Nswas - British Friends Newsletter Nov 09

dialogue education peace

news Autumn 2009 |

020 8952 4717 020 8952 1689 E. [email protected] www.oasisofpeaceuk.org T. F.

Premier House, 12 Station Road, Edgware Middx HA8 7BJ

British Friends of Neve Shalom - Wahat al-Salam (NSWaS)

MESSAGE: Help raise funds for NSWaS A Seasonal Gift of Peace REGULAR GIVING

Our appeal for Regular Giving in our Spring newsletter had a very good response, but if you haven’t already signed up for this, please do so on the attached form. Many regular amounts can make all the difference to our coffers!

MAKE A GIFT ON BEHALF OF SOMEONE YOU CARE ABOUT

A wonderful solution to the problem of what to give a friend or member of your family is to make a donation in their name to NSWaS. They will be delighted that you have done so.

ORGANISE AN EVENT

Put on a concert or recital, sketch show, quiz, cabaret or comedy night. Hire a film, hold a debate. These are just a few ideas.

Here are some ways you can help support your favourite charity!

FOOTSTEPS TO PEACE

Please support this campaign. For a donation of £250, or more, your name will be inscribed in the 2009 page of the FOOTSTEPS TO PEACE book which is held at Neve Shalom ~ Wahat al-Salam and publicly displayed. Please see the flier enclosed or call the office on 020 8952 4717 or email [email protected]

OR, JUST MAKE A DONATION, USING THE FORM IN THIS NEWSLETTER By cheque, payable to British Friends of NSWaS, or credit/debit card By phone: 020 89524717 Online: www.justgiving.com/ britishfriends-nswas/raisemoney

OTHER WAYS TO HELP ….. SPONSOR THE COSTS OF PRODUCING THIS NEWSLETTER

It is part of our remit and commitment to our subscribers to provide regular information both about the Village and our activities in the UK. In spite of being able to send electronic versions to many people, we still need to print over 1,000 copies and send them by regular mail. This is costly. It would be great if a generous donor would underwrite part or all of these costs. We would of course give acknowledgement, if wished.

enclosed envelope (with instructions) to send your spent print cartridges or old mobile phones for recycling. It’s very easy to do, at no cost, and it’s surprising how much money this brings us while helping save the planet!

SHOP ONLINE FOR THE FESTIVE SEASON!

There is a variety of attractive gifts on the website: www.oasisofpeaceuk.org, from T-shirts to mugs, with the Dove of Peace design.

RECYCLING SPENT PRINT CARTRIDGES AND DISUSED MOBILE PHONES One way you can help is by using the

Children’s Educational System and enriching the curriculum.

Children come from far and wide to attend Neve Shalom ~ Wahat al-Salam’s (NSWaS) educational system. The catchment area covers a radius of 50km (30 miles), even though priority is given to children who live closer to the Village, in order to keep transport costs down. This was the first, and remains the most comprehensive, Jewish-Arab bilingual, bicultural children’s educational programme in Israel. It was never intended simply as a solution for the Arab and Jewish children of the community, but more importantly as a model of integrated schooling that can be used wherever an Arab and a Jewish population live closely together. It’s encouraging that in recent years, other schools have been established that are based on the NSWaS model. Staff are frequently requested to offer their Visit our new website

It is financially difficult to maintain teaching and learning that is bilingual and bicultural. Teaching hours per child are much higher than in ordinary schools. For the children to reap the fruits that this type of education offers, more teachers are needed than are paid for by the Ministry of Education. This means that unlike other schools, NSWaS must find support from the outside. expertise on integrated education, both in Israel and abroad. Looking back on the previous year, 20082009, there were many challenges – the military operation in Gaza and the global downturn, to name just two. With the good will of staff, children and parents these were surmounted, and the new

school year opened with optimism. This enthusiasm is shared by children, teachers and parents alike, with the Primary School enrolment up from 170 in 200809 to 210 currently. During 2007-08 the enrolment was 170. We all feel very proud of NSWaS’s achievements in keeping the children’s educational system going so successfully – increasing the enrolment

British Friends, as well as other Friends Associations, provide financial support to the schools through generous contributions from our donors. Without this funding, the schools simply could not function as they do. Please continue to give, and if possible, give just that little bit extra. Also, please tell your friends about us!

