural differences. Yara was born to a Palestinian family and lives in Wahat al Salam/Neve Shalom. Naomi was born to a Jewish family and lives in Gizo, a nearby moshav (village).
  I interviewed these two girls about school and their friendship. Here is what they (...)

• Annual Report - September 2012 – October 2013
  1 November 2013

  A quick summary of a full year of exciting activities

• Celebrating Eid al – Adha in the Primary School
  15 October 2013, by Christina Valentin

  Eid al-Adha, the Muslim “Festival of the Sacrifice” honors the willingness of the prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his young first-born son Ismail as an act of submission to Allah’s command and his son’s acceptance to being sacrificed, before Allah intervened to provide Abraham with a lamb to sacrifice instead (see Wikipedia for a full description).
  On Thursday, October 17, the last school day before the Eid, all the pupils took part in activities to acquaint them with its religious significance, (...)

• Palestinian Summer Camp 2013 Video
  24 September 2013, by Glenn Chon

  A short clip of the kids having a great time.

• A Letter to MASA about the Importance of the Village
  19 September 2013, by C&D Office

  Lera Yavich writes a letter about the importance of incorporating the village tour into MASA after visiting Wahat al Salam - Neve Shalom.

• How to support binational schooling in NSWAS
  14 September 2013

  By helping the binational Primary School, you effect a change on a new generation—on the future. At Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam, where Jewish and Palestinian children are educated together, you invest in the future of peaceful coexistence in the Middle East. This model will gain strength as the School’s children excel and extend their experiences to their peers and friends. Your donation can give children an opportunity for a bilingual, bicultural education that is unlike any other experience (...)

• Another exciting day for the nursery – children
  11 September 2013, by Christina Valentin

  Today the nursery-class only had to cross the street to experience a new adventure.

• First day out in the village for the nursery children
  10 September 2013, by Christina Valentin

  The children of the nursery had an exciting and educational day out with their teachers.

• Happy New Year!
  28 August 2013, by C&D Office

  Wishing you a happy new year, from Wahat al Salam - Neve Shalom

• Back to School
  27 August 2013, by C&D Office, Christina Valentin, Glenn Chon

  NSWAS welcomes the children of the Primary School back on their first day with a ceremony recognizing the new first graders.

• Youth Spreading the Word in the UK
  26 August 2013, by C&D Office, Glenn Chon

  Chosen to give talks in the UK, Tali and Nadine spend a week in London.

• Sharing Peace Internationally
  22 August 2013, by C&D Office, Glenn Chon

  An Italian group comes to visit, bringing with them a present from the kids of the Pernici Primary School in Riva del Garda, Trento, Italy

• Noa and Mira Awad come for "There Must be Another Way"
  19 August 2013, by Glenn Chon

  The Pluralistic Spiritual Community Center hosted the “There Must be Another Way”

• Special Thanks to Rotary
  1 August 2013, by Public Relations

  On Monday, July 22 Eyas Shbeta (Gen. Manager of the municipality) and Nava Sonnenschein (Director of the School for Peace) had the honor to attend the annual changeover ceremony of the nearby Modiin Rotary Club. The club welcomed its new incoming president Alberto Hodara, and thanked outgoing president Rochelle Fisher: two wonderful and altruistic souls we have had the pleasure to get to know in recent years.

• An Interns Perspective
  31 July 2013, by Glenn Chon

  Half way through the internship, Glenn Chon shares his perspective on his experiences here.

• Palestinian Summer Camp at Wahat al-Salam / Neve Shalom
  25 July 2013, by Ranin Boulos

  Wahat al-Salam / Neve Shalom hosts its annual summer camp

• Voices of the Village
  18 July 2013, by Glenn Chon

  Tali & Nadine create community based lectures.

• 6th Grade Graduation Party [photos]
  27 June 2013

  Eighteen 6th graders graduated from the Primary School tonight. To celebrate the event they put on a play, to which everyone was invited, including alumni from previous years.

• Photos: 1st grade end-of-the-year party
  26 June 2013

  Thirty-one children graduated this year from 1st grade. On June 25 they celebrated their end of the year party with parents and teachers.

• Photos: Book launch with Yair Auron
  23 June 2013

  Yair Auron, who has been teaching genocide studies at Israel’s Open University, launched a new book "HaShoah, HaTkuma ve HaNakba (the Holocaust, the Establishment of the State of Israel and the Palestinian Catastrophe)"

• Primary School Presents Language Days
  20 June 2013, by Glenn Chon

  As the year begins to wrap up at Neve Shalom Wahat al Salam Primary School, the children participate in a three day language appreciation program. The first day focused on Hebrew, the second on English, and the third on Arabic.

• Video interview with Nadine Nashef and Tali Sonnenschein
  23 May 2013

  Video interview with Nadine Nashef and Tali Sonnenschein made during recent tour in Britain

• Strengthening Relations with The Alfred and Adele Davis Academy
  22 May 2013, by Rita Boulos

  Students from the Alfred and Adele Davis Academy from Atlanta, Georgia came to visit for the 2nd time.

• International World Peace Rose Gardens Display Primary School Artists
  22 May 2013, by Glenn Chon

  Paintings from the primary school are displayed during the Sacramento, California, USA State Capitol Ceremony.

• Annual General Meeting of Friends Associations
  14 May 2013

  This year’s annual general meeting, to which representatives are invited from support groups around the world, got off to a great start with an evening reception at the swimming pool. At the event we welcomed old and new friends, and honored our oldest friend of all, J. Zel Lurie, who will be 100 this year. Another long-term American supporter of the village, Mr. Richard Goodwin, was present at the occasion. Mr. Goodwin directs his philanthropic efforts in the Middle East through the (...)

• Primary School Hosts Green Network Program
  30 April 2013, by Glenn Chon

  The Primary School hosted a number of surrounding schools from the Green Network Program.

• Mother’s Day Event
  21 March 2013

  An evening in honour of Mother’s Day was organized on March 21 by WASNS member Mai Shbeta. The evening featured music, a reading of the monologue “Flowers are not enough” by (WASNS member and dramatist) Hawla Dibsi, a reading from the Vagina Monologues of Eve Ensler with the participation of veteran Israeli entertainers Rivka Michaeli and Tiki Dayan. A film "One Billion Rising" was shown and there was a sale of Palestinian embroidery ("Threads of Change" by AWC-NA’AM: Arab Women in the (...)

• World Peace Begins with Me exhibition in Sacramento
  19 March 2013

  The primary school was invited to participate in the "International Friendship Project" to be held in Sacramento, California this coming May.

• Meeting of Historians at Peace Library
  18 March 2013

  On November 7, 2013 there was a meeting with historians, Dr Adel Manna and professor Motti Golani following their published book “Two sides of the coin”

• School activities before Spring break
  18 March 2013

  Before their Spring break, children of the Primary School enjoyed an activity day / picnic in the forest next to the village.

• PSC hosts Jo Berry and Pat Magee of the "Forgiveness Project"
  11 March 2013

  The Pluralistic Spiritual Center frequently hosts meetings of the Sulha Organization (http://sulha.com), which PSC director Dafna Karta Schwartz has also been involved. On Thursday March 11, one such meeting brought together some 60 young Jews and Arabs from Israel and Palestine in a special gathering that opened the hearts and minds of the participants. Guest speakers were Jo Berry and former Irish Republican Army operative Pat Magee of Ireland of the Forgiveness Project. Jo’s father, the (...)

• Celebration of International Women’s Day
  8 March 2013

  WAS-NS member Samah Salaime arranged a gathering to celebrate International Women’s Day.

• Visit by Dutch Diplomats based in Ramallah
  28 February 2013, by Rita Boulos

  A group from the Dutch diplomatic mission to the Palestinian Authority, located in Ramallah, came on a full-day visit to NS/WAS. The 15-member group included Head of Mission, Ms. Birgitta Tazelaar.

• Tubishvat – Eid Ishajara (Arbor Day)
  29 January 2013

  Children of the Primary School celebrated the holiday with tree planting and a wide range of activities.

• "Against All Odds"
  20 January 2013

  A book based on interviews with people in WAS-NS is published in Israel

• Massa-Massar ("Journey") Project Update
  20 January 2013, by Natasha Esther

  In December the Massa Massar (Journey) program of the Pluralistic Spiritual Center continued with a 3-day leadership workshop for 20 Arab and 20 Jewish youth.

• Completion of Change Agents Course for Up-and-Coming Politicians
  23 December 2012

  On Friday December 21, the School for Peace and its Palestinian partner Tawasul concluded a 21-month course for 50 aspiring young politicians and social change leaders in Israel and Palestine.

• Rally for Palestinian UN Statehood Bid
  30 November 2012

  Members of WAS-NS attended the rally in favor of the Palestinian UN statehood bid initiated by the School for Peace and other organizations.

• Visit of Diplomatic Spouses
  23 October 2012, by Rita Boulos

  On Tuesday October 23 a group from the diplomatic spouses club in Israel visited NS/WAS.

• A Rotary Visit
  22 October 2012

  The School for Peace and Primary School were honored to receive a visit today by members of local Rotary Clubs, including the clubs in Modiin-Macabiim-Reut and Ramle, together with Rotary Governor for Israel, Moshe Yonai.

