Effective Activism | The Jerusalem Intercultural Center

MiniActive – Empowering Women As Independent Business Women

MiniActive in cooperation with Maof – Business Advancement Network in East Jerusalem – held a meeting on February 23 2022, attended by over 50 women. The workshop sought to empower the participants on their path as successful and independent business women. It offered training and success stories that inspired and encouraged the women to become entrepreneurs.

This first meeting was facilitated by Alaa Abu Lail, Director of Business Accompaniment, and Razan Abdeen, Coordinator of Marketing and Courses.

Here’s the post (in Arabic) about the first meeting from MiniActive’s Facebook page:

The second meeting was on March 23, 2022, the workshop dealt with the pressures of life, tasks, and responsibilities women face daily, whether they are housewives, entrepreneurs, or business owners. MiniActive’s women received tools for time and stress management that will also help them raise their self-esteem.

Here’s the post (in Arabic) about the second meeting from MiniActive’s Facebook page:

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

nadine2022-04-11T09:07:55+00:00March 23rd, 2022|Blog, Effective Activism, MiniActive|

MiniActive – Learning About Health Rights

Mini Active arranged a health rights zoom workshop for 60 Palestinian women on February 21, 2022. Rula Abu Ziad from “Indicate” was invited to raise the women’s awareness on how to best access their health rights and how to make their interactions with health maintenance organizations (HMOs) such as, Clalit Health Services, more effective.

Here’s the post (in Arabic) from MiniActive’s Facebook page:

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

nadine2022-04-11T09:03:11+00:00February 21st, 2022|Blog, Effective Activism, MiniActive|

Revving up for Tolerance Week

Each year, Jerusalemites take responsibility for “International Tolerance Day” (November 16) and turn it into a full week of events, activities and encounters in the public sphere that bring together Jerusalemites of all hues, backgrounds and cultures.

Events throughout the week

Only in Jerusalem – International Day becomes over a week of activist activity that promotes tolerance and multiculturalism!

This is the 6th year in a row that we’re having Tolerance Week. Here’s just a taste of what’s happening (here’s the PDF version):

Shabbat Reception with Yoga Synagogue | Laura Gilinski

Bring in the weekend with Yoga Synagogue in a stress-reducing yoga session in three languages: Hebrew, Arabic and English. The session will combine identical asanas (instructors) in different languages! Side by side we’ll practice the same poses side by side using different words – and we’ll let the body and mind do the talking. In this way we’ll show that we are all made of the same materials and driven by similar aspirations. We will end with intentions of living together and loving everyone.

Friday | 12.11 | 10:00 | Haas Promenade, East Talpiot

“Environmental Factors that Promote Tolerance and Restraint” | Lily Halperin

Impatience and the inability to delay satisfaction have many explanations. In tonight’s session Ms. Lily Halperin will introduce us to a number of environmental factors that can advance these important abilities, both within ourselves and with those around us.

Lily Halperin is the head of the Truth Center for Tolerance. Pre-register by email: Lily.Halperin@gmail.com

Sunday | 14.11 | 19:00 | Friends of Israel Museum – Rivlin 20, Nahalat Shiva

Neighborhood Tractate – Launch of a secular-Haredi bookshelf

We are honored to invite the residents of the Ramat Sharett and Jerusalem neighborhood to a festive event of the launch of a secular-Haredi bookshelf to be held on Sunday, November 14, 21 at 5:00 PM near the Kaddish Luz-Zilberg bus stop (near Kochav-Asher Gani Square). This project is the result of meetings between ultra-Orthodox and secular residents from the Ramat Sharet and Beit Vagan neighborhoods, who met for a period and discussed issues related to being neighbors.

Sunday | 14.11 | 17:00

Unique tour of the ‘Moshav Zakanim’ exhibition | The Old Yishuv Court Museum

The tour is included in the museum admission fee. Pre-registration required.

