Naomi Roff | The Jerusalem Intercultural Center

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So far Naomi Roff has created 501 blog entries.

Sometimes Dreams of a Clean Jerusalem Come True

One of the key issues Little Prince deals with is problematic urban areas, which are used by all residents of the city and are not cleaned, ever.

The reason: Its zoning is such that it’s unclear who’s responsible for the area, the municipality or residents, so nobody cleans. True, the ultimate responsibility for cleaning the entire city is that of the municipality – and it is this perspective that members of the Little Prince are working to advance – but it has still yet to be adopted by all municipal departments.

Little by little, members of the Little Prince choose a different area and tour with municipal professionals and officials and meet with them. They connect between professionals in the different departments: sanitation, horticulture and ticketing and enforcement, regional manager for urban planning and more, to make the municipality take responsibility for cleaning the particular area and not only once, but as part of its regular routine.

Nayot grove, finally clean

One of the many examples of the complexity of this process is a grove in the Nayot neighborhood. Residents have been trying for years to get the municipality to clean up the neglected area, but the municipality did not take responsibility. The area is large, and residents from all parts of the city use it often, so it’s not logical that local residents be held responsible for the entire area.

As a result of the methods developed by the Little Prince and the networking and connections developed by its members with municipal officials from the gardening, sanitation, and local enforcement departments, and the Municipality is now cleaning the area on an ongoing basis, each week.

Not only along the street, but among the trees as well

Here is an example of a message written by one of the residencies after the first cleaning of the municipality in late September 2019:

Sometimes dreams come true … Today they cleaned the grove on Yehoshua Yavin St. Zoned as a ‘brown’ area that the Municipality leased from the Israel Lands Authority that leased it from the Greek Patriarch. For years no department agreed to clean it. Today the sanitation department has made a historic and hysterical move. Wishing us a happy and clean year in the capital city!

Whatsapp message, with author’s permission

And the next day …..

Guess what? They cleaned an additional grove on Yehoshua Yavin St. Now we can wish a happy and clean year for everyone. Well done to the caring residents and the sanitation workers who are showing more and more partnership and dedication. Thank you, and may this only continue and only the best!.

Let’s hope that it’ll be like this all the time!

This was reported in the Little Prince’s Hebrew-language Facebook group:

Many thanks to the Jerusalem Foundation and Rayne Foundation for their support of the Little Prince!

Naomi Roff2019-11-25T07:53:55+00:00November 8th, 2019|Blog, Effective Activism, The Little Prince - Cleaning Jerusalem Together|

Arabic Courses Open the Year

How can you open communication with the ‘other’ if you don’t know his or her language?

That’s why we opened our Arabic for Communications classes over 15 (!) years ago. Our classes were among the first Arabic for Communication classes, and today continue to be among the most popular and well-respected. Indeed, many of our students have been with us for several years.

Students from levels 1,2,3 listening to a lecture by Ms. Rima Abu Katish, from the Salamtakum organization that helps children with cancer in May 2019

We opened our latest round of classes on Sunday, October 27. This year’s cadre includes 240 people over 5 levels – a new high!

In addition to in-class learning our students enjoy tours of Arabic-speaking Jerusalem, lectures by renowned Arab authors, poets and other professionals, and open discussions with our veteran teachers, Anwar, Suha and Hiba.

Students in levels 4 & 5 listening to poet Marwan Makhoul in May 2019

Here’s a little taste of the classes. The video below was inspired by one of our students and one of our teachers, Dr. Anwar Ben-Badis. It is ‘art in the public sphere,’ where Anwar discusses historic Jerusalem houses, in the neighborhood itself, in Arabic. Enjoy!

Many thanks to the Jerusalem Foundation for their continuing support of our Arabic Instruction Center!

Naomi Roff2019-11-09T10:56:14+00:00November 5th, 2019|Blog, Courses, Language Center|

Oneg Shabbat Blog Mentions ‘Window to Mount Zion’

The Oneg Shabbat blog is a private very popular weekly blog that’s been published since 2007. Authored by Prof. David Assaf, Professor of Jewish History at Tel Aviv University, each week he focuses on different subjects pertaining to Judaism, Israel, humanity.

Oneg Shabbat

In his October 28 edition Prof. Assaf focused on the Window to Mount Zion project, and its new interactive web site.

Jerusalem enthusiasts will be delighted to become acquainted with the Window to Mount Zion web site, which seeks to promote Mount Zion as a common, tolerant and accepting place for the three monotheistic religions. The site is a ‘social tourist guide’ and incorporates texts and videos from the perspective of those who live and work there. For example, Father Corion tells about the Armenian monastery and the cemetery next to it, Rabbi Yitzchak Goldstein tells about the Chamber of the Holocaust and Abdullah Dajani tells about his family’s cemetery next to the David’s Tomb complex. The site also has an illustrated, detailed and interactive map that shows all the sites on Mount Zion in a friendly way.