• Ahmad
  24 August 2012, by Yaacov Sonnenschein

  WAS-NS member Yaacov Sonnenschein on Ahmad Hijazi

• Ahmad Hijazi and his son Adam
  22 August 2012

  On Monday August 20, Ahmad Hijazi and his 9 year old son Adam were killed in a car accident while they were on holiday in Zanzibar.

• A group visit to the pre-1967 village of Emmaus
  11 August 2012, by Rita Boulos

  The group visits center took a group to the nearby ruined Palestinian village

• Summer Camp for Hebron district children
  31 July 2012, by Reem Nashef

  This year’s summer camp for Palestinian children took place in July, with children from the Hebron area.

• Jaba Burning: a solidarity visit to a Palestinian village
  25 June 2012, by Michal Zak

  On Saturday June 24, 2012 a delegation from WAS-NS visited the Ramallah district village of Jaba. This is a personal account of the visit.

• Peace Brush
  15 June 2012

  A happening for children, parents and teachers

• Peace Brush Activity at the Primary School
  14 June 2012

  On June 14, as a response to the hate slogans and vandalism that took place a week ago, the School organized the "Peace Brush" happening, which included painting of graffiti, drawings and messages of coexistence, drawn by children, teachers and parents. The afternoon also included a musical event on the school lawn and soccer together with Arab and Jewish children from Jerusalem.

• Hate messages and slashed tires
  8 June 2012

  In an apparent protest against the decision to evacuate an Israeli "outpost" settlement, thugs crept into the village during the night, slashing tires of many cars, and spray painting right-wing and anti-Arab slogans on cars and buildings.
  The message on the school door (see attached photos) says "Hi from Havat Gilad" (one of the "outpost" settlements) and "Death to the Arabs". Another message at the school says "Revenge". A message on one of the cars said "Hi from Ulpana" (the outpost (...)

• In Memoriam: Abdessalam Najjar
  23 March 2012

  On March 22, community member Abdessalam Najjar left us.

• Two peoples write from right to left: Palestinian and Israeli anthology of poems and short stories
  23 January 2012

  The School for Peace has published an anthology of Hebrew and Arabic literature.

• Holiday celebrations at the Primary School
  22 December 2011, by Lionel S.

  For the triple festivities of Hijra, Christmas and Chanukah the children of the elementary school had a joint celebration. In fact, this year each class celebrated separately in its own way.

• Summer Camp for Palestinian Children
  3 July 2011, by Reem Nashef

  A report of this year’s week-long summer camp for children from the West Bank village of Beit Sira

• Purim celebration at the Primary School
  19 March 2011

  Everyday during the week from March 13 – 17 the children of the Oasis of Peace Primary School learned about and celebrated the Jewish holiday of Purim – one of the children’s favorite holidays. The Jewish and Arab children learned about the Biblical story of Esther, and especially emphasized the giving of gifts (mishloah manot) and made special dishes for their school lunch. Each day of the week was given a certain theme: there was a pajama day, a color day, a day for fairytale characters... (...)

• A new school bus for the Primary School
  10 March 2011

  WAS-NS manager Eyas Shbeta and School Principal Anwar Dawood were invited to a ceremony at the transportation department of the Mateh Yehuda Development Company to celebrate the purchase and entry into service of the new 52-seat Mercedes school bus, for which money was raised by associations of friends of Neve Shalom - Wahat al-Salam, the Folke Bernadotte Foundation (Sweden), the DVHL, Mercedes Benz itself and other foundations and friends of the village. Speeches were made by Mateh Yehuda (...)

• Report from the Youth Club (Nadi)
  1 February 2011, by Ariela Bairey Ben Ishay

  An activity report from the youth club

• Mai Shbeta at the World Economic Forum in Davos
  24 January 2011

  The British Council, as part of its Global Changemaker program, sends young WAS-NS member Mai Shbeta as one of 5 international representatives to the World Economic Forum in Davos

• Christmas party at the PSC
  29 December 2010, by Abdessalam Najjar

  The Pluralistic Spiritual Centre held a Christmas party for the community.

• Celebration of Muslim, Jewish, Christian holidays
  26 November 2010

  Thanks to the proximity of Eid al-Adha, the Hijri or Muslim New Year, the Jewish Hanukkah holiday and Christmas, the School held a joint celebration.

• A speaking tour in Japan: first steps towards a new friends association
  12 November 2010, by Dorit Shippin

  Account of a trip to Japan, participation in a conference and presentations on WAS-NS

• Opening of the 2010-2011 School Year
  1 September 2010

  September 1 marks the opening of the School Year in Israel, and this is so also for the Oasis of Peace School. Although the date is regular, every year this seems a small miracle.

• Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull visits, donates to WAS-NS
  August 2010

  Jethro Tull artist Ian Anderson comes to the Oasis of Peace, and donates his personal income from his Israel tour towards the Primary School.

• Conference: Before it’s too late: moving from protest to persistent activity
  23 July 2010

  WAS-NS convenes a conference to discuss joint strategies for Arab and Jewish NGOs.

• Annual Summer Camp for Palestinian Children
  23 July 2010

  The annual summer camp for Palestinian children ended successfully; a significant event, with 40 children mostly from al-Duheisheh Refugee Camp.

• End of the Year celebration at the Youth Club
  21 June 2010, by Veronica Sartore

  On Friday, 18th June, the Youth Club (the "Nadi") celebrated the end of another year of activities.

• Health Day at the Primary School
  17 June 2010, by Veronica Sartore

  An entire day at primary school was dedicated to a series of lessons all around the topic of health, from healthy nutrition to reflexology.

• English Day at the Primary School
  16 June 2010, by Veronica Sartore

  The pupils from 2nd to 5th grade were involved in a day of activities all dedicated to practising the English language. Stage plays, power-point presentations, short films and table games: all the children from 3rd to 5th grade prepared something in English to share with the others. One of the purposes is to introduce the youngest children in an entertaining and playful way to the study of the English (...)

• Protesting the attack on the Freedom Flotilla
  31 May 2010

  Wahat al-Salam – Neve Shalom cries out in protest at the attack on the Freedom Flotilla and the killing of international human rights activists. We call for the immediate lifting of the siege on Gaza.
  Note:
  Our protest message appeared on May 31, the day of the incident. Insufficient attention was given to consistency between the various languages of the protest and it was later decided by our political committee (which is appointed by the community administration) to use the word (...)

• Nava Sonnenschein is awarded "Women of Courage" certificate
  26 April 2010

  From the US Embassy, Tel Aviv Flickr photo-stream:
  The Department of State’s Senior Policy Advisor on Global Women’s Affairs Diane Kelly presented the “Women of Courage” certificate to Deputy Director of Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam’s School for Peace Nava Sonnenschein in a moving ceremony in the mixed Arab-Jewish village. The certificate recognizes Dr. Sonnenschein’s courage and tireless work in advocating for social change and coexistence. Ms. Kelly described Secretary of State Clinton’s (...)

• Inauguration of the Fred Segal Friendship Library
  21 April 2010

  The Fred Segal Friendship Library was inaugurated today in Wahat al-Salam - Neve Shalom.

• Pre-school fieldtrip to Ein Rafa
  8 April 2010, by Irit Halperin

  In early March, the mid-level kindergarten (2- 4 year olds) visited Ein Rafa. The visit included joint activities and a visit to the village mosque.

• Environmental activities at the school
  March 2010, by Veronica Sartore

  This year the pupils of all grades have been involved in a series of environmental activities conducted by operators of Keren Karev

• Meeting with musicians
  14 February 2010, by Veronica Sartore

  Yael and Michael Melzer, professors at the Jerusalem Academy of Dance and Music, came to Neve Shalom Wahat al-Salam to meet the children at school

• Update from the School for Peace
  7 February 2010, by Veronica Sartore

  This report summarizes the activities conducted at the School for Peace from 2007 to 2009.

• Meeting with Abed Abdi
  1 February 2010, by Veronica Sartore

  The Palestinian artist Abed Abdi came to meet the children at school

• Building Noah’s ark
  19 January 2010, by Veronica Sartore

  The pupils of one of the two 2nd grade classes and their parents gathered at the school one afternoon to build and populate a Noah’s Ark.

• Symposium on Gaza: a year since the war, a decade of siege
  January 2010, by Veronica Sartore

  WAS-NS commemorated the Gaza War of January 2009 with a symposium that was open to the general public. The evening included speakers and a video link to Gaza.

• Update from the Pluralistic Spiritual Centre
  October 2009

  This report summarizes the activities conducted in the last 6 months at the Pluralistic Spiritual Center

• The School in 2009 - 2010
  18 September 2009, by Anwar Dawood

  The new school year opened on an optimistic note, with many new students and teachers. School principal Anwar Dawood reviews the successes of last year and the challenges ahead.

• Spotlight on teachers: Voltaire - Zoo Lab & Agriculture
  12 August 2009, by Frances Simmons

  I turn up at Voltaire’s house after work on another impossibly hot day. It takes manouevring to navigate my way over his front yard, which is in the process of anonymous works, and clamber up a stepladder to reach the front door. I knock, and a voice calls me in from the kitchen. Voltaire greets me, like he does all the volunteers who visit from time to time, with a warm welcome and sparkling eyes that betray a kindness, cracking and overwhelming a grizzly exterior to reveal someone with (...)

• The Arab – Jewish Summer Camp, 2009
  August 2009, by Frances Simmons

  This year, 140 children (half of them Jewish and half Arab) took part in the Arab - Jewish summer camp.