Sunday | 14.11 | 10:00

Urban tour of the African asylum seekers community in Jerusalem | JACC

For anyone who is physically in Jerusalem but mourns distant worlds – the churches, places of entertainment and secret alleys of the 3,500 refugees from Eritrea, Sudan and Ethiopia are just waiting for you to discover them. For anyone who loves new encounters and is intrigued by other cultures – this is the tour for you. Music, religion, culture, food – what else do you need? To register: https://did.li/SvZYH

Sunday | 14.11 | 17: 30-19: 00 | Mahane Yehuda Light rail station

“Complex Identities in Jerusalem” | Women’s Panel Women Wage Peace

In this diverse women’s panel we will address questions of complex identity in Jerusalem. The panelists will share personal experiences and thoughts about the common space from a female perspective in an open and intimate conversation.

Monday | 15.11 | 18:30 | FELM Center Jerusalem

Language Exchange Meeting (Hebrew-Arabic) for Women | Language Exchange Community

An open meeting of the Language Exchange women’s community. Get to know a new culture and language in a unique community. Pre-registration is required via WhatsApp (Lior – 050-376-7778). A basic level of the language being learned is required. Monday | 15.11 | 17: 30-19: 15 | Muslalla

Difficult Conversations – for Everyone. Everywhere | Mosaica

We invite you to take part in a workshop from the world of mediation and dialogue in order to successfully navigate a difficult conversation with a family member / at work / with roommates or neighbors. Pre-registration required: https://forms.gle/f92UDjKCiyCvRmye8

Monday | 15.11 | 20:00 | Rashut HaRabim House, 33 Aharon Rabinovitz St.

Meeting of Women, East & West, about Yarn and Crochet | Studio of Your Own

In an intuitively feminine and flowing conversation, spectacular surprises are woven and knitted in a connecting thread. During the summer we decorated Zion Square with an urban knitting project and now we want to add color to the public sphere in East Jerusalem. The meeting is part of an ongoing series that is attracting more and more women who meet through creating and female craft, and change the discourse and public space. Feel free to join. Pre-registration required: https://forms.gle/GMKUXFBLyB5eMyq3A.

Monday | 15.11 | 10: 00-12: 00 | Studio of Your Own – 10, 29th of November St.

Not Nice – A Solo Comedy Show | Hullegeb Theater

About woman who is trying to turn over a new leaf, and along the way berates herself, her community and the state. The show alternates between a stand-up style and an evolving show. The actress speaks honestly and humorously about the stigmas and prejudices that exist in Israeli society, alongside her personal longing for a partner.

Tuesday | 16.11 | 20:30 | The Confederation House

To purchase tickets and full details: https://did.li/hT5Hw

Tolerance and Femininity – Women’s Poetry Evening

An evening of women’s poetry reading and music on tolerance. A meeting of women from different communities and identities in Jerusalem, who come to write, to read and to sing their thoughts, opinions and beliefs about the other, about identity, and about connections. Pre-registration and pre-sending of materials required.

Tuesday | 16.11 | 20:00

Hebrew / Arabic Kosher Palestinian Cooking Master Class

Learning Arabic? Thinking about learning Arabic? Join 19 others in a German Colony family kosher kitchen for a master class in stuffing grape leaves, taught in Hebrew and beginner’s Arabic by chef extraordinaire Magdah Alshane. FREE but, since places are limited, registration is required: https://forms.gle/J6GNaqEAMNQV28MbA

Tuesday |16 November | 19.00 to 22.00

Chess4Solidarity-Tolerance Day, International Online Chess Tournament.

Tuesday |16 November | 18:00 Opening Ceremony, 18:30 first round

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chess4all

Premiere | C.A.T.A.M.O.N. Dance Group

A joint dance performance by two artists. Muslim and Jewish. Choreographer and dancer. Both born and raised in Jerusalem. Both are looking for the moment when everything will freeze and it will finally be possible to breathe.

Admission is free, pre-registration is required: https://forms.gle/YCGUXjFpyyxbSn5m9

Tuesday | 16.11 | 19:00 | Alliance House, 5 Kiach St.

