We’ve brought news of her accomplishments in advancing tolerance in Jerusalem many places in this blog (the latest can be found here, here and here), but Shalem College recently profiled our Tal Alafi, our Coordinator for Multicultural Activism. Here’s the link to the full article (Hebrew). Parts are excerpted and translated here:
Tal Alafi
Turning Activism an Effective Tool to Create Change: An Interview with Tal Alafi
Many of us want to make a difference, but we don’t always know what to do. Tal Alafi, a graduate majoring in Philosophy and Jewish Thought at the Shalem College and director of multi-cultural activism at the Jerusalem Intercultural Center, meets activists daily and accompanies them in their work for social change, with the goal of making Jerusalem a culturally competent city – a city that accepts and recognizes its various identities.
December 2020
A Collection of Small Changes Creates Significant Change
About a year ago, Tal graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the Shalem College and quickly integrated into the field of social activism. As a counselor at the Ein Prat Pre-Army Academy, she heard about the College from her friends, and chose to study Philosophy and Jewish Thought – a field that has always interested her. In the last year of her studies, Tal worked on a project at the Jerusalem Intercultural Center, and afterward she was offered a permanent position. In her role, she meets young activists of all backgrounds and ethnicities every day, and helps them bring about change and influence the fabric of life in Jerusalem.
Tal, what is the Jerusalem Intercultural Center?
The Jerusalem Intercultural Center (JICC) is an independent organization that works to help Jerusalem become culturally competent. Jerusalem, as a diverse city with people from different origins and religions, needs a place that knows how to accept and lead this process, and do it in the best way possible. Fortunately, there is a lot of awareness of multiculturalism in the public, but we need to know how to act correctly in order to bring about change in a way that everyone can express themselves.
What does your job involve?
As part of my work, I accompany activists and work to connect the residents and the relevant bodies in the municipality, to help them create change. In addition, I work to connect the different residents of the city: ultra-Orthodox, Arabs, secular and religious, and encourage connections between them. The residents are directly related to the moves that are taking place in the municipality and constitute a power multiplier in every initiative.
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How do you turn activism into “effective activism”?
Sometimes we prefer to complain rather than do, and sometimes there is activist activity for change, but it does not bring about actual results. Our goal at the JICC is to turn activism into an effective tool that generates change, even small, because it that change that will ultimately lead to making a significant difference. The activists are working and we see results on the ground, because we are working with the municipality, with residents from all over the city. When Arabs, both ultra-Orthodox and secular all come together – it creates a strong force for municipal officials, who can change decisions. Good things happen thanks to a multicultural group working together.
Can you give an example of the impact led by residents?
It is very difficult to change the entire transportation system in Jerusalem, but there are many things that can be done along the way – making bus stops accessible, influencing the planning or changing of a line, and more. It is a small change, but a collection of small changes eventually leads to major changes in the transportation system. Another example is the issue of the cleanliness of the city, which greatly troubles Jerusalemites: as soon as residents entered the picture, change began, which, even if it is not perfect, is already part of a citywide goal. The most important part is that there is a mutual understanding that both the municipality and the residents need each other to improve the city, so they must learn to work together. Proper and good communication between the residents and the municipality is very important for things to happen on the ground.
Connection between people – even during a time of social distancing
In order to promote multiculturalism in the capital, Tal coordinates regular events that take place every year and provide a platform for the various populations in the city. One of these events is Jerusalemite Day of Diversity.
What is a Jerusalemite Day of Diversity?
Jerusalemite Day of Diversity takes place every year on Jerusalem Day and its goal is to connect populations and enable Jerusalemites to mark the day in a non-political, happy and connecting way. It includes tours of diverse neighborhoods in the city, art exhibitions, music performances and meetings between different communities. Jerusalem residents love the city, and we want to allow them to celebrate their day in a way they see fit, especially in the public space, to show the diversity that exists in the city, on a day that many Jerusalemites choose not to celebrate for one reason or another.
Is it possible to connect people and initiatives during Covid?
Absolutely yes – we adapt ourselves to the situation. We’ve moved online like many other places: I work from home, have meetings in the Jerusalem area mainly, and the events we produce also become online.
What are your plans for the future?
The JICC has been focusing on communities since its establishment, and now, more than ever, this issue is changing and taking on new meanings. We are thinking how Covid affects the community and how we connect between digital and physical communities. I’m personally concerned about this; What are people looking for in a community and what is a community today? I don’t have a clear answer to this and I am still learning about it. I think Covid is actually empowering the physical / geographically close community, because with the distance limitations we must stay close to home. But on the other hand, a significant portion of our lives has gone digital. I wonder what will be left of all this after this complex period is over.
Kol Hakavod Tal! Proud of our staff at the JICC.