• Dialogue through Artistic Expression
  19 July 2009, by Diana Webster

  This summer from July 19th to August 9th four of your very own youth will be going to Boston College in Massachuetts, USA for three weeks. Artsbridge Institute, a non-profit organization founded in 2007, will host its third summer camp for about 15 Israeli and 15 Palestinian teenagers (15 to 18 year olds) to come together for the first time through facilitated dialogue sessions and collaborative art projects. This is the second time youth from the village have participated in the summer (...)

• Sixth Grade Graduation Ceremony
  5 July 2009, by Frances Simmons

  The 2008 - 2009 comes to an end and the 6th graders celebrate their graduation.

• Youngsters from schools in Germany and Jerusalem visit WAS-NS
  11 June 2009, by Diana Webster

  On June 3, 2009 the WAS-NS Group Visits Centre received student groups from Max Rayne Hand-in-Hand bilingual school, Jerusalem and Gesamtschule Weilerswist, Germany.

• Audio interviews with School for Peace staff
  11 June 2009, by Daniel Zylbersztajn

  A 30 minute feature about the School for Peace a Conflict Facilitation Centre at Wahat al Salam Neve Shalom, that works with Jews and Palestinians from inside and outside of Israel / Palestine.

• Oxford Peace Forum
  10 June 2009

  The Oxford Branch of British Friends of NSWaS organised a ’Peace Is Possible’ Forum at the Quaker Meeting House on Sunday 17th May; one of several fundraising events scheduled for 2009 which they hope will enable some children from the NSWaS Primary School to visit their Partnership Link School in Woodstock.

• Spotlight on teachers: Reem Nashef - Science
  10 June 2009, by Frances Simmons

  Reem has been teaching Science and Geography at WAS-NS Primary School since she and her husband, Youssef, and four children moved to the village in 2000. Reem teaches Science to grades 3 and up, sharing responsibility for Science teaching with Hadas Harel, who teaches the younger classes. She also takes part in the administration of the school, where she is in charge of Pedagogy.
  Science lessons are varied and encompass all the scientific disciplines of Biology, Chemistry and Physics. The (...)

• Facilitator Training Course (2009) Opens
  29 May 2009, by Diana Webster

  May 14-15, 2009 marked the beginning of a new School for Peace Conflict Group Facilitation Training Course, with 22 participants.

• Spotlight on Teachers: Michal Litvak-Moses - Creativity
  22 May 2009, by Frances Simmons

  Michal Litvak-Moses teaches creativity classes at the WAS-NS Primary School

• Update on the Primary School
  22 May 2009

  An update on current successes and challenges.

• Nakba Day Commemorations
  17 May 2009, by Frances Simmons

  The whole school commemorated Nakba Day on Thursday, May 14. In class, the children learned about the Palestinian refugees, and about the “Right of Return”.

• "Green Day" at the Primary School
  6 May 2009

  Parents, pupils and teachers celebrated ecological and green living yesterday evening, at the school’s "Green Day".

• The School in May 2009: The Shavuot Holiday and a field trip
  May 2009, by Frances Simmons

  Grade 3&4 visit Haifa and the North
  May 20th 2009: The third and fourth grade visited Haifa, prehistoric caves, and the village of Usfiyya.
  We trekked north, climbing to caves inhabited some 200 million years ago. After exploring the caves, the children learnt how people lived using animal skins for clothing and flint tools, in a fine example of Stone Age civilisation. The magnificent caves, hidden high, winding further and darker deep into the mountains, served as both shelter from (...)

• Giving Back Series video
  22 April 2009

  A 10-minute movie produced in early 2009 for American television networks.

• Jaffa Date: First and Second Grade visit to ancient port city
  26 March 2009, by Frances Simmons

  On the edge of Jaffa lies the sabil, or water fountain; where travellers could quench their thirst upon arrival into the city. They are commonplace in many towns across the whole of the Middle East. Aptly, we stopped here first; intrepid adventurers fearlessly setting foot into a new territory. In arid areas water is a valuable and life-giving commodity, and the donation of water is an important social tradition.
  Although no longer in use, it was not difficult to imagine the tranquility of (...)

• The Next Evolution at the Visitors Centre
  25 March 2009

  The Visitors Program Director (Rita Boulos) is always seeking ways to offer something new and different to visiting groups at the Oasis, whether they come for a few hours or for a longer stay.
  Archaeology made simple. Here is one very special addition to the list of options for guests: WAS-NS resident Gideon Solimany, a professional archaeologist and social justice activist, will now be available to guide archaeological walking tours from the Oasis to the Latrun Monastery. The tour will (...)

• Doumia-Sakinah, The Pluralistic Spiritual Centre expands its boundaries
  23 March 2009

  The Spiritual Centre is helping to connect children and adults from all over the world, as well as from different parts of Israel/Palestine.

• In Gaza’s shadow: an interview with School for Peace Director Ahmad Hijazi, M.A.
  25 February 2009

  Last fall, you began a three-year term as Director of the School for Peace. Can you give us an update?
  At this time (just after a ceasefire with Gaza), we can’t discuss anything about our work without thinking about the Gaza offensive, and the continuing consequences on people and the prospects for peace… Once again, we have witnessed the futility of violence and its terrible human cost. And "the war" is still not over: the intolerable siege on the people of Gaza continues, and the people of (...)

• First Lesson in Peace
  23 February 2009

  Award-winning feature documentary, now on Teachers.tv - but viewable only from the UK.

• "Explore" video on the WAS-NS Primary School
  22 February 2009
• A Gathering to Mourn and to Protest
  18 January 2009

  The School for Peace helped to arrange a binational meeting to mourn and protest the loss of life during the Gaza Offensive.

• Youth Centre kids invite the adults for a discussion of the Gaza offensive
  28 December 2008

  Instead of a planned holiday celebration, the youth club called in adults to discuss the latest round of violence that exploded in the closing days of 2008.

• My Bruno
  2 December 2008, by Abdessalam Najjar

  I first met Bruno in a dialogue encounter session for Jewish and Arab students, at the home of Reuven Moscovitz, a teacher who had joined the group. This was in Rehovot, south of Tel Aviv.
  At Reuven’s invitation, Bruno came to the meeting with Anne Le Meignen, to explain his idea about founding a Jewish-Arab community called Neve Shalom, and to recruit more people to join the project. The whole thing felt very strange to me. Bruno’s ideas were not very clear. They lacked a practical (...)

• Massa - Massar: A Journey of Discovery 2008
  26 November 2008

  Following the success of the Massa-Massar ("Journey" in Hebrew and Arabic) program for young people launched in the summer of 2007, we ran the program for the second time in the summer of 2008.

• Love those Olives
  20 November 2008, by Deb Reich

  Children of the Wahat al-Salam - Neve Shalom Primary School participate in the olive harvest.
  The sun rose bright and cheery on the morning of this year’s "Olive Day" at the Primary School at Wahat al Salam / Neve Shalom (November 3, 2008).
  For some time beforehand, classroom discussions piqued everyone’s interest in every imaginable aspect of olives and olive oil. The olive has a special place in Arab and Palestinian culture and in Jewish Israeli culture, and the children learned all about (...)

• Pluralistic Spiritual Centre report for the 2007 - 2008 scholastic year
  18 September 2008

  In the recent scholastic year, the Centre has continued to develop its ongoing, core programs - in interfaith study, in mediation , in youth work, and for the Village community and its neighbors in the area.
  From Dirasat - 2nd Meeting
  (1) Dirasat: Scripture and social transformation - Interfaith study on the path to political justice
  In the framework of Dirasat we conducted three seminars: Feminism in Islam, with Muslim scholar-activist Arin Hawari, who is Associate Principal of the (...)

• Creating Change Advocates: Palestinian & Israeli Professionals in Dialogue and Action
  5 August 2008

  Young professionals seek means to create a peaceful solution to the conflict.

• The School looks forward to the coming year
  4 August 2008

  Enrollment up, satisfaction by parents and pupils up, and a lot to look forward to in the 2008 - 2009 school year.

• Mediation in a multicultural context
  3 August 2008

  Crosscultural Community Mediation Training at the Pluralistic Spiritual Centre is among the latest educational initiatives at the Oasis of Peace...

• WAS-NS interns: Faryal, Wilfredo and Megan
  3 August 2008

  Current intern Faryal was joined for 6 weeks by two George Mason College students.

• A woman to lead us
  3 August 2008

  Dorit Shippin, recently elected Chair of the Community Association, shares some thoughts on her guiding vision and the importance of partnership, constructive dialogue, imagination, and transparency.

• Young people represent Wahat al-Salam - Neve Shalom in the UK
  3 August 2008

  On the 18th May 2008, Sama Daoud and Neriya Mark, the second - generation of WASNS travelled to London to raise awareness of the village.

• Children of War at the Oasis of Peace III
  August 2008, by Faryal Awan

  Eyes full of excitement, smiling faces, infectious enthusiasm, and dreams come true... describes the summer camp run by Wahat As-Salam / Neve Shalom for kids from refugee camps in the West Bank.

• An art workshop for children from Tulkarm, West Bank and pupils of the WAS-NS primary school
  July 2008

  In June 2008, an activity took place that was the first of its kind for us. Twenty-five Palestinian children aged 8 – 13 from a refugee camp in the West Bank joined children of the WAS-NS primary school for an art workshop.

• A Special Night for Some Extraordinary Children
  July 2008

  The primary school hosted the 6th grade graduation on Sunday June 29th.