Year-Opening Event | Blend.AR

We are excited to invite you to open a year with a Blend.AR. If you feel that the Arabic language speaks to you, come and experience practice circles tailored to different levels and hear more about our programs. The evening will be accompanied by musicians from the Abu Tor All-Stars band and a jewelry exhibition by Israeli and Turkish artists, as part of the Jerusalem Biennale events

To register: https://bit.ly/Blendar_community

Tuesday | 16.11 | 19:00 | Tower of David Museum

‘Quality of life in a diverse city’ – introductory evening and panel | Jerusalem Institute of Policy Research

On the common and different between the population groups in Jerusalem – an event that will address the different perceptions of quality of life, on the backdrop of shared living in the city. How do Jerusalemites perceive the concept of “quality of life”? Keynote Speaker: Michal Korach, Jerusalem Institute for Policy Studies. Presentation of a study: “Quality of life indices in Jerusalem – subjective examination”

Wednesday | 17.11 | 18:00 | Zoom

Second Hand Fair and Play | Zion Community and Landa Theater

In honor of Tolerance Week, you are invited to find treasures at the Blue Door – a Jerusalem boutique that connects three religions and all corners of the city. Women’s, men’s and children’s clothing, proceeds donated to needy families. You are welcome to donate clothes in excellent condition, renew your own wardrobes, and enjoy the play ‘Crowded at Home’ by the Landa Theater, in Hebrew and Arabic.

Wednesday | 17.11 | 16:30 | The Blue Door, to the right of the YMCA courtyard

Speaking Arabic-Hebrew | Language Exchange

We will meet to exchange Arabic and Hebrew with friends from all over Jerusalem. Free admission! Entry with the Green Pass or negative home Covid test on that day. Wednesday | 17.11 | 18:00 | YMCA – meeting room

“Points from My Life” | Elwyn Theater Group

We invite you to meet, listen and get to know Elwyn’s members – a short show that tells about us, our aspirations, expectations and challenges – people with disabilities, followed by an open discussion with questions from the audience.

Wednesday | 17.11 | 16:30 | The Israel Museum – the auditorium in the Youth and Art Education Division

Cross – Cultural Introductory to the Recording Arts: This project brings together Arab and Jewish at-risk youth on a common interest in the recording arts. Youth meet once a week at the JIY creativity Lab to learn and practice the art of music and DJing. If you work with at-risk groups and would like to cooperate, please contact culture@ymca.org.il.

Jerusalem International YMCA Wednesdays at 14:00

Status Quo and Tolerance | Window to Mount Zion

How did Mount Zion come to be sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims alike? Why there? And how do rabbis, monks, artists and organizations of all religions live side by side? Is this an opportunity for world peace or a recipe for disaster? We will try to answer these questions and more among the alleyways, courtyards and holy sites on Mount Zion. Pre-registration required : https://forms.gle/nNe5C8sgkeYt1fXE9

Thursday | 18.11 | 11: 00-13: 00

Melodies Coming to Jerusalem | Shabbat reception with Ofer Golani and Shachar Sorek

We believe that music is the mother of all languages, it exists above and before all religions and its role is to connect people. You are invited to welcome the Shabbat with melodies that come from all Jerusalem communities that open the heart.

Friday | 19.11 | 12:00 | Independence Park – The Upper Amphitheater

Women on Palmach | Shabati

A tour by the Shabati project (joint use of the public space by secular and religious Jews), with Itamar Farchi, an economist and resident of Palmach St. who researched the stories of female heroes of the Palmach. During the tour he’ll tell about the lives and activities of Haviva Rake, Zohara Levitov, Netiva Ben-Yehuda and additional women – while walking through real and imaginary buildings and gardens. The tour will last 1 1/2 hours.

Saturday | 20.11 | 15:00 | Museum of Islamic Art

Trans Memorial Day | The Open House for Pride and Tolerance

Join us to commemorate the Trans Memorial Day in a special and intimate event. Screening of the movie, “Send Me an Angel” and a discussion with the movie’s creator, Shachar Arpov. Afterward a lecture about the Trans Memorial Day and victims of transphobia in Israel, by Niki Sever, a trans activist.