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Spring 2008 | British Friends of Neve Shalom - Wahat al-Salam (NSWaS) Autumn 2009 | British Friends of Neve Shalom - Wahat al-Salam (NSWaS)

Two sad losses Coral Aron

Coral Aron

Earlier this year, we were saddened to hear that Coral Aron had died. Coral and her husband Wellesley were among the first pioneers to join Fr Bruno at NSWaS in the early 1970s when living conditions there were far from luxurious. Sadly, Wellesley died in 1988, but Coral continued to live at the Village, working in the Public Relations office until illness prevented her from continuing to live independently and she went to live with her daughter in Caesaria. Coral was a mainstay of the community; ‘granny’ to the children, wise counsellor to their parents, and coming from England, a great link with the community for us at the British Friends. She touched the lives of so many people, and we feel her loss deeply

Philip Rueff

In September, our chairman Philip Rueff died after a long illness. He provided important leadership to the British Friends and is being sorely missed. In this photo, he and his wife Sandra, were enjoying the reception after Prince Hassan’s speech at St John’s Wood Church in July. Our governing body has named Henning Sieverts to replace Philip. Please see Henning’s Letter from the Chairman.

Neve Shalom ~ Wahat al-Salam mentioned in UN statement Representing Israel at a sitting of the Third Committee of the Sixty-fourth General Assembly in September 2009. Sandra Simovich (Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations) is reported to have said: “… In the belief that education was more than just learning information, a number of schools had been established to bring together children of different backgrounds, such as the Neve Shalom/ Wahat al-Salam school, where Jewish and Arab children had been taught in a bilingual setting for over 30 years.” She went on to mention civil society initiatives that complemented her Government’s efforts for tolerance and peace, such as The Peres Centre for Peace, finishing with: “Unfortunately, that vision of peace was not yet shared by all in the region”

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Philip Rueff

Highlights of an interview with Ahmad Hijazi, Director of the School for Peace (SfP) Ahmad took over as Director a year ago. The interview took place just after a ceasefire of the military operations with Gaza in January. He reflects on the futility of violence, stressing the need for long-term encounter training work oriented towards activism. He also refers to the detrimental financial impact of the global economic crisis on the SfP’s programmes. In the face of these challenges, his key objectives are:

£125,00pa - a reasonably modest £200 per participant, of which £30 is paid by the student. To be noted: the SfP gets no Israeli government funding. All its income for this vital work is provided by organisations such as ours applying to Trusts and Institutional donors for grants, and from private individuals.

d Youth Encounter Workshops, the SfP’s leading mass-participation programme. Recent research shows the significant impact that investment in this type of work has on young people. Ahmad has set himself the target of running ten youth encounters annually, which means 600 participants from 20 schools. For this number, the approximate cost is

8 Professional Development, in cooperation with other groups and organisations, to ensure first-class, well-informed staff. Even if the groups don’t always agree politically, professionally, ideologically, or strategically, they do agree on the overall goal.

British Friends’ Financial Support of the Village

and the Primary School: equipment for the Science Room, a contribution towards the children’s Summer Camp, and a course for training new facilitators at the School for Peace. We also made a significant contribution towards the Primary School’s running expenses, to include teachers’ salaries. This is a large sum of money for a small charity such as ours, especially in this time of recession and economic hardship. We thank our generous supporters who make it possible for the British Friends to continue this level of support

Since the beginning of the year, we have sent just under £80,000 to the Primary School and School for Peace. Our Gala concert at the Wigmore Hall in February provided over £20,000. Our contributions covered a range of projects at both the School for Peace

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b Targeting Senior Leadership to improve relations between the Arab and Jewish communities within Israel. He refers to the publication in 2006 of the “Future Vision”, developed by the Arab Higher Monitoring Committee. He sees this as an opportunity for the SfP to play an important part in the increasingly urgent need to integrate Palestinian citizens of Israel into mainstream Israeli society as full and equal partners. f The Peace Academy for which plans are underway with the College of Tel Aviv-Jaffa, via a committee of prestigious Jewish and Palestinian professors.