• Palestinian - Israeli Peace NGO Forum meet hosted in Wahat al-Salam - Neve Shalom
  13 June 2008

  On Wednesday June 11, representatives of about 50 organizations came to Wahat al-Salam - Neve Shalom to attend a meeting of the Israeli branch of the Palestinian-Israeli Peace NGO Forum.

• WAS-NS members receive Italian peace prize
  3 June 2008

  On May 19 Boaz Kitain and Eyas Shbeta received on behalf of WAS-NS the 2008 Frederick II Peace Prize, which is awarded for efforts in the field of human welfare and diffusion of the culture of peace.

• Neriya Mark and Sama Daoud
  2 June 2008

  A short film on two young women who grew up in Wahat al-Salam - Neve Shalom (2008)

• Bruno
  21 May 2008, by Bob Mark

  Words read to Rev. Nichiko Niwano and a delegation from the Rissho Kosei-Kai Organization who came to pay their respects at the grave of Fr. Bruno.

• A New Milestone: First Young Leadership Certificates Awarded
  20 May 2008

  On April 17th, 2008, the Youth Club (the Nadi) presented certificates of completion to graduates of the Young Leadership Course who participated in the first-ever such training course given at the Nadi.

• School for Peace Study Day
  20 May 2008

  The School for Peace called a study-day to discuss new thinking behind the methodology of its encounter work.

• An Evening on the Nakba in the Youth Club
  19 May 2008

  On Thursday, May 15, 2008, to mark the 60th anniversary of the Nakba (Catastrophe), the Youth Club (Nadi as-Shabibah / Moadon Noar) hosted an evening of film and discussion.

• 2008 Annual General Meeting of the Friends Associations
  17 April 2008

  The 2008 general meeting of the friends associations brought delegates from nine countries for a three-day meeting in Neve Shalom Wahat al-Salam.

• Young women creating peace – Notes from the village guest house
  3 April 2008

  Ms. Rabya’ Barhoum, sales & marketing manager at the village’s guest house, was especially enthused by a recent group from Creativity for Peace, an organization based in New Mexico (USA). This program works with groups of Israeli and Palestinian young women aged 15-17 to "foster their artistic creativity and communication and leadership skills" and turn them into agents of conflict transformation back in their home communities.
  The program held a seminar here on March 6th to 8th for 22 (...)

• New equipment improves medical services to a West Bank town
  February 2008

  A delegation from Neve Shalom - Wahat al-Salam visit Naalin, together with Japan’s representative to the Palestinian Authority, to mark the successful installation of medical equipment at the town’s clinic.

• Visit by Janet Langhart and William Cohen
  21 January 2008

  January 20: American TV Journalist and author Janet Langhart visited with her husband, former senator and secretary of defense William Cohen; Cohen Group Executive Operations Director Jeffrey Sorenson; US Embassy Cultural Attaché, Efraim Cohen; and the Embassy’s senior cultural affairs specialist Helena Mitchell.
  The group met with NSWAS members, visited the primary school and early childhood education centre and stayed for lunch at the Gallery Café.
  Ms. Langhart discussed with NSWAS members (...)

• School for Peace activity report - 2007
  10 January 2008

  The School for Peace continues to develop its rich program of activities.

• The Municipal Society focusing on village expansion
  10 January 2008

  Growing a village requires infinite care. Municipal Board chair Eyas Shbeta discusses some of the processes in which the board is currently involved.

• Rethinking the work of the School for Peace
  10 January 2008

  New insights into the context of Arab - Jewish relations influence on the macro level influence both structure and content of the School for Peace encounter.

• The volunteers: {Oasis-of-Peaceniks}
  10 January 2008

  The volunteer program has acquired a new director and a new internship position. As always, the program continues to draw alert, lively and interesting people from around the world.

• Update on the Children’s Educational System
  10 January 2008

  Principal Anwar Dawood gives a complete overview of the binational children’s system in mid-term. The truth is out: school doesn’t have to be boring.

• Make way for the youth club
  10 January 2008

  Neve Shalom Wahat al-Salam is quietly preparing a new generation of leaders from among the ranks of its young people.

• The mood in the Village
  10 January 2008, by Abdessalam Najjar

  A glimpse at how Neve Shalom - Wahat al-Salam residents really feel about life here.

• Doumia - Sakinah activity report 2007
  10 January 2008

  A brief summary of the many interesting activities conducted by the Pluralistic Spiritual Centre during 2007.

• {Dirasat} - Scripture and social transformation: the first two meetings
  10 January 2008

  Dirasat, a new program of inter-religious study being piloted by the Pluralistic Spiritual Centre, began with two successful seminars: one looked at feminism in Islam, another looked at the image of Jesus in Judaism.

• British Friends: A master class with Carlo Rizzi
  5 November 2007

  The Master Class conducted by Carlo Rizzi (Music Director of Welsh National Opera, 2004-2007) at Guildhall School of Music and Drama (GSMD) on Sunday 21st October was a resounding success.

• Annual meeting of the German Friends of Neve Shalom - Wahat al-Salam
  October 2007

  At the AGM of the German Friends of NSWAS, in October 2007, NSWAS member Dr. Nihaya Daoud gave a presentation entitled "Envisioning the Future of Arab-Jewish relations in Israel".

• A Holiday on the Opening of the 2007-08 School Year at the Neve Shalom - Wahat al Salam Primary School
  12 September 2007

  On September 2, The NS-WAS primary school entered its 24th year: Reflections on the occasion, and a glimpse at the year ahead.

• Children of War at the Oasis of Peace II
  31 August 2007, by Ranin Boulos

  In July, for the second year in a row, a successful week-long summer camp was organized for Palestinian boys and girls from a refugee camp in the West Bank town of Tulkarem.

• Realizing the Dream in the Middle East
  29 August 2007, by Shelby Port

  Martin Luther King III, gave the keynote address at this Jerusalem conference. NSWAS member Maram Masarwa spoke on the theme "Needed: A Female Arab-version of Martin Luther King, Jr."

• Life as a Volunteer in the Peace Village
  25 August 2007, by Kevin Dürr

  Volunteer Kevin Dürr describes his year in Neve Shalom Wahat al-Salam

• "Inspirations - Oasis of Peace": Documentary on the WAS-NS Primary School
  25 August 2007

  An interesting and informative 30-minute film on the WAS-NS Primary School is now available on Teachers TV.

• "Massa - Massar": A Journey of Discovery
  22 August 2007, by Dorit Shippin, Rotem Mor

  A week-long interfaith-learning peace-building program for Jewish,
  Christian and Muslim youth in Israel

• Jewish-German-Palestinian Youth encounter
  21 August 2007

  The encounter took place August 19-21, with 35 participants. The aim was to connect the youth to topics concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and learn about the different perspectives that each group brings to the encounter.

• End-of-year celebrations at the Primary School
  11 August 2007

  Students celebrate, sixth graders graduate, and the school says farewell to retiring principal Fayez Mansour and co-founder Ety Edlund.

• Events and developments at the Primary School in 2006-2007
  11 August 2007

  Teacher and educational content co-coordinator Reem Nashef describes some of the main events and developments at the primary school during the 2006 - 2007 school year.

• The Early Childhood Education System in 2006-2007
  11 August 2007

  Maha Sader, who is responsible for early childhood education in NSWAS, gives an overview of the system in the recent school year.

• Our year together: the holidays at the NSWAS Primary School
  11 August 2007, by Joanna Steinhardt

  An in-depth look into how holidays are celebrated at the NSWAS Primary School. Our curriculum teaches the traditions of the three religions and the histories of both peoples, Jewish and Palestinian, while stressing common values and a shared future.

• The Primary School looks ahead: an update from Anwar Dawod
  11 August 2007

  Our new NSWAS Primary School principal, Anwar Dawod (see the recent article on Anwar’s appointment), has quickly rolled up his sleeves and is hard at work with the staff, currently in the peak planning period for the coming school year.

• Easing the transition: the Student Mentor Project
  11 August 2007

  In the 2006-2007 school year, students at the primary school participated in an exciting new initiative known as “The student mentor project”. Aimed at easing the transition of children from the kindergarten to the Primary School, the project succeeded far better than intended, as is evident from the positive reactions of students.

• The archeology project in the 2006-2007 school year
  11 August 2007, by Bob Mark

  The School’s archeology project stands at an exciting juncture. History teacher Bob Mark reports on the advances made during the recent school year.

• The new Information & Technology Resource Center at the NSWAS Primary School
  11 August 2007

  With generous support from Friends around the world, the Primary School upgraded its computer infrastructure with some 25 new work stations: a dream come true for all our students!

• A donation of books to the children of the NSWAS Primary School
  11 August 2007

  On the last day of the school year the students were thrilled to learn about a gift of colourful children’s books - intended just for them.

• From Capitol Hill to Hill of Peace
  August 2007

  Wed., Aug. 8, 2007 – US Congressman Brian Baird, a member of the United States House of Representatives representing Washington State’s 3rd congressional district visited NSWAS for an afternoon visit and overnight stay in the village Guest House.
  Before embarking upon his current study tour of the Middle East, the Congressman was unwavering in his determination to make an overnight stop in NSWAS, as the Middle East’s sole intentional Palestinian Arab-Jewish community. Congressman Baird (...)

• Summer activities galore
  22 July 2007

  Summer used to be a sleepy time in the village - but no longer.