Saturday | 20.11 | 20:00 | Cafe Ambala, 3 Yanai St.

In the neighborhoods:

Kiryat HaYovel Shopping Center

16/11 – Mashu Mashu play: Ouzo and Mouzo from the Village of Kakarouzo | 16:00

19/11 – Backgammon Tournament | 11:00

East Talpiot

15/11 – Community Mini-Mall at the Well-Baby Center | 16:00

Pisgat Ze’ev

21/11 – Movie screening and lecture on the movie, “High Holidays,” in cooperation with the Zeevik community pub

Gonenim

21/11 – Tour of Beit Safafa | 16:15

Many thanks to the Jerusalem Foundation and Natan for their ongoing partnership in advancing tolerance in Jerusalem.

Naomi Roff2021-12-21T06:52:43+00:00November 12th, 2021|Blog, Effective Activism, Promoting Tolerance in Jerusalem|

Little Prince – Working in Kiryat Hayovel to Clean Up Ad-Hoc Garbage Dumps

We’ve described here, here and here the work the Little Prince project has done over the past few years to forge partnerships with city employees.

One recent example was in the Kiryat Hayovel neighborhood in southwestern Jerusalem.

Over the years, more and more abandoned vehicles have been left on an unused area of Kiryat Hayovel, known as the Warburg complex (since it borders on Warburg St.), which is also used as a parking lot for local residents. Although it is a large lot, there is not enough space for all residents to park their cars, and the abandoned vehicles take up very critical parking spaces.

Continuing to build public-private partnerships with Little Prince

Usually, the process of handling an abandoned vehicle, from the moment the request is filed until towing, is very long (at least 6 months) and requires contact and cooperation with the municipal inspectors office and especially, with the neighborhood inspectors. Thus, it’s so much easier when responsible and dedicated inspectors help residents deal with complex cases.

Kiryat Hayovel has two amazing inspectors who help the city to function and to be cleaner: Shirley the utmost professional who walks the beat non-stop and who is in contact with residents and helps solve problems; and Maor, who is responsible for the area of abandoned vehicles in the area.

Maor was very matter-of-fact and pleasant as Little Prince activists addressed the abandoned vehicle issue at Warburg. He informed them about the process, explained why it takes more and more time, enlisted the help of residents (who sent photos from the field and made a list with vehicle numbers and models). Maor updated when the crane will arrive and how many vehicles would be collected.

Getting rid of old abandoned cars

Many thanks to Shirley for connecting the Little Prince to the right person and to Maor for understanding the need expiditing the process, and for maintaining continuous contact with residents and assistance in returning the Warburg lot to the residents. Here’s the description of the process by our Tal Kligman in her Facebook post:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/351842318545451/posts/1376155942780745/

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

Naomi Roff2021-12-21T06:58:20+00:00October 14th, 2021|Blog, Effective Activism, The Little Prince - Cleaning Jerusalem Together|

MiniActive Youth – Cleaning Up their Neighborhood, One Section at a Time

We’ve written about MiniActive Youth here and here, and about the especially important activities here and here during the pandemic.

Getting the kindergarten ready for the school year.

This past summer, they continued to hold activities. In August, this included helping to build garden furniture and clean up the yard of a local kindergarten in the Sur Baher neighborhood. With their help, the kindergarten was able to get ready for the upcoming school year.

Painting, building, cleaning – all in a day’s work

Here’s the post (in Arabic) from MiniActive’s Facebook page:

A group worked in Beit Hanina as well, helping prepare a local garden. Here are more pictures from MiniActive’s Facebook page:

Many thanks to MiniActive Youth! And many thanks to our MiniActive partners: the Jerusalem Foundation, to Natan and to the Leichtag Foundation‘s Jerusalem Model.