They are co-operating in developing a curriculum that will lead to professional qualifications in the field of social inclusion, and are waiting for the Council on Higher Education to authorise an MA programme. “The things we already do, and do well, we will continue doing: the courses for university students, programmes for women, facilitator training; equipping professionals as advocates for change at the workplace and beyond. At the same time, for the SfP to sustain its traditional niche as a leading organisation in its field, we must invest the effort to stay a few steps ahead of the curve…. Finally, I believe that with the support of NSWaS and its wonderful people and institutions, and with the support of all our Friends and donors, the goals I have outlined above are very realistic and achievable.” Ahmad Hijazi

Variation of Name At our AGM in June, there was discussion of adding the English translation of the Hebrew Neve Shalom and the Arabic Wahat al-Salam to the alternatives of how we call our Charity. “Oasis of Peace UK” is already used on our website (www. oasisofpeaceuk.org). On a trial basis, we will also be using it in some of our outreach, alongside our legal name. Please let us know your opinion about adding this name as a second way of referring to our Charity

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news speech by

HRH Prince Hassan of Jordan

Escorted visit to Neve Shalom ~ Wahat al-Salam 6 – 11/09/2009 Gillian Gruder, British Friends’ Development Executive, escorted a party of eight British Friends to NSWaS, where she was joined by four American Friends, and a Friend from Spain. This successful visit had many highlights both at the Village and at points of interest in Jerusalem and Wadi Ara in northern Israel. Maura Smolover and her husband Peter Zsiba are ‘American Friends’ who wanted to visit NSWaS for research that they were doing on the Jerusalem Peace Initiative. Deanna Armbruster, Executive Director of American Friends, suggested they join the British Friends’ tour. Read Maura’s impressions: “The itinerary promised a unique experience:

Presentations and conferences We are delighted when we are invited to take part in conferences or to give a presentation to a local group – no matter where in the country. The Holy Land Group of the Council for World Partnership and Development in the Diocese of Hereford invited British

Spring 2008 | British Friends of Neve Shalom - Wahat al-Salam (NSWaS) Autumn 2009 | British Friends of Neve Shalom - Wahat al-Salam (NSWaS)

In July, we were delighted and honoured that HRH Prince Hassan of Jordan accepted our invitation to speak to an invited audience at St John’s Wood Church. His topic was peace in the Middle East, encompassing the grassroots initiatives of Neve Shalom ~ Wahat al-Salam, and the fair distribution of scarce natural resources between all

neighbouring countries. Prince Hassan is an authoritative voice on this subject. If only the different factions would take heed and adopt some of his sound ideas! We were favoured with beautiful weather so that the reception that followed could be held outdoors in the lovely gardens of the Church. We are most grateful to all our volunteers who worked hard to

ensure that the event ran smoothly: the Vicar, Rev Dr Anders Bergquist, the staff and helpers of St John’s Wood Church; Sir Andrew and Lady Burns who chaired the session; Tessa Boteler who advised on and co-ordinated arrangements on behalf of Prince Hassan: and of course HRH Prince Hassan himself who gave us his time and the benefit of his wisdom

a meeting with the British Ambassador, (a special opportunity for any American); tours of Israeli Palestinian cities, (again, a rare opportunity for an American Jew); meeting with the one Israeli Palestinian Supreme Court justice, (an exceptional opportunity for any world citizen); meeting inspirational members of the Village, its elementary school and participating in a sample programme of the School for Peace. How could anyone not go! And, by the way, this was all realised to perfection by Gillian Gruder and our hosts at NSWaS.

eighties, for whom the phrase ‘Never Again’ meant a personal lifelong commitment to brotherhood. To see the Village through their eyes was a precious experience. We met two veteran school-teachers who, having survived the pluralistic chaos of the New York City

of Ramadan, generously cooked us a huge and never ending feast. When I went back to thank her, I discovered that the whole meal had been prepared on a single stove, not much bigger than a hotplate. It made me realise how much can be done with so little means - a lesson that can easily be extended from the material world to the geo-political one in so many ways, if we have the will. All of these people will remain with us as treasures, only possible because of the work of the British Friends.