• Happy Campers at the Oasis
  8 July 2007, by Deb Reich

  The smothering heat that descends on our hilltop Oasis at this time of year does nothing to smother the enthusiasm of children and families vacationing at the Neve Shalom Wahat al Salam swimming pool...

• El Ein: A women’s program at Ben Gurion University
  7 July 2007

  The School for Peace conducted an innovative women’s program at Ben Gurion University with 28 Arab and Jewish participants.

• Diplomats host David Broza benefit concert for Neve Shalom - Wahat al-Salam
  10 June 2007

  On May 27, 2007, 200+ guests gathered at the Greek Residence for a benefit performance given by David Broza and organized by the Diplomatic Spouses’ Club.

• A new principal for the Neve Shalom Wahat al-Salam Primary School
  22 May 2007

  Veteran NSWAS educator Anwar Dawod will replace Faez Mansour, who announced his retirement earlier this year.

• Annual Meeting of the NSWAS Friends’ Associations - 2007
  May 2007

  This year’s AGM brought some thirty representatives of eight NSWAS friends associations to the village for a four day meeting.

• See you at the next war: from Qana to Beit Hanoun
  10 April 2007, by Ahmad Hijazi

  "Now that the dust has settled and a slightly clearer picture has emerged, perhaps the discussion of the 2006 war in Lebanon can shift to a more thoughtful, less impassioned mode..."

• The Future Vision of the Palestinian Arabs in Israel
  29 March 2007, by Dorit Shippin

  A lecture and discussion on the document “The future vision of the Palestinian Arabs in Israel”.

• Update on the Humanitarian Aid Program: Help from Japan
  9 February 2007

  The HAP program receives Japanese funding to equip three West Bank clinics, but needs your help in order to continue responding to medical emergencies.

• Village Elections 2007
  February 2007

  Elections for leadership of the community took place, for the first time according to a new administrative structure.

• Neve Shalom Wahat al-Salam honors Ruth Dayan and Samih al-Qasim
  17 January 2007

  On January 11, Neve Shalom Wahat al-Salam honored two veteran peacemakers, Ruth Dayan, and Samih al-Qasim, with the “Partner in Peace” award.

• Celebrating the Christian, Jewish and Muslim holidays
  22 December 2006

  Happy holidays - everyone! Jewish, Christian and Muslim children celebrate three festivals at the school.

• Prof. Stephen Hawking visits Neve Shalom - Wahat al-Salam
  12 December 2006

  The renowned physicist, in the framework of a speaking tour organized by the British Embassy, visits NSWAS and delivers an important lecture.

• Neve Shalom Wahat al-Salam receives award of the Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee
  5 December 2006

  Deanna Armbruster of the American Friends of Neve Shalom Wahat al-Salam is honored with the Building Bridges Award at the Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee’s Annual Fundraising Gala in Dearborn, Michigan.

• Blindness is contagious
  24 November 2006, by Deb Reich

  A poem

• The NS/WAS Primary School in its Twenty Third Year
  24 November 2006, by Bob Mark

  Half-way into its 23rd school year, the NSWAS primary school remains as vibrant and dynamic as the children who populate it.

• In Profile: Naomi Mark - a daughter of Neve Shalom Wahat al-Salam
  24 November 2006, by Joanna Steinhardt

  Naomi Mark, age 20, tells us how growing up in NSWAS prepared her for her current national service at Physicians for Human Rights.

• Archeology project at the School
  19 November 2006, by Bob Mark

  NSWAS school children conduct an archeological and uncover a Byzantine period mosaic floor, just minutes away from the school.

• The mechanisms that caused the Israel peace camp to support the last war in Lebanon
  November 2006, by Abdessalam Najjar, Dorit Shippin

  On August 24, the Pluralistic Spiritual Centre hosted a well-attended lecture (followed by a discussion) by Prof. Bar-Tal. A summary of the main points is given here.

• Leil Shimurim - A sleepless night of sacred music, study meditation and prayer
  26 October 2006, by Dorit Shippin

  Doumia Sakinah joined "Abraham’s Path" for the vigil, which included performances by Yair Dalal and Mukhi Elbaghdadi, as well as interesting lectures, study sessions and meditations.

• Succoth Iftar Meal
  12 October 2006, by Dorit Shippin

  Doumia Sakinah converts its courtyard for the Jewish holiday of Succoth but, with an interesting twist, hosts there also an iftar meal during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

• Religion, social identity, and Jewish - Arab education: A lecture given in Japan
  11 October 2006, by Bob Mark

  Bob Mark gave a lecture in the Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan, in the framework of a course on Religion and Modern Society.

• People of the Wall: a lecture and discussion with Yoni Mizrahi
  9 October 2006, by Dorit Shippin

  Doumia - Sakinah conducted an evening program on the subject: “Walls and People in Jerusalem.": The lecture discussed the walls of Jerusalem over the ages until the present one and their influence on local culture and society.”

• Repentance and fasting in the Muslim and Jewish traditions
  29 September 2006, by Joanna Steinhardt

  This year, the holy month of Ramadan in the Muslim calendar coincided with the Jewish High Holidays. As fasting is an element in both periods, Doumia - Sakinah conducted a discussion of its meaning in the Jewish and Muslim traditions.

• International Peace Day
  21 September 2006, by Benita Hide

  The children of the Woodstock School in UK - which is twinned with the NSWAS Primary School - unveil a Peace Pole for International Peace Day 2006

• First day of the 2006-2007 school year in pictures
  3 September 2006

  For almost 200 children in the NSWAS educational system, September 3 was the first day of the school year.

• Calling All Semites
  3 September 2006, by Deb Reich

  Deb Reich argues for greater creativity in dealing with the Palestinian - Israeli conflict.

• Children of War at the Oasis of Peace
  14 August 2006, by Deb Reich

  The story of a week-long summer camp for children from Palestinian refugee camps in the West Bank. The camp was held in Neve Shalom Wahat al-Salam while the war in Lebanon raged in the background.

• See you at the demonstration
  5 August 2006

  As the war drags on, community members join another demonstration in Tel Aviv.

• Thousands march in anti-war rally
  30 July 2006

  NSWAS members continue to demonstrate against the war, including a march in Tel Aviv on July 29, led by women’s organizations.

• The 2005-2006 school year in pictures
  27 July 2006, by Ety Edlund

  A pictorial presentation - in slideshow format - of the 2005-2006 school year

• Reports from the Primary School 2005-2006
  26 July 2006, by Ety Edlund

  Reports from each grade level of the Primary School in the 2005-2006 School Year, in PDF format.

• We are all responsible
  25 July 2006, by Rayek Rizek

  A letter by NSWAS Secretary Rayek Rizek to friends of the community, expressing some thoughts regarding the war in Lebanon.

• Who does this war serve?
  23 July 2006, by Abdessalam Najjar

  As shells, bombs and missiles continue to wreak destruction in Lebanon and Israel, Abdessalam offers his views of the conflict.

• Anti-war march in Tel Aviv
  22 July 2006

  Many Neve Shalom Wahat al-Salam members participated in Saturday evening’s march, which brought several thousand Jewish and Palestinian Israeli citizens out in protest against the continuation of the war in Lebanon.

• During the War in Lebanon
  21 July 2006, by Evi Guggenheim Shbeta

  Evi tells gives us her own experience of these days during the war in Lebanon.

• The Roger Waters Concert, Neve Shalom - Wahat al-Salam - some pictures
  22 June 2006

  Some photos from the concert.

• Early look at Roger Waters’ Neve Shalom - Wahat al-Salam concert site
  20 June 2006

  Some pictures from the concert site, taken while the stage is still being built.

• Why Roger Waters picked Neve Shalom - Wahat al-Salam - an interview with concert promoter Shuki Weiss
  18 June 2006

  Shuki Weiss tells the story behind Roger Waters’ decision to move his June 22 concert to Neve Shalom Wahat al-Salam.

• As a matter of fact it isn’t all dark: Roger Waters spotlights a peace village
  10 June 2006

  As work begins on the massive stage for Roger Waters’ upcoming concert in Israel, we discuss the meaning of the Neve Shalom - Wahat al-Salam venue

• The opening of the Pluralistic Spiritual Centre Building
  23 May 2006

  On April 30, 2006, the opening of the new building of the Pluralistic Spiritual Centre was celebrated, together with the decennium of the death of NSWAS founder Bruno Hussar.

• Annual Meeting of the NSWAS Friends’ Associations
  14 May 2006

  For four days at the end of April, NSWAS hosted supporters from around the world for the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of its Friends’ Associations.

• "Seek Peace and Pursue It": inaugural conference at the Pluralistic Spiritual Centre Building
  May 2006, by Dorit Shippin

  On the first of May, 2006, after a well-attended festive opening ceremony on the previous day, we held the inaugural conference of the new building of the Pluralistic Spiritual Centre.

• A Peace Horse
  16 March 2006, by Ety Edlund

  Ety Edlund describes an unusual art project at the school.

• Little stories
  13 December 2005, by Ety Edlund

  Ety Edlund tells some story from everyday life at the Primary School in the 2005 - 2006 school year, and also shares some of the pictures she took.

• Elections 2005
  3 October 2005

  In annual elections, the community voted in Rayek Rizek as secretary general replacing Abdessalam Najjar (who did not run for re-election). On the secretariat this year will be Maurice Ben Yishai, Ahmad Hijazi, Eitan Kremer, Dorit Shippin and Hezi Shuster.