Naomi Roff2021-09-24T14:34:07+00:00August 30th, 2021|Blog, MiniActive|

MiniActive – Helping to Relieve Tensions from Unsettling Situation

Over the past several weeks, life in East Jerusalem has been very unsettled, and violence abounds. Mothers are afraid for their children. Their teenagers, or younger children, want to do something, to show their anger and frustrations about the situation.

MiniActive responded, offering special workshops (a total of 5) to help Palestinian mothers build resilience – for themselves, and for their families. The workshops helped the mothers understand the severe stresses, and receive tools to help cope. They were extremely well-attended, drawing upwards of 80 participants each time. Feedback was amazing – mothers raved of how much they helped them deal with a very sensitive situation.

Helping women deal with the stress of the period

One of the workshops took place on Monday, May 17, with 35 women participating. Another workshop was held on May 20, with over 80 participants! That workshop focused on: How to deal with fear and anxiety in the current circumstances, including: 1-How to deal with children’s excitement; 2-How to channel their energies; 3-How to deal with fear and stress; 4-How to help them in their studies. circumstances

Here’s the post (in Arabic) from MiniActive’s Facebook page from the May 17 workshop:

Here’s the post from the May 20 workshop:

Many thanks to the Jerusalem Foundation, to Natan and to the Leichtag Foundation‘s Jerusalem Model for their ongoing support of MiniActive!

Naomi Roff2021-06-17T16:13:05+00:00May 28th, 2021|Blog, MiniActive|

MiniActive Youth – Back in the Fresh Air

We’ve written here and here how MiniActive Youth has been limited because of Covid-19 and Covid regulations, and how we’ve done what we can, but it hasn’t been easy.

Working in the outdoors

As new cases throughout Jerusalem seem to be going down and restrictions are being lifted, MiniActive Youth are also able to meet again.

Continuing to improve the environment

On April 4, they met outside the Sur Baher Community Center to work in the adjacent garden.

Finally, being able to meet and work outside

This is how it looked before the work

Before the work

And how it looked after

After

And here’s a post on the MiniActive Facebook page:

Many thanks to the Jerusalem Foundation, to Natan and to the Leichtag Foundation‘s Jerusalem Model for their ongoing support of MiniActive!

Naomi Roff2021-05-06T07:43:13+00:00April 14th, 2021|Blog, MiniActive|

New Arabic-language Digital Tools to Fight Covid

We’ve been on the front lines helping to fight the spread of Covid in East Jerusalem for the past year, the first NGO ever invited to join a public command center that was set up together with the Jerusalem Municipality, the Ministry of Health, and the IDF’s Home Front Command, among others. At the same time, we actively set up and coordinated a Forum to Fight Covid in East Jerusalem, network of 150 Arab Palestinian civil society actors in East Jerusalem, representing some 80 organizations.

The new web site lists the updated numbers of cases in East Jerusalem

As a result of this work, an idea was raised to create a go-to web site that included all the possible information about Covid – healthcare information, where to go for testing, information vaccinations, information to counter fake news, and more.

This web site draws from official sources and authorities to ensure accuracy of information. Also critically important – the web site is considered an independent initiative. Official Israeli channels are often regarded with suspicion in East Jerusalem, so the fact that it is independent adds to the website’s legitimacy.

Updated testing information also listed

You can view the website here.

And the Facebook page here:

For example, here’s a post about vaccinations in the Shuafat Refugee Camp:

And another, a video by Jerusalemite doctors about the importance of the vaccine:

Many thanks to the Jerusalem Foundation, the Russell Berrie Foundation, and the Leichtag Foundation for their emergency support of our efforts to stop the spread of Covid in East Jerusalem.

Naomi Roff2021-03-30T16:08:09+00:00March 14th, 2021|Blog, Cultural Competence in Health Services, Effective Activism, Palestinians/Arabs|

Parents Association Handbook: Definitive Guide to Parents Associations in East Jerusalem

One of the side products of lockdown is having the opportunity to summarize knowledge gained from unique processes, and being able to compile it all in one place. Such is the case with the Parents Association Handbook, which was recently finished by our East Jerusalem Desk Director, Ezadeen El-Saad, who has been working with Parents Associations in East Jerusalem for the past 5 years.