“But, as is so often true in life, there were the ‘unexpecteds’. Here is what was not on the itinerary, and what made this journey a most precious gift: we met two Lithuanian fellow sojourners, Holocaust survivors in their

Friends to be one of the speakers in a one-day conference in Leominster on the 14th February. It was fully booked well in advance! Speaking at Welcoming the Stranger: A Celebration of Food and Faith, were representatives of the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths who each had a different yet fascinating perspective on this theme. Neve Shalom ~ Wahat alSalam was chosen as a living example that celebrates all the ideas embodied in the conference title. It was a beacon of hope

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Peter and I thank them all for their wisdom, passion and commitment, and encourage all to go on such a journey. For it is from both the destination and the fellow travellers that you will have an opportunity to find the wealth of human goodness that will lead us to an ‘Oasis of Peace’”. public school system, still passionately believe in the redemptive power of education and the potential of the Village’s bilingual, bicultural school. We met a Palestinian [Arab Israeli] woman who, although it was the fast

Next visit to Neve Shalom ~ Wahat alSalam will be on 10-14 October 2010

Please let us know if you would like further details:

020 8952 4717 [email protected]

to the people attending the conference who were feeling dispirited by the recent military operations in Gaza. The delicious, home-cooked Middle Eastern feast, provided by members of the Group, further raised spirits.

was interested to hear about how people who live in this multi-faith, bicultural community deal with the challenges they face in their every-day lives, the political environment in Israel being vastly different from the one they are familiar with in Britain.

Very much in contrast, National Probation Service, Watford invited us to give a talk on the 2nd April around the theme of diversity. The Probation Team

Please contact us if you would like us to speak to your special interest group. British Friends of NSWaS Group Visit September 09

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Spring 2008 2008 British Friends of Neve Shalom - Wahat al-Salam (NSWaS) Autumn 2009 | British Friends of Neve Shalom - Wahat al-Salam (NSWaS) Spring || British Friends of Neve Shalom - Wahat al-Salam (NSWaS)

Unveiling Hagar - A Palestinian-Jewish love story

Dates for your diary | 2008 Sunday December 6th, 2009 at 8pm (prompt)

SHOOT FOR THE MOON, Lydia Melleck & Kara Wilson present an evening of songs and humour with a positive edge. Tickets £25, to include mulled wine and nibbles. Full details enclosed. Unmissable.

APRil 6Th @ 6PM | ThE SyRiAn bRidE Sunday December 13th, 2009 at 4.30pm

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THE LEMON TREE. Another chance to see this challenging film, at Wheatley United Reform Church, High Street Wheatley (just east of Oxford off the M40). Doors open 4pm. For further information contact: [email protected]

MAy 11Th @3pm | RECiTAl by Rodolfo bonuCCi (Violin) & doRoThy SinGh Sunday January 17th at 7.30pm THE ART OF JEWISH SONG (2010) Venue: Jacqueline du Pre Music Building, St Hilda’s College.Tickets from Oxford Playhouse. A celebration of Jewish melodies in Hebrew, Yiddish and Ladino sung by Arjan Byron (soprano) accompanied by Stefan Byron (piano). Entry: £12/£10, Spiro Ark Centre, 25-26 Enford Street, London W1H 1DW. Information from Spiro Ark: 020 7723 9991 / [email protected] May 20th @ 6.30pm | Meet nSwaS’s Second Generation Sama Daoud7th, and Neriya HotelNew Russell, London WC1B SBG. (See enclosed flier) February 2010 Mark. 7.30pm, End Theatre, Hampstead UNVEILING HAGAR a new play by Gloria Tessler. Directed by award winning Ben De Wynter. Tickets £20 (best seats), including a special post-show discussion with members of the artistic team. Bookings JunE 15Th @ 8PM | CAbARET: on bEinG A woMAn through our office: 020 8952 4717 [email protected] A sparkling revue with song and words, presented by Kara Wilson and Lydia Melleck. See 23rd, enclosed2010 flier. Haberdashers’ Askes Boys’ School, Elstree, Herts May Run, walk or push a buggy around the course. There will be plenty of other entertainment for all ages. More details [email protected] published|in our next newsletter, or you can contact us (see above). July 3Rd British Friends AGM willtwo take place at themembers Sion Centre for Dialogue and Encounter, 34 Chepstow a British tour for NSWaS (2010)