The post on Oneg Shabbat

Oneg Shabbat is hugely popular, and is distributed throughout the world. Many thanks for the mention!

Naomi Roff2019-11-25T07:44:24+00:00November 2nd, 2019|Blog, Mount Zion|

MiniActive – Kickoff Event

On October 24 we held an opening event for 150 MiniActive women. The evening was filled with cultural performances, from debka dancing to poetry to playback theater.

MiniActive in balloons

The evening sought to thank the women for their hard work over the years, and served to launch the new activity year.

Held at the YWCA in East Jerusalem, home of the MiniActive offices

There was good dancing.

Women’s dance group

The women enjoyed playback theater, where an improv group performed humorous sketches with audience participation. The program also included poetry readings.

MiniActive women enjoy playbacck theater

We showed a year-end video, with highlights from last year. Here’s the video / presentation:

Here’s the post from the MiniActive Facebook page:

Many thanks to the Jerusalem Foundation and Natan for their support of MiniActive!

Naomi Roff2020-08-19T13:10:15+00:00October 31st, 2019|Blog, Effective Activism, Identity Groups and Conflicts, MiniActive, Palestinians/Arabs|

Window to Mount Zion Reaches US Commission on International Religious Freedom

We’ve often said that Mount Zion, and what we’ve been doing of the past few years with Window to Mount Zion – can truly be an example for the rest of the world.

Thanks to our board member, Sharon Rosen, it’s becoming just that. Sharon is Global Director of Religious Engagement for the international NGO Search for Common Ground, and she recently testified to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom in late October, about the protection of holy places.

Sharon Rosen testifying at US Commission

Here’s a video of the whole hearing, Sharon’s testimony begins at 1:15. She starts talking about Mount Zion at 1:36 (one hour and 36 minutes in).

She also submitted a written testimony, where Window to Mount Zion and its accomplishments was described in more detail. Here’s that part of her written testimony:

Mount Zion, Jerusalem: In the context of the Arab-Israeli conflict and frequent violence around holy sites, Search’s Jerusalem program, together with the Jerusalem Intercultural Center based on Mount Zion and with the endorsement of the Council of Religious Institutions of the Holy Land, worked to reduce interreligious tensions, build cooperation, protect places of worship, and turn Mount Zion into a center that celebrates the heritages of all three religions attached to it – Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Just outside Jerusalem’s Old City walls, Mount Zion is the location of a highly sensitive shared holy site for the Abrahamic Faiths – the Tomb of King David/Nabi Daud, the Room of the Last Supper and a Minaret, all in one building. Centuries-long conflict over ownership and religious rights, fueled by rivalry and intolerance, had resulted in an atmosphere of suspicion and violence. This initiative aimed at changing this atmosphere by building trust and cooperation on issues of common interest. Activities included: engaging religious actors with representatives from government ministries, the municipality, and law enforcement agencies to identify shared concerns and find collaborative solutions; establishing a body of volunteers to help maintain a harmonious atmosphere and assist with religious services; and organizing workshops and site visits for Jerusalem Old City’s law enforcement authorities and youth to increase interreligious sensitivity.

The results have been quite spectacular given the initial mistrust and intermittent violent behavior. For the first time ever, a 2016 desecration of the Dormition Abbey, located on Mount Zion, elicited a joint public condemnation by religious leaders living on the Mount;4 local authorities were enlisted to repair safety hazards; law enforcement improved; and there was a reduction in violence. Over one thousand Jewish youth and hundreds of Palestinian youth have taken part in tours to expand understanding of the attachments of different religions to their sacred spaces. In one specific example of the project’s influence, an interfaith group of volunteers cleaned up years of garbage and restored tombstones in the famous Muslim Dajani-Daoudi Cemetery on Mount Zion while supplied with refreshments from the local Ultra-Orthodox, politically right-wing Jewish seminary overlooking the cemetery. These types of acts may seem like small steps, but they build trust across hardened divides, foster critical discussions about protecting spaces for all faiths, and promote mutual acceptance that undermines acts of hate in the long run.

Many thanks Sharon, for your words here. Many thanks, too, for your partnership in helping us launch and continue this wonderful project!