New book on Parents Associations

Ezadeen has been working closely with several Parents Associations, especially in Sur Baher, Silwan and Ras el-Amud, among others. (You can read a little bit about it here.) The book describes all the processes they went through, from start to finish.

Table of contents

When we started several years ago, the Parents Associations consisted of a few dominant leaders in the community. They met only sporadically, and only when there were specific problems. Meetings did not have set agendas, no one took minutes and there was no official documentation of the meetings. They served mainly to react to actions of a principal, or to a certain problem in the schools. The Parents Associations never initiated anything. They were afraid to act because they weren’t familiar with the bylaws of the national Parents Association or with their rights as an Association or as parents. They did not know that it was their right to work in cooperation with the principal.

As a first step, Ezadeen called a number of meetings with central Parents Associations, including in A-Tur, Silwan, Abu Tor, Jebel Mukaber, Sur Baher and Ras el-Amud, which are considered particularly strong Parent Association. He explained:

The different rights and obligations afforded Parents Associations by law
What Parents Associations can accomplish
How to achieve results, in areas that included: student achievements, maintenance of the school, and in parent involvement in their children’s education, in cooperation with the school principals and school administrations.

At first, representatives were quite skeptical. However, as time went on, he gained the trust of the Parents Associations, and together, they worked, together with the local principals, on a broad range of initiatives that helped to build community – and improve education and school atmosphere – in the schools. After the initial workshops, the Parents Association learned how to build and follow through on specific work plans. They also learned how to create subcommittees – such as cultural activities, behavior, trips, study guidance, maintenance, and more – according to the school’s needs.

The processes, in the words of the parents

In this book, he’s compiled all the instructions, all the relevant materials, all the relevant protocols, case studies from different schools, and more. for an effective and influential Parents Association, one that will help to improve education. It also includes a chapter about learning during the Covid pandemic. Given the intense crowding in East Jerusalem schools, the Parents Associations closed schools in East Jerusalem in March 2020, long before schools throughout Israel were closed, and they stayed closed until the end of the 2019 – 2020 school year. This act was seen as a major contributor to a low rate of infection in East Jerusalem during Israel’s first lockdown in March – May 2020.

Parents activities

The guide includes photos from a variety of activities organized and implemented by the Parents Associations. These included:

Drawing and essay exhibit

Accompanying the construction of a schoolyard in Silwan;
Establishment of Facebook pages to build community, encourage discussion among parents, and document activities;
Production of 12th grade graduation ceremonies in Sur Baher;
Produced an exhibit of drawings and essays written and drawn by students;
Special days for Teacher Appreciation and Family Day at a special education school in Sur Baher;

Even more examples of activities parents produced with schools

Construction of a school yard, and more

There’s also a page that thanks the Leichtag Foundation and to the Jerusalem Foundation who have supported of the Parents Association project. Many thanks!

Thanks to partners

And many thanks to Ezadeen! May we have much more success with the Parents Association project!

Naomi Roff2021-03-20T08:20:00+00:00February 12th, 2021|Blog, Effective Activism, On Jerusalem, Palestinians/Arabs|

Little Prince – Continuing to Lead Processes toward a Clean City in Jerusalem

The Little Prince (and its website)has been leading processes of cleanliness in Jerusalem since 2017. One of its main objectives has been to engage the Jerusalem Municipality in adopting policies and practices to make Jerusalem a cleaner city. Indeed, the Municipality has followed suit and made a clean Jerusalem one of its highest priorities. In mid-December, the Jerusalem Municipality opened its own clean city page:

https://www.jerusalem.muni.il/he/residents/environment/

The page describes the Municipality’s efforts to make Jerusalem a cleaner city as well as the entire Municipality’s commitment, including that of Mayor Moshe Lion.