Dear Friends,
This school year ended unexpectedly when war broke out with Iran, severely impacting the home front in Israel. The war reminded us that certainty and security - two principles so important in childhood and adolescence - are not things our youth can take for granted. Again and again, they see that even if they anticipate and work on an exciting graduation party - we can’t guarantee that it will happen. If they plan an end-of-year show or look forward to the excitement of graduation and the start of summer - they can’t know whether they’ll be able to carry out their plans.
Uncertainty did not spare Givat Haviva either. Although the 12th graders at the international school were able to hold a moving graduation ceremony, the 10th and 11th graders were sent home before the end of the year, without hugs or celebrations. International students had difficulty returning to their countries due to the closure of Israeli airspace, but the dedicated school staff took care of them while they were on campus and found creative ways to get them home safely. Now they are looking forward to next year’s new class and are proud of the long waiting list of students who want to study there. Amidst the chaos and uncertainty, the wars and the rising social tension, a joint school - Jewish-Arab-international - not only not something to take for granted, but a real miracle.
This summer is not a dull season here at Givat Haviva: joint summer camps and Hebrew learning camps have already begun, and camps that were supposed to take place abroad but were canceled because of the war will take place in Israel. The Jewish-Arab Center staff adapted to the circumstances and decided not to cancel the joint educational activities so as not to disappoint the children.
The ceramics and print exhibition, Sway 2, opened last weekend after being postponed due to the war. 500 impressive works were hung and placed throughout the gallery during accelerated preparations, as it was important to us to minimize the damage and open as quickly as possible. You can read about the exhibition here below.
I will end on a note of hope: All of us at Givat Haviva expect and wish for the end of the terrible war in Gaza and the hostages’ return. The overwhelming majority of the Israeli public, Arabs and Jews, see no reason or purpose for the war to continue. People in Gaza and Israel are losing what is most precious every day, and know that war is not fate and can be stopped. We are following the announcements regarding ceasefire talks and hope that by the start of the school year everyone will be home, the war will end, and the healing process will begin.
Wishing everyone a quiet summer,
Michal Sella
CEO, Givat Haviva