Naomi Roff2019-11-22T13:06:35+00:00October 25th, 2019|Blog, Mount Zion|

Let’s Celebrate! 20 Years of the Jersualem Intercultural Center

“20 years is a lifetime of activity, of creating, together with our dear partners…I’d like to thank the Jerusalem Foundation, which has worked with us from the beginning, and to all our donors. I’d like to thank our partners in the NGOs, municipality and government, and to of course resident activists…What do we want at the JICC? We want each resident throughout the city can influence what goes on in his city, in his way. But in harmony with all the needs of the city, and, please God, that in the next 20 years we’ll be able to continue our activities, and that Jerusalem will be a prime example of how different populations can live together.”

That’s how Avner Haramati, Chair of the Jerusalem Intercultural Center, summed up 20 years, at the JICC’s 20th anniversary celebration at the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens on Monday, September 23. The event enabled both staff, supporters and board members to say thank you and reflect upon the past 20 years.

Avner Haramati, Chair of JICC, opening the evening

“Mazal Tov on 20 years,” said Anat Tzur, CEO of our long-time strategic partner, the Jerusalem Foundation. “Is it a lot or a little? You’ve done so much in those 20 years, yet there’s so much more to be done in Jerusalem.” She continued, explaining why the Foundation often brings donors to visit the JICC:

You are able to show [our donors] the real Jerusalem, the Jerusalem of hope, and what can be done to bring about that hope. It’s always amazing to see how [you] work to advance the most important issues in Jerusalem… Away from the spotlight, the JICC proves again and again that a different Jerusalem [not the Jerusalem of conflict that is often portrayed in the media] is indeed possible. May you continue to be the pillar of cloud, a guiding light, that leads the camp, and shows us the way.

Anat Tzur, CEO of The Jerusalem Foundation

Mrs. Adina Bar-Shalom, founder of the Haredi College in Jerusalem and member of the JICC board, emphasized, “You are everywhere, and your passion for Jerusalem is felt.”

Rabbanit Adina Bar Shalom, JICC Board Member

Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, ofm, a long-time member of the JICC board, reflected upon his own journey:

Fifteen years ago, I didn’t know a thing about the JICC. Hagai and Avner came to me and invited me to do something to bring peace. And you know that people have initiatives all the time to bring peace, and at first I thought this was just one of those initiatives.

They persisted, and said ‘we have Jews, we have Muslims but we don’t have a Christian.’ And the joke isn’t complete if you don’t have a Christian. I joined, but honestly, I wasn’t enthusiastic about itץ But I said, if you need to add a name, add my name. Truthfully, I don’t participate in borad meetings that much, but I am always present at important points, and I also notice that the JICC is also always present at important points in the life of Jerusalem….[I have seen that if you start with politics, we won’t meet. If you start with religion, we won’t meet. But if you start with humans, no matter who they are, you can meet. People come from the field and you can appreciate each other and see that it works. It might be that our institutions are a little paralyzed, but within the different institutions there is goodwill and power to do something. The JICC is small but it is equipped to do something. And maybe, when all residents have a good quality of life, maybe it will unite us all – out of a love of Jerusalem.

Jerusalem – the Holy City. It’s a tough city, but you can’t live without it.

Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, ofm, giving remarks

Sheikh Mahmud Abu Khdeir, Imam of the Beit Hanina / Shuafat Mosque and member of the JICC board, also noted:

The JICC contributes to a lot of good in Jerusalem society. They are a brave group of people, who go to great lengths to help people work together. I’m proud to be a member of the JICC board. Even when there are tensions in general society, at the JICC everyone is treated with equal respect and friendship.

Sheikh Mahmoud Abu Khdeir speaking

Our director Dr. Hagai Agmon-Snir, reflected from his point of view.

In the beginning, Michael Gal, who was chairman then, began to run a “dialogue of acts” which characterizes the JICC to this day. The name “The Intercultural Center” makes a lot of people think we are a place of dialogue. We like dialogue a lot, but we are much more a place of action… Over the years, we have become more and more sophisticated, and today we’ve refined our vision to say that we want to see a culturally competent Jerusalem that is adapted to everyone in it, and that all residents will have the ability to influence the city… We couldn’t anticipate all the issues we would be involved with, and that we’d grow at the rate of one employee per year, yet remain a close-knit staff. We continue to be a startup even after 20 years…Today the JICC’s only statement is that there is room for everyone in Jerusalem to receive and to give all that a city needs to give its residents. The center continues to operate with a low profile. Most residents are unaware that it exists, but almost every stakeholder in the city is a relevant partner.

Dr. Hagai Agmon-Snir, JICC Director

The evening also featured musical interludes by the KolTour a cappella group, which leads tours of Jerusalem, including Mount Zion, about the cultural and multicultural history of the sites through music. They performed songs from the Christian, Jewish and Muslim traditions, in Arabic, Hebrew and other languages.

