Merhavim by Lydia Aisenberg 6:06pm Sat Aug 9 '03 Concerned with the deep divides within Israeli society, British born Israeli informal educator Mike Prashker decided to do something about it. add your comments Source file

Merhavim by Lydia Aisenberg 6:01pm Sat Aug 9 '03 Concerned with the deep divides within Israeli society, British born Israeli informal educator Mike Prashker decided to do something about it. print article Lydia Aisenberg Concerned with the deep divides within Israeli society, British born Israeli informal educator Mike Prashker decided to do something about it. Prashker began his mission through innovative shared citizenship educational projects founding Merchavim (Spaces) in l998. Obviously believing in taking the bull by the horns, Prashker and his team began their quest for quality Israeli coexistence in Ramle, one of the most troubled and culturally diverse towns in the country. A few short but more volatile than ever years down the civic line, the Englishman has made that town the base for Merchavim, The Institute for the Advancement of Shared Citizenship in Israel of which he is Executive Director. Praskher and his team have already made considerable in-roads within Ramle as well as in other communities across the country. "