• A second medical treatment day in Jorat al-Shama’a village
  2 October 2005

  The NSWAS humanitarian assistance team visited Jorat al-Shama’a for a second treatment dayin the village, treating 150 patients and distributing NIS 8,000 in medicines.

• SFP opens its 2005 - 2006 activity year
  14 September 2005

  In a festive ceremony attended by program facilitators, NSWAS members and guests, the SFP marked the opening of its activity year.

• The Commencement of the School Year, 2005-2006
  7 September 2005

  Schoolchildren arriving for the new school year were delighted to discover the brand new school building awaiting them, so that suddenly there was much more room to play and learn. A photo - record

• Peace building and conflict transformation
  29 July 2005

  Our second meeting in the series "Peace begins here" and our last of our events for the current scholastic year, was an excellent one-and-a-half day workshop with Dr. Paula Green and Olivia Stokes Dreier of the Karuna Center. The workshop was attended by twenty-five peace and social change activists in Israel and Palestine.

• Treatment Day in Beit Sira village
  26 July 2005

  Saturday, July 10: The HAP team organized a treatment day for the nearby Palestinian village of Beit Sira (Ramallah district). Over five hours, a team of four volunteer doctors and a pharmacist treated some 300 patients with a variety of ailments and distributed medicines valued at NIS 15,000.

• Youth Delegation to Italy
  26 July 2005

  From July 1 – 11 ten young people, accompanied by Rayek Rizek and Berna Layous travelled to Italy for the ninth Anti-Racist World Cup (Mondiali Antirazzisti), organized by Unione Italiana Sport per Tutti (UISP) of Emilia Romagna, which took place in Montecchio.

• Truth & Reconciliation: A screening of two documentaries and discussion
  6 July 2005

  In the final meeting of this year’s series on "Truth and Reconciliation", Doumia-Sakinah used films dealing on a personal level with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the the post-apartheid process in South Africa as a basis for lively presentations and discussion.

• End of School Year and 6th Grade Graduation
  27 June 2005

  The end of the school year came for children in the NSWAS educational system. They exhibited their school work for parents, and 6th grade graduates engaged us with an impressive impressive theater - dance production. You can click on the photos for a larger view.

• Common destiny and the limits of identity
  3 June 2005

  The third meeting in our series, “Truth and reconciliation” featured presentations by Prof. Dan Bar-On and journalist Nazir Majali on Jewish and Arab identities in Israel: how the presence or absence of physical and psychological borders has influenced the development of each.

• Palestinian liberation theology as a tool for peace education
  17 May 2005

  As part of our series "Culture, Society & Tradition: a critical view" we invited Rev. Dr. Naim Ateek of the Sabeel Centre on the possible uses and implications of Christian liberation theology vis à vis the Palestinian - Israeli conflict.

• The role of historical truth in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict
  6 May 2005

  In the second of our meetings in the series, "Truth and Reconciliation", an Arab and a Jewish historian presented separate historical narratives and discussed the possibility of ever reconciling them.

• Touching Peace
  3 May 2005

  In the framework: “Peace Begins Here” - a series of meetings for peace and social change activists - we conducted a workshop facilitated by two two teachers from Plum Village – the meditation centre of the Vietnamese Zen master and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh.

• Radical social views in the traditional Passover Hagadah
  18 April 2005

  A week before the Passover holiday, Doumia Sakinah arranged a study evening in the framework of the series, “Tradition, culture, society and commentary”

• Feminist voices in Islam and in Judaism
  24 February 2005, by Raida Aiashe-Hatib

  Doumia - Sakinah hosted a discussion on the position of women in Islam and Judaism

• Reflections on the summit at Sharm el-Sheikh
  16 February 2005, by Abdessalam Najjar

  NSWAS general secretary Abdessalam Najjar speaks his mind about the possibilities for peace.

• Medical treatment day in Jorat al-Shama’a Village
  30 January 2005

  The Humanitarian Assistant project team conduct a medical treatment day in Jorat al-Shama’a village.

• Introducing the Parents’ Circle / Families Forum
  24 January 2005

  As the first meeting in a series of study days initiated by the Spiritual Centre in coordination with the Parents’ Circle / Families Forum of Israeli and Palestinian bereaved families supporting peace, reconciliation and tolerance, Doumia Sakinah invited members of the Forum to describe their work.

• The Primary School in 2004-2005
  12 November 2004

  The NSWAS Primary School continues in its efforts to provide a mature comprehensive binational education framework for children of the Village and some 30 communities in the surrounding area.

• In Memory of Hagar Edlund
  5 November 2004

  A young woman who left us much too soon

• The Junior High 2004-2005 School Year
  31 October 2004

  September 1 brought a new school year – only the second in the Junior High’s existence. The efforts of staff, parents and students had paid off. The successes of the previous year encouraged many new students to join. Some are graduates of the NSWAS primary school, while others are completely new to the system.
  Most of last year’s seventh grade students continued on to eighth grade, where there are 16 students this year (three of them new to the system). Another 25 students enrolled in the (...)

• Primary School Report for the 2003 - 2004 Scholastic Year (PDF format: 187 kb)
  1 September 2004, by Daniela Kitain
• Summer Camp 2004
  23 August 2004, by Daniela Kitain

  The children’s framework of NSWAS is not immune from the political and financial turmoil affecting our region. So it was no surprise that conducting our traditional “Brotherhood Summer-Camp” (“Kaytanat Ach’va – Muhayam Uchwa”) would bring challenges too. It took a greater effort this year to organize, and to find children to join. Jewish parents, in particular, seemed to prefer other activities for their children this summer.
  Finding the necessary financial support was harder too. We were (...)

• Summer update on Humanitarian Assistance
  3 August 2004, by Michal Zak

  It has been a while since our last report, and we have some good news on a number of projects, which we want to share with you.
  Helping Children who need medical care
  Helping children who need special medical care that cannot be obtained in Palestinian hospitals has become a major part of our work. Every time we meet, each member of the committee comes with a pile of faxes that carry the appeals of parents who are desperate to help their children. It is only natural that we hear of the (...)

• Last day of school
  2 July 2004

  Photos from the end-of-school-year events

• "Freiwilliges Soziales Jahr" for German volunteers
  7 June 2004

  Till recently the social benefits of the
  so-called "Freiwilliges Soziales Jahr" provided by the German government were available only for
  young German women who did that service in Germany or neighbouring countries. Now it is possible to get it also in other countries like Israel, if the participants are well prepared and sent through an organisation recognised by the government.
  If young people from Germany wish to come as volunteers to Neve Shalom/Wahat al Salam they may therefore like (...)

• Doumia Sakinah Update
  4 June 2004, by Dorit Shippin

  Recent and planned activities of the Pluralistic Spiritual Centre

• I will sell my dream to the highest bidder
  1 June 2004, by Daoud Boulos

  My oldest daughter Ranin*, 18 years old, came home one day very agitated and in tears. Her blond hair, fair complexion and fashionable jeans did not help, nor her perfect Hebrew. She was wearing a cross.
  It was a week that witnessed several suicidal attacks by Palestinians against Israeli civilian targets inside Israel. The general atmosphere was that of fear and suspicion; travelers who had no choice by to ride public transportation, a major target for these attacks, got on the buses (...)

• 1000 Women for the Nobel Peace Prize
  31 May 2004

  NSWAS hosts a meeting with the Swiss coordinators of a project to award the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize to 1,000 women working for peace.

• Children of the school celebrate three holidays
  23 May 2004

  As in recent years, we celebrated a tri-religious event, and this year focussed upon the Jewish holiday of “Shavu’ot”, the Muslim “Mawlad el-Nabi” and the Christian “Pentecost” (“el Ansara” in Arabic). The latter also was combined with a celebration of Ascension Day (“es-Su’ud”). The event took place on a warm and lovely spring evening. The school and its surroundings were adorned with symbols of the three holidays, scriptural quotations, and artwork. It gave an opportunity for children, parents (...)

• Experience of a volunteer in NSWAS
  15 May 2004, by Rosa Blumenfeld

  During the past two and a half months I have been a volunteer here at Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam. I had been in Israel for a few months already as a student at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The first time that I came to the village was when I attended a conference here about “Religion, Social Identity and Education Among Arabs and Jews in Israel”. I was to start volunteering at NSWAS the following week. I was to be the first volunteer working with the Public Relations office as the (...)

• February in NSWAS
  29 February 2004

  It’s springtime in Israel. The almond trees have been in blossom from the beginning of the month, and now the earth is carpeted with yellow and red flowers. During the last weekend of the month, temperatures reached an unseasonal 30 degrees Celsius.
  As every year at this time, the primary school and kindergarten celebrated the tree planting holiday – Tu Bi’Shvat in Hebrew, Eid I-Shajara in Arabic. It was not the only holiday, for at the beginning of the month came the Moslem holiday of (...)

• Commission rejects plan to build new settlement next to NSWAS
  5 February 2004

  On Tuesday, February 3, the National Building and Planning Commission met to discuss the proposal by developers to build a new settlement adjacent to NSWAS. The plan called for the allocation of 60 hectares of state land for the construction of some 520 homes. Due to opposition by various parties including NSWAS, the Association for the Protection of Nature and the Jewish National Fund, the plan was rejected, despite a government decision from 2002 in favour of establishing a new settlement (...)