KolTour providing musical interludes

And on par for a JICC event, there was also time to work and to dream. After the greetings and reflections guests split up into small groups, and they themselves reflected on the most significant events in the past 20 years, and where we want to see the JICC in the future.

Working together to formulate the future

It was exciting to see Jews and Arabs, Haredim, religious and secular Jews, all passionate for Jerusalem, discussing passionately the future of the JICC.

From the spectrum of Jerusalem society, discussing the future of the JICC

The input was written down and hung up for all to see.

Gathering from the past, toward the future

The evening ended with a circle – of past and present staff, board and partners – all looking into the future.

JICC past, present, and into the future

And finally, we have made a tile to honor the event as a small present of thank you:

JICC 20 years anniversary tile

We wouldn’t be here today without our strategic partners and supporters throughout the years. From the Jerusalem Foundation, and especially Dr. Jan-Philipp Reemstma, Germany, and the Hamburger Stiftung zur Förderung von Wissenschaft und Kultur have provided substantial support for the JICC through the Jerusalem Foundation. And of course those who were also there at the beginning: Israel Association of Community Councils and Centers, JDC-Israel, B’Sod Siach, and more. And those who’ve supported us throughout the years: Mrs. Celia Atkin, UK; Bader Philanthropies, Inc., USA; Daimler, Germany; The Hadassah Foundation, USA; Hekdesh, Israel & USA; The Kennedy Leigh Charitable Trust, UK; The Leichtag Foundation, USA; The M.K. Rose Charitable Trust, UK; Natan, USA; New North London Synagogue (NNLS), UK; La fondation Pharmadom, France; The Rashi Foundation, Israel; The Rayne Foundation, UK; The Russell Berrie Foundation, USA; The Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, USA; The Sobell Foundation, UK; The UJA-Federation of New York , USA.

Naomi Roff2019-11-25T07:37:28+00:00October 24th, 2019|Blog, Identity Groups and Conflicts, On Jerusalem, Promoting Tolerance in Jerusalem|

Trash Parade in Gonenim

For the first time, we’re taking trash to the streets – and it’s a good thing!

Our Little Prince – Cleaning up Jerusalem initiative has engaged resident activists from all Jerusalem sectors to work together to clean up Jerusalem. The result – almost unheard-of cooperation between the Jerusalem Municipality across numerous departments and units, local community centers and organizations, and residents and individual initiatives, to plan, organize and carry out a range of activities that advance a Clean Jerusalem.

An exciting example of this broad-based cooperation was the Trash Parade, held on September 24, an initiative led by residents, together with the municipal sanitation department. The Cleaning Up Gonenim group, an active Whatsapp group of residents and local municipal staff and officials, led the initiative. The group has been in operation for about a year, and has forged important joint work between residents and the Municipality in helping to clean up the Gonenim neighborhood.

Garbage trucks leading the Trash Parade

This is the first such parade to be held in Israel! And the first such parade that had such a broad base of support and cooperation. Everyone participated – representatives of the Municipality, of the sanitation department, residents and their families. The residents prepared songs and dances, organized signs and a circus performance, and more. The garbage truck drivers were at the center, and alongside them, the residents.

“Have a Happy and Clean New Year!” says the sign

“We’re always trying to look for solutions, together with other residents, acting to advance a Clean Jerusalem and education for a Clean City in Jerusalem. Our goal is that both young and old will come to these activities and want to do more, not only those who are already environmental activists,” said Efrat Givaty, a local activist, in this Hebrew article about the Parade. She continued: “We are constantly thinking about what else we can do to promote activities to Clean Up Jerusalem, how we bring people to different events and that they feel it is important to them as well. These can be lectures, orienteering activities, or parades. Our goal is to target not only this neighborhood [of the German Colony] but all of Jerusalem, encourage education for a clean environment, and provide information on the issue. ”

And the Gonenim Community Center even made a movie about the Trash Parade:

Many thanks to the Jerusalem Foundation and the Rayne Foundation for their support of this project.

Naomi Roff2020-06-16T05:01:15+00:00October 2nd, 2019|Blog, Promoting Tolerance in Jerusalem, The Little Prince - Cleaning Jerusalem Together|

Atta’a – Helping Residents Claim their Rights

What’s in a number? Sometimes little, sometimes a great deal. Especially if it’s an Israeli ID number (Teudat Zehut), that is given to all residents of East Jerusalem, which enables them to receive social, municipal, and welfare services.

