Letter From Rachel
Dear Friends,
I am writing to you on International Women’s Day, during a time of war in Israel. The events unfolding in Israel leave little space to pause, take a breath, and reflect on what is happening around us.
About three weeks ago I returned from Germany, where I participated in a meeting with the faculty of Alice Salomon University in Berlin. Much of the discussion centered on the question of how to conduct conversations about politically complex issues in university classrooms. The Galilee Dreamers program served as a model of inspiration, and it was even said that future collaboration between the faculties would draw upon the Galilee Dreamers model. I felt that at last there was a growing recognition of the importance of education for peace and dialogue as a central axis in nurturing a sense of shared humanity within academic classrooms.
The visit to Berlin brought together Jewish Israeli and Palestinian Arab educators, and was generously hosted and funded by the university with warmth and openness. At the end of the week we attended a one-man performance by Yousef Sweid, which explored the complex identities of Palestinians within Israel and beyond it. The actor’s reflections sharpened my awareness of the delicate and complex nature of dialogue between identities, and highlighted the importance of truly getting to know each participant in our programs, with attention to the identity resources each person brings.
A few days before the outbreak of the war with Iran, we managed to hold a second meeting between two schools: Katzir School in Misgav and Saint Joseph School in Nazareth. The meeting was hosted by Katzir School in its welcoming environment, surrounded by greenery and characterized by a spirit of innovation. The principal of Saint Joseph Mr. Simaan Abu Sini also joined the meeting and took part in the activities.
We began with three simple requests of each participant:
name a positive moment I experienced recently,
a challenge I have faced,
and something I hope for in the near future.
This exercise created an opportunity for students from both schools to share personal experiences and open a window into their inner worlds. From there we moved to an activity focused on identifying the values students bring from their homes and exploring how these connect with the values of the Galilee Dreamer program.
This conversation gradually led to a deeper and more complex discussion about the feelings of Arab students who experience daily violence and murder within their communities. The goal was to nurture empathy and a sense of shared concern among Jewish students, many of whom are more distant from this reality. The Saint Joseph principal expressed deep appreciation for the initiative and for our decision to place this painful reality at the center of the conversation.
Who could have imagined that only a few days later a war would erupt and that the sounds accompanying our daily lives would become those of sirens and explosions.
All of our students, without exception, are now spending long periods of time in shelters. It is clear to us that another layer of trauma is forming before our eyes.
In this reality, our central challenge is how to cultivate a sense of hope, while also educating toward critical reflection about the role that wars play in our lives. This question will accompany us in the months ahead, and I will continue to share with you our thoughts and dilemmas along the way.
As I conclude this reflection, I would like to remember Vivian Silver, a courageous peace activist who was murdered on October 7 in her home in Kibbutz Be’eri. Vivian was one of the founders of Women Wage Peace and devoted her life to building bridges between communities and insisting that dialogue, dignity, and shared humanity must remain possible even in the most difficult times.
May we continue to carry her spirit forward through education, courage, and the ongoing commitment to seek peace.
Warmly, Rachel
"Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it."
(Psalms 34:15)