• Religion, Social Identity and Education (Conference)
  February 2004

  Conference
  Neve Shalom Wahat al-Salam and The Global Network of Religions for Children invite you to a conference on: Religion, Social Identity and Education Among Arabs and Jews in Israel
  Questions and challenges of religious identity facing educators in a multi-cultural society
  Neve Shalom Wahat al-Salam
  February 25 – 26, ‏2004
  Sponsored by the Arigatou Foundation
  Program
  Wednesday, Feb. 25th
  13:00: Registration 13:45: Introduction
  Castro Daoud, Secretary of Neve Shalom (...)

• Preparations for Id al-Adha
  30 January 2004

  As every year, the children in the school and kindergarten celebrated the Moslem Festival of the Sacrifice, which commemorates the Quranic story of Ibrahim and his son Ishmael.

• The encounter is also for teachers
  26 January 2004

  January 11: The second of three encounters for the staff and management of the Primary School and pre-school framework of Neve Shalom – Wahat al-Salam took place over the weekend. The two-and-a-half day encounter was conducted at conference facilities in Jerusalem and sponsored by the Arigatou Foundation, Japan.
  The NSWAS school, like most others, is a place where the pressures of the school day make for frenetic activity among teachers and management alike. There is little time for (...)

• New developments in the HAP program
  13 January 2004, by Michal Zak

  HAP needs your help: See below on how to help provide kits for volunteer ambulance crews.
  January 2004: In a recent committee meeting, we shared information on the latest developments with our ongoing projects and decided upon some ones. Medical equipment for clinics
  The most ambitious of our ongoing projects is the provision of medical equipment to clinics in three Ramallah district towns and villages, namely Naalin, Media and Budrus. In preparation, we met with the Naalin’s mayor (...)

• Eitan Haber visits the primary school
  12 January 2004, by Daniela Kitain

  Eitan Haber - who was personal advisor to the late PM Yitzhak Rabin - visited our primary school in December. Favourably impressed, Mr. Haber promised to help in seeking support for the school in Israel and abroad.

• December 2003 - preparing for Hannuka and Christmas
  12 January 2004, by Daniela Kitain

  The primary school children preparing for the celebration of Christmas and Hannuka. Thanks to Philipp Burckhardt for the photos.

• Formation years of the Educational System
  31 December 2003, by Ety Edlund

  Ety Edlund recounts the establishment and first years of the kindergarten and primary school in the 1980s and 90s.

• Ramadan in Neve Shalom - Wahat al-Salam
  24 November 2003

  Every year during the month of Ramadan, many of the Moslem members of the village observe the daytime fast, breaking it at dusk with the traditional Iftar meal. This year, families got together for a weekly evening meal, and the school and kindergarten also celebrated the holy month with various activities.
  On November 19, the village municipality and Doumia – Sakinah together arranged a special evening to which the whole village was invited. Beginning at 5 PM with a festive meal, the (...)

• NSWAS elects a new leadership team
  17 November 2003

  Following annual elections in the village, incoming Secretary Castro Daoud speaks of his perspective on NSWAS and his hopes for the coming year.

• A letter from Battoul’s father
  15 November 2003

  To my friends in Neve Shalom – The School for Peace
  THANK YOU FOR EVER
  Dear respected friends
  I am Bashar Jaloudi from Jenin Governate Faqoaa village Palestine I would like to express my deep and great thankfullness to my friends in Neve Shalom for their help by financing the heart surgery for My daughter BATTOUL 5 years old who was suffering from VSD. She had a whole in her heart when she was born 1998 and now she was having another whole in the VALVE and the nerves are closed the (...)

• Notable Quotes
  31 October 2003

  What others say about Neve Shalom / Wahat al Salam
  Ronit Tirosh, director of Israeli Education Ministry (visit, January 2002):
  The school works towards the aim of nurturing the personal, national and cultural identity of both peoples. The students conduct educational and cultural dialogues with no regard to the difference between them.
  I saw students and educators, who are trying to find, through this encounter, what they commonly share. Let us pray that perhaps from you will come out (...)

• Update on two girls: Battul and Malak
  26 October 2003, by Michal Zak

  It is the first day of Ramadan, a good day to share good news. We are proud and happy to share with you that Battul Jaludi, the little girl from Jenin recovered from open-heart surgery and is on her way home! The operation was successful. After six hours, the doctors were able to close the hole in her heart, and to restore the valve almost completely (80%). If it had proved impossible to restore the valve, there was the option to install an artificial valve , but in this case the (...)

• HAP helps another Palestinian girl
  10 October 2003, by Michal Zak

  Treatment will restore a West Bank girl to normal life

• Behind the Fence
  6 October 2003

  The Pluralistic Spiritual Centre, in cooperation with the School for Peace, convened a meeting based on a film screening and a presentation on the subject of Israel’s security fence.

• HAP Update: Malak goes to school
  16 September 2003, by Michal Zak

  We are all excited that Malak was discharged from the hospital and has gone into first grade, like any normal girl. At home, she continues to work-out on her knee, for which purpose we got her a bicycle which she must ride daily. It’s a struggle for her, but this is the best physiotherapy in her case. She is also wearing special garments, which place pressure on her scars. She will have to wear these for a while, so that the scars don’t grow. We are sure she will do very well in school, (...)

• The new school year gets underway, and the junior high school opens
  15 September 2003

  There was nothing routine about the opening of the 2003 – 2004 school year. First because a new seventh grade class launched the beginning of a junior high school; secondly because the primary school welcomed a new co-principal; and thirdly because just over the school fence, work was proceeding on a new school building.
  A junior high school
  For several years, NSWAS has been preparing to move up to the level of a junior high school (grades 7 - 9), and for much of the last year, a special (...)

• Memory and recognition
  September 2003, by Dorit Shippin, Dyana Shaloufi-Rizek

  Doumia-Sakinah and two other organisations commemorated the 1967 destruction of three villages in the Latrun area.

• The NSWAS Primary School in 2002 / 2003: a year end report.
  6 August 2003, by Maya Karni

  Co-principal Maya Karni tells of the challenges she faced in her first year as principal, and why she remains optimistic.

• HAP report for Summer 2003
  August 2003

  Activities by the HAP committee continued during the summer.

• Memory and Peace
  August 2003, by Dorit Shippin

  Doumia Sakina organized an open discuss with the initiators of the “Memory and Peace” initiative, which took a delegation of Palestinians to Auschwitz.

• Summer camp 2003
  31 July 2003

  Some 140 young people aged 5 to 13 took part in the highly successful NSWAS annual binational summer camp.

• "Face to Face"
  3 July 2003

  Made for Italian TV by M. Moncada and D. Mitzman (early 2000s). Source: Arcoiris TV YouTube channel.
  (English with Italian subtitles and narrative)

• Children report on the school year
  1 July 2003

  Six short reports, one from each grade level, about what they did this year in school.

• Richard Gere visits NSWAS
  15 June 2003

  Richard Gere took time out of a three day visit to Israel and Palestine to visit NSWAS.

• Two NSWAS delegates tour Britain
  26 May 2003

  ... and are invited to the House of Commons

• Visit by President of the German Bundestag Thierse and Ambassador Dressler
  25 May 2003

  ... and inaugurate a new building for volunteers

• Thoughts of NSWAS members regarding the war with Iraq
  10 April 2003
• The School for Peace wins 2003 peace prize of the Deutsch-Israelische Gesellschaft
  2 April 2003

  Two representatives of the School for Peace travelled to Berlin to receive the peace prize of the German - Israel friendship society.

• "Sweating for peace"
  1 April 2003

  A report of how high school students in Zurich raised money by organizing and taking part in a running event.

• "Shintian" Play Performance
  15 March 2003

  On Saturday, March 15, we had a moving experience with "Shintian", a play which relates the memories of an 80-year old woman from the village of Kufr Yasif in the Galilee.

• A food market
  15 March 2003

  The hotel and village residents staged a food market where delicious traditional preparations were made and sold.

• Malak, a treatment day, baby milk for Nablus, budget
  5 March 2003
• Update on Malak, treatment day planned, UK hospital offer
  6 February 2003
• Bruno Hussar’s memorial and a meeting with Abbot Paul Saouma
  February 2003
• Malak in surgery
  20 January 2003
• Visit by Canadian Delegation
  14 January 2003
• 2003 and we are still volunteering
  13 January 2003
• New members and families voted in
  January 2003

  January 26 2003: Another milestone in the history of NSWAS. The village accepted eleven of our rising generation for membership or candidacy. There was great excitement as Sagi Frisch (22) and Suleiman Boulos (22) were accepted as members, and the following over 18-year-olds were accepted as candidates (alphabetical, by family name):
  Ranin Boulos (18)– will study drama at the Hebrew University Adi Frisch (21)– currently working for a cellular phone company Amit Kitain (19) – doing his army (...)

• Give peace a voice concert, with Yair Dalal
  28 December 2002
• "Give peace a voice" benefit concert
  28 December 2002
• Jane Fonda and Eve Ensler conduct an evening for women
  20 December 2002
• Malak Taiser admitted to hospital
  15 December 2002
• Celebration of Ramadan, Hannukah and Christmas
  December 2002
• Peacemaker Award 2002
  December 2002
• Al-Media: fourth visit and distribution of first aid kits
  30 November 2002
• Al-Media Village (third visit)
  9 November 2002
• The children’s educational system in 2002 - 2003
  November 2002
• Ramadan celebration
  24 October 2002
• A day of mindfulness, facilitated by Buddhist monk Tai Doji
  October 2002

  Doumia Sakinah and NSWAS hosted a mindfulness practice day which was attended by a large number of people from around the country, as well as some members of the community itself. Talks and instruction were given by Tai Doji, a senior monk from Plum Village (Village des Pruniers), a mindfulness community established by the Vietnamese meditation teacher and human rights activist Thich Nhat (...)

