Last night, clergy from all religions and denominations, and dozens of Arab and Jewish activists, including of course from the Wadi-Jamal/Ein Hayam neighborhood, gathered together in the in the Peace Sukkah at the Leo Baeck Education Center.

The religious leaders brought a message of peace, multiculturalism and a call for increased partnership and the cultivation of, and education towards shared society.

Rabbi Ofek Meir, Headmaster & Managing Director of the Leo Baeck Education Center, who hosted the event, emphasized how Leo Baeck Haifa continues to further and promote its vision of humanism, pluralism and shared society.

Father Yosef Yaakov, head of the Maronite Christian community in Haifa, said that we experienced very dark days in Haifa several months ago [during the tension and violence between Arabs and Jews in mixed cities like Haifa at the time of the war in Gaza/Operation Guardian of the Walls]. He added that those days of darkness were unusual for Haifa, and therefore, it was so important for him to come to the Sukkah of Peace and share aloud his support.

Also attending the event, were: Father William Abu Shakra from the Greek Catholic community, Rabbi Oshat Morag, new Senior Rabbi at the Leo Baeck Education Center, Emir Muhammad Sharif Odeh head of the Ahmadi Muslim community, Samir Rushdi representative of the World Baha’i Center in Haifa, Sheikh and Zir Emun representative of the Peace Forum from Yarka.

Donate to support programmes that promote Interfaith Relations and Shared Society between Arabs & Jews

To donate online by credit card or Paypal (US donors) CLICK HERE

To donate online by credit card or Paypal (UK donors) CLICK HERE

To donate by BACS (UK):
Sort Code: 40-36-21
Account Number: 41445995

To send your donation in the UK by cheque, please make payable to Friends of Leo Baeck, Haifa and mail it to: Friends of Leo Baeck Haifa c/o Liberal Judaism
The Montagu Centre
21 Maple Street
London, W1T 4BE

For information contact office.folbh@gmail.com

By Rabbi Oshrat Morag

Building a loving and respectful shared society with non-Jewish minorities is an ancient biblical imperative. Today, it is Israel’s most important mission.

By Rabbi Ofek Meir

FEATURED BLOG ONLINE CLICK HERE

Friends,

These have been a very difficult few days for our community in Israel. Together with my colleagues, Yasrin Dakwar, Principal Al Carma Science School, Lilach Shani Romano, Principal Ironi Gimel High School and Mendi Rabinowitz, Principal, Hebrew Reali School, we formulated the following statement.

As educators, committed to the helping our students create a peaceful, exciting, and positive future we felt that we must give voice to what so many are feeling. I am gratified that more than 99% of Haifa area High School principals affirmed this important message.

 I hope you will join and our entire Leo Baeck Haifa community in prayers for peace and healing.
Ofek

CLICK READ MORE TO SEE THE JOINT ARAB JEWISH STATEMENT

[Read more…]

Tal Avishel, a Leo Baeck alumni, sang this at a ceremony our Middle School launching a special art exhibit called “One Hundred Sunrises a Day” in honor of the Memorial Day for Jews from Ethiopian who Perished on their Way to Israel. CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO OF TAL SINGING

Art is a sensitive, tangible and special way to bring hearts together and to connect our students to the moving and complex story of the Ethiopian Jewish community and their Aliyah the Israel. This ceremony, held at our Middle School, in commemoration of these victims and the presentation of such an impressive exhibition on Ethiopian Jewry is an educational-community event of great significance that create greater acceptance and a desire for deeper and more meaningful connections between different communities in Israeli society.