Villas, Notting Hill. Rev Canon Val Hamer will be the speaker at our meeting. Her subject “Naming Another date for your 2010 diary! We will be hosting a British tour for two members of NSWaS. Already scheduled is a one-day conference on the 23rd October at the Quaker Meeting House, Oxford.

Support this great work

GRouPS CounTRy And Not to be missed,in thisThE new play by Gloria Tessler will beAbRoAd performed next February at the New End Theatre, Hampstead (see forthcoming events). The British Friends tends to be London-centric, we are happy seemingly insurmountable challenges facing a Jew andso a Palestinian whotofall hear about the people in other parts of the~country who areconfronts enthusiin love encapsulate reality that Neve Shalom Wahat al-Salam about NSWaS. Cohen has been givingliving talksside to by throughastic its educational work Barbara and the example of its residents groups around Weymouth in Dorset and would join forces side. The intriguing story of Max, a Jewish widower whoselike wifetohas recently with other like-minded people. Very much involved a variety died after a long illness, and Layla, a Palestinian pledged to the in liberation ofof joint raises peacefamily initiatives forasapolitical numberissues of years, when inof her country, as well which lie atshe thewas heart Israel in Aprillove 2007she was determined to visit NSWaS. She Max’s ‘unacceptable’ for Layla - but can it be achieved?

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found it lived up to her expectations, saying: “I spent a whole day Oxford of Peace UK really (NSWaS) at Oasis the Village and I was impressed and inspired by what Following the excellent Oxford Peace Forum, which in the Spring goes on there and the people I met … Onewe of reported my fondest memonewsletter, on 13th September our Oxford friends showed the Israeli film, ries is sitting meditating in the Peace Dome, to the sound of bird The Lemon Tree, which focuses thetohuman stories the people caught song.” When she came on back England, sheof resolved to give talks up in the tragedy of the Israel-Palestine conflict, and uses the bitter about the positive things that are happening in Israel, in sweet particusymbolism of the lemon treealready to illustrate There were and queues to get in lar NSWaS. She has giventhis. talks to Peace Justice and thegroups, eveningand raised nearly £1000 after expenses towards the SfP’s youth Church and Women’s groups and is keen to meet programme (mentioned above). There will be another showing at Wheatley more people, so please contact her on: 01305 786821. near Oxford (see Dates for your Diary) on 13th December. In October next year the group will hold another conference with delegates from the Village Much further afield in New Zealand, Derek Lessware is anxious to set up a group of NSWaS supporters. Please get in touch with The Governing Body of the British Friends of NSWaS us if you know anyone out there who might be interested. We are looking for people who might be interested in becoming members of our governing Committee. There are no special requirements, other than Bernard Pageland who died in 2007 had supported a commitment toProf NSWaS’s principles a willingness to take part in the NSWaS for a great many years. As a tribute to him, his family oversight and management of the Charity. Expertise in a speciality such asand friends made donations to NSWaS in his memory. Prof Pagelfour was PR or fundraising will be highly valued. The full Committee meets about a distinguished scientist, so with the considerable sum raised, times a year, usually in central London in the early evening. If any reader ofitthis washas fitting to purchase equipment forfor the sciencetoroom. Newsletter an interest in being a candidate election the Committee - or knows of anyone who would be a valuable addition - please contact our Chairman, Henning Sieverts, care of the Charity’s office in Edgware

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