Educating to Live Together in Peace. This is the mission of Merav Ben-Nun, an Israeli committed to bringing about change in education for new generations. Driven by a strong desire to make a difference through education, her lifelong passion, Merav Ben-Nun launched a significant initiative aimed at fostering peace between peoples: the creation of the first mixed Arab-Jewish daycare in Haifa in 2012, in collaboration with the organization Hand in Hand. Since then, a school has also been established and continues to grow year after year. According to Merav, educational issues are at the root of the other challenges facing Israeli society. Her goal is to shift mindsets by acting from early childhood, to create a more just and open society where Jews and Arabs can live together in harmony, hand in hand, rather than side by side in mistrust.
"When we learn to know each other, stereotypes fall away, and we can later envision a perspective of understanding and lasting peace in the region as adults," asserts Merav Ben-Nun, founder of the Hand in Hand bilingual daycare and school in Haifa.
Merav was born in the United States to Israeli parents. She spent her childhood between Israel and the United States. After obtaining her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Political Science and Sociology from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, she completed her doctorate in Universal Education and Peace Education in New York from 2002 to 2008. Upon returning to Israel, she settled in Haifa with her husband and three children, the youngest of whom is enrolled in Merav's bilingual school. This is a source of immense pride for her, as she firmly believes in the shared life between Arabs and Jews, which she sees as the key to a healthy and balanced society.
"The field of education has always fascinated me. When I served in the Hashomer Farm unit, a military recruitment base belonging to the Corps of Education and Youth, I learned to understand Israeli society in depth, exploring aspects I had not encountered before. I particularly discovered that there was not much equality among citizens, and that became my starting point," Merav stated to Itonnews.
The assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, a major turning point
At the age of 20, Merav was deeply impacted by the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995, a symbol of hope for peace. This tragic event greatly influenced her career and her vision for the future; the prospects for advancing peace were collapsing due to political groups that were doing everything they could to hinder the link between peoples.
"It was a significant crisis for the country, but also on a personal level, and it marked a turning point that made me realize I needed to focus on education to strengthen places that promote understanding between Jews and Arabs. The ultimate goal is to work towards a society where citizens enjoy the same rights and opportunities, which is not the case currently," asserts Merav.
A Multicultural and Bilingual School
When she returns from New York with her family, it is important for Merav to continue the education her children received there. "Haifa is a multicultural city, and our neighbors are Arab, so why separate our children's schools?" Merav questions. She then decides, along with several parents and the Hand in Hand organization, to establish a mixed nursery that initially consisted of 14 children: 6 Jewish, 6 Arab, and 2 Bahá'ís (an independent monotheistic religion). Today, the school has expanded and offers a mixed curriculum up to the 9th grade.
"The separation of Jews and Arabs in schools has led to the problems we see today in society; education plays a crucial role in this regard. Jews fear Arabs and are even afraid to hear the language, which is why they need to learn early on that there are people from different cultures, so they can overcome their fears," asserts Merav.
In the bilingual school, Jews, Arabs, Christians, Druze, Bahá'ís, and Armenians grow up together. In each class, there is an Arab teacher and a Jewish teacher. In the nursery, children learn songs and stories, celebrating Christmas, Ramadan, and Hanukkah, while at school they study both written and spoken Hebrew and Arabic.
"It’s fantastic and at the same time difficult. We face many challenges; initially, the municipality opposed our project, but we insisted on being part of the public domain because we didn’t want to target only those who can afford it. We believe that this is a solution that should be available to everyone," declares Merav.
"Arabs are always very eager to enroll because this school represents a way for them to integrate more into society and learn Hebrew early on, but Jews are more hesitant, especially since the war," she says.
Merav has also formed a parents' committee to strengthen their influence and expand the network. Thanks to the tireless support of local families, the programs at the Haifa school have experienced spectacular growth. The goal of Hand in Hand is to continue this expansion year after year, eventually up to the senior year.
Educating Teachers on the Importance of Coexistence
According to Merav, educating young students is crucial, but educating the teaching staff is even more important. For the past two years, she has been leading the Min Habe’erot program at the Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. Founded by David Hartman in 1976, the institute offers pluralistic Jewish thought and education to academics, rabbis, educators, and leaders of the Jewish community in Israel and North America.
For the past ten years, the Min Habe’erot program has empowered Israel's minorities through knowledge and understanding, specifically helping the Jewish community feel more comfortable with the Arab community. Approximately 200 people from across Israel, primarily from the education sector, participate in the program each year.
Through seminars and 8 to 9 sessions totaling around thirty hours, participants study texts from both the Quran and the Tanakh, as well as modern texts related to culture, religion, and poetry from both cultures. The goal is to disseminate this knowledge in schools and provide a diverse education that is focused on the culture of the other.
"Since October 7, the situation has changed dramatically, and we must work twice as hard to prove that coexistence and communal life are the only paths to peace, despite the challenges we face. The reality on the ground remains shared; in many places, Jews and Arabs work together, and nothing has changed, so we must fight to ensure this is not tarnished. To achieve real results, a change in perspective must come from the top of the pyramid. We need to bridge the gaps so that Jews and Arabs can live together in lasting peace," concluded Merav Ben-Nun.
Caroline Haïat
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