Dear Friends,
The school year is upon us, and once again this exciting beginning is happening in an impossible reality. The pointless war in Gaza is causing unspeakable civilian suffering and destroying Israel, the fighting continues despite the overwhelming majority of the Israeli public opposing it, and the hostages - who must be brought home - are languishing underground for purely political reasons.
Students, children, have been experiencing this hard reality for two years. The youngest do not remember any other reality. At Givat Haviva, we seek to offer students a different future, to provide hope for change and to outline a vision for a mutually supportive and healthy Israeli society. We strive to educate students in the values of equality, democracy and shared society, and to show that this is a vital and possible goal.
Despite the pain and concern, we are starting the school year at YOUNITED, the International School at Givat Haviva, with optimism. About 150 students - Jews, Arabs, and youth from around the world - arrived on campus and settled into the boarding rooms. They chose a unique study path, unparalleled in Israel, and expressed their belief in living together. We wish them a meaningful, successful, and fruitful school year and will work to make the reality around them much more decent, equal, and simple.
The various Givat Haviva Centers are concluding a summer filled with activity, and are starting the new year with a variety of programs to bring youth together and educate them in values of shared society, training for educators, and Jewish and Arab leadership programs. Our goal for this school year is to ensure, as educators and parents, that our education system responds to reality and educates for values of democracy, equality, and a shared society. We must and can support educators and administrators who are not giving up on democratic values and morality but are treated contemptuously and persecuted by the Ministry of Education. We must ensure that every student in Israel is exposed to the meaning of living in a democracy, is familiar with all the cultures that make up Israeli society, and feels comfortable meeting others and speaking their language. This is our mission, and with the start of the school year, we renew the spotlight we shine on it.
I wish all the children, parents, educators in Israel a good and better year, that the damn war will end, that the hostages will return home, and that we will have the opportunity to rebuild.
Michal Sella
Givat Haviva CEO