• A meeting with Buddhist monks
  October 2002

  Two Buddhist monks, Tai Doji and Fab Min, from the community of Plum Village in France led a talk for NSWAS members and residents on the ‎subject of "Community life and attention to communication from ‎the heart." Senior monk Tai Doji began with a presentation of tools and methods which had been found useful in Plum Village to ease communication in Community Life. After his presentation, the discussion was opened for NSWAS residents, and a heartful interchange developed.
  Plum Village (or (...)

• Slaves of memory
  21 September 2002
• The campaign for Malak Taiser
  9 September 2002
• "Forbidden Marriages in the Holy Land"
  September 2002

  Michel Khleifi’s film, "Forbidden Marriages in the Holy Land" (1995), deals with various forms of mixed marriage in Israel (particularly between Arabs and Jews), and the difficulties the couples encounter due to religious and cultural traditions.
  Khleifi, a Palestinian born in Nazareth and currently living in Belgium visited NSWAS together with film director Eyal Sivan, during the process of their production of a joint film dealing with the subject of the 1947 line of partition.
  We took (...)

• Study meeting on the Sukkot holiday
  September 2002

  Rabbi Joshua Engleman of Jerusalem came to speak on "The Sukka as a radical reception of guests: the question of how much our gates are open to peace?"
  Rabbi Engleman is a teacher of Judaism at Kolot Seminary and the Hebrew University. In addition he treats children at Ayalon Centre, Jerusalem and is a composer of Jewish soul music.
  The meeting was attended by a small circle of Jewish and Palestinian members of NSWAS and guests. After the presentation, an interesting discussion (...)

• Administrative change at the school
  September 2002
• HAP Program continues
  6 July 2002
• Medical Aid Project in Al-Media village, Ramallah district
  1 June 2002
• Swiss CEVI award, 2002
  June 2002
• A delivery of food and medicines to Nablus
  28 May 2002
• Second Medical Aid project in Nablus, future plans
  18 May 2002
• Medical Aid Project in Nablus / Ideas how to help
  5 May 2002
• Muhammad Bakri’s Film "1948" and a meeting with the director
  3 May 2002
• The role of religion in dealing with the conflict
  25 April 2002
• Medical Aid Project in the West Bank Village of Beit Liqya
  20 April 2002
• Medical Aid Project in the West Bank Village of Beit Sira
  13 April 2002
• Holocaust (Shoah) Day meeting
  8 April 2002, by Dorit Shippin
• Interview with a physician on the Medical Aid Days
  April 2002
• Spring 2002 activities
  April 2002
• A week of demonstrations and humanitarian efforts
  April 2002
• Land Day
  21 March 2002
• Learning together the holidays of the three religions
  March 2002
• A Ramadan meal in NSWAS
  12 December 2001
• Quotes from parents and teachers
  December 2001
• Development report
  December 2001
• Unicef Italy Award
  December 2001
• Update on the primary school
  September 2001
• Annual elections
  3 July 2001
• End of the school year and summer 2001
  July 2001
• Byakko Shinko Kai visit
  13 June 2001

  A dozen members of the Byakko Shinko Kai Organization (a sister organization of the World Peace Prayer Society) of Japan visited NSWAS. They conducted an IN meditation training, which was attended by participants from around the country and Dorit Shippin, representing the Bruno Hussar Spiritual Pluralist Center. They also conducted a mandala exercise for children at the Primary School, and planted a new peace pole outside the school, with the inscription, "May Peace Prevail on Earth" in (...)

• Land Day
  30 March 2001
• The Peace Alliance
  17 March 2001
• Talk after the national elections
  18 February 2001
• Election day
  6 February 2001
• Visitors during the year 2000
  1 January 2001
• Update on the primary school
  January 2001
• Shai Schwartz - Storyteller
  2001
• In memory of Wellesley Aron
  2001

  Wellesley Aron (1901 - 1988)
  Early NSWAS member Wellesley (Pinchas) Aron, a graduate of Cambridge University, emigrated to Palestine in 1926. Three years later, the late Dr. Chaim Weizmann (Israel’s first president) called him back to London to serve as his political secretary. There, in London, Wellesley Aron conceived and created the Habonim Movement to provide Jewish youth with a knowledge of their history and traditions and with the definite aim of eventually participating in the (...)

• Primary school report September - November 2000
  November 2000
• Escalation in the conflict: responses from NSWAS
  November 2000
• School opens the year as an ’official extra-regional school’
  September 2000
• New Secretary General Anwar Daoud talks about NSWAS today and ventures his hopes for the future
  18 August 2000
• School awarded "certificate of appreciation and recognition"
  August 2000
• NSWAS hosts a meeting arranged by "Peace One Day" for Palestinian and Israeli Peace Activists
  30 July 2000
• "Trouble in paradise" article
  28 July 2000
• Annual Elections
  3 July 2000
• Annual general meeting of NSWAS friends’ associations
  1 April 2000
• Update on the primary school, kindergarten and nursery
  March 2000
• Arts and Cultural Centre
  March 2000
• Memorials for Tom Kitain and Bruno Hussar
  14 February 2000
• Adventure and the world upside-down
  11 January 2000, by Tineke Vander Kooi

  Since I was thirteen I was longing to live for some time abroad. I wanted to do some practical work and get more insights about the world, about people and about myself. Lots of things are possible in this area nowadays, and after some investigations, Israel seemed like a good choice. On a few square meters you find intense politics and history. Concerning cultures and world religions it is a real melting pot. And it was even payable!
  Through some acquaintances I got information about a (...)

• "Seeds of Peace in Kosovo"
  January 2000
• A Peace Run, an event in honor of Abie Nathan, and a visit by the German volunteers in Israel
  29 November 1999
• British Ambassador Francis Cornish and Mrs. Cornish
  15 November 1999
• Development report
  November 1999
• Visitors - September 1999
  1 October 1999
• Art in the primary school and kindergarten
  October 1999
• A rainbow arch for the playground
  October 1999
• Inservice training in bilingual education
  September 1999
• Elections
  September 1999
• Visitors in July 1999
  1 August 1999
• Visitors in May - June 1999
  1 July 1999
• Recent Visitors
  1 May 1999
• Visitors in April 1999
  1 May 1999
• Development report
  May 1999
• Meeting for new families and the seasonal opening of the swimming pool
  May 1999
• Update on the children’s educational system
  January 1999
• NS/WAS assisting bilingual education project in Macedonia
  1999, by Bob Mark
• A creative thinking class at the school
  1999
• News Archive
  1999
• Poems
  1999, by Daniela Kitain
• Speech by Hillary Clinton in NSWAS
  13 December 1998
• Visit by Hillary Clinton, Sarah Netanyahu
  13 December 1998

  On the morning of Sunday, December 13, 1998, NSWAS was honored with a visit by US First Lady Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton accompanied by Mrs. Sarah Netanyahu. The two ladies and their entourage stayed in the village for an hour and fifteen minutes, meeting with many members of the community and particularly with children.
  The visit to NSWAS was the first engagement undertaken by Mrs.. Clinton during her and the President’s three day visit to Israel and the Palestinian Autonomy. During her (...)

• Opening of the 1998 - 99 school year
  November 1998
• annual elections
  November 1998
• Building and development report
  November 1998
• Bernadotte Grant for future peace campus
  November 1998
• Lessons learned on the road ot a resolution of the conflict between Jews and Palestinians
  October 1998, by Rayek Rizek
• Art as a language of communication
  15 August 1998
• The bilingual, binational kindergarten of NSWAS
  April 1998, by Aishe Najjar
• Bilingual schooling in Israel gets a boost
  February 1998
• In Memory of Tom Kitain
  January 1998
• Responses to the tuition support program
  1998
• Rayek Rizek, new secretary
  October 1997
• Visit by Shimon Peres
  1 September 1997
• "No alternative to optimism": interview with Ahmad Hijazi, NSWAS Secretary
  September 1997
• Visit by US Ambassador Indyk
  7 July 1997
• Peace Process Meet in NSWAS
  1 July 1997
• Open Day for the Diplomatic Corps
  27 April 1997
• From the "Will" of Bruno Hussar
  28 February 1996

  From the "Will" of Bruno Hussar *
  To my companions in Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam:
  I ask that everything concerning my burial in N.S. will take place under the direction of Anne and Yohanon Elihai, with the active participation of all the companions. I turn towards the companions to say the following.
  I am glad to live permanently among you. I believe that death is not the end of life, but a kind of metamorphosis, as it were, a complete change of the same life, passing from a known to an (...)

• Poem
  21 February 1996, by Dafna Karta Schwartz

  The time of parting has come, The cocoon has turned into a butterfly Flying to look for other regions. But just a minute, Bruno, I want to tell you just a few more words. Words of love For a man that for whom love was the call of life, Love was the gate Through which many people passed - Jews, Christians and Muslims. You had a place for them all, Because you were seeking, and finding, the beautiful in each person. You had the power to hold and accept, You had the endless patience To dream (...)

• The opening of the NSWAS primary school
  1996