Helping residents receive Israeli ID numbers

The Atta’a Assistance Center for the Rights of East Jerusalem Residents helps Palestinians from East Jerusalem on an ongoing basis. A few weeks ago we began helping a woman receive her Israeli ID number. This is crucially important, as it would entitle her to receive social and public services, and in general, be a registered entity.

We were introduced to this woman through a social worker who works at a shelter that helps disadvantaged women. There was a 25-year-old Arab woman from East Jerusalem who had no Teudat Zehut (Israeli identity card) number. Her parents do not recognize her as theirs and she isn’t registered as a citizen or resident anywhere. She’s lived at the shelter for the past 3 years. She met someone and wants to marry him, but legally she can’t do so because she doesn’ have an Israeli ID number. They tried to find ways around the legal issues, but we suggested she meet with a lawyer, a volunteer with Atta’a. The lawyer explained all sides to the issue and possible directions, as well as their legal, social and personal implications. The woman is working with a second lawyer, also an Atta’a volunteer, to apply to a special committee of the Ministry of the Interior that deals with humanitarian issues, so that she can receive an Israeli ID number, which is granted to all residents of East Jerusalem.

By the way, a lawyer who volunteers with Atta’a, and who also works privately on cases with the Ministry of Interior, told us that through Atta’a, 90% of the cases are approved. And through his private office, only 50% are approved. Great work, Atta’a!

We’ll keep you posted as this case unfolds.

Many thanks to the Jerusalem Foundation and the Leichtag Foundation for their support of Atta’a.

Naomi Roff2019-11-20T07:07:17+00:00August 30th, 2019|Attaa, Blog|

New Interactive Online Tour of Mt. Zion

We’re happy to announce a new online tour of Mt. Zion, brought to you by Window to Mount Zion.

Online tour of Mount Zion

After many months of work, Mount Zion’s one and only comprehensive guide is now online: https://www.mountzion.org.il/

As you’ll see, this is not your standard tour guide. In recent months we’ve asked people who live and work on Mount Zion to tell us about their point of view, from their perspective. You can get to know the Chamber of the Holocaust from Rabbi Yitzchak Goldstein.

Or about the Muslim history of David’s tomb with Abdullah Dajani.

Or take a look at the Gobat school with Paul Wright,

and more …We collected all the stories and put them on an interactive map (videos above), where you will also find historical and useful information about the various sites on Mount Zion. They enable visitors to get to know Mount Zion through the eyes of the people who live and work there. You can look on mobile, but we really recommend entering the site through a computer or tablet.

Many many thanks to all who took part in making the map such a valuable resource!

Naomi Roff2019-09-15T15:26:21+00:00August 22nd, 2019|Blog, Mount Zion|

Little Prince on Erev Tisha B’Av – Working to Mend Rifts through Garbage

In our day and age, rifts and chasms between people and population groups are deepening. Tisha B’Av, the day when Jews commemorate the destruction of not only one, but two, ancient Temples, is considered a day of tragedy. There are those that claim that it was the rifts and chasms between groups of Jews that caused the tragedies on this day.

Reading Book of Lamentations on Tisha B’Av

The Little Prince – Cleaning up Jerusalem Together seeks to bring people together to clean up the city, and is a prime example of what can be done to change the situation. Thus, the Little Prince was invited to speak and lead a round table at an evening commemorating Tisha B’Av at Denya Square in Beit Hakerem. In addition to the Little Prince, Dr. Lia Ettinger, one of the leaders of the Extinction Rebellion in Israel, spoke about that initiative, and what can be done on a local level. The evening was held in cooperation with the Beit Hakerem Community Center, the Masorti (Conservative) Congregation in Beit Hakerem, and Achva Bakerem, the local Reform community.

Activist speaking at the event

Opening the evening was Roi Offenbacher, an activist in the Little Prince. He spoke about the history of trash in Jerusalem, from the times of the Ancient Temple until today. His talk was based on “Trash Tours” that he gives on the same subject.

Roi Offenbacher, about the history of trash in Jerusalem

After Ro’i, our own Tal Kligman spoke, giving a survey of the vast activity of the Little Prince and how it brings people together.

Tal Kligman, about the Little Prince bringing people together

Dr. Lia Ettinger then spoke about the dire urgent threats to the world’s environment, and about the Extinction Rebellion as a means to combat these trends.

Dr. Lia Ettinger, on the Extinction Rebellion

Many thanks to the Rayne Foundation and the Jerusalem Foundation for their support of this project.

Naomi Roff2019-09-15T15:24:47+00:00August 20th, 2019|Blog, Effective Activism, Promoting Tolerance in Jerusalem, The Little Prince - Cleaning Jerusalem Together|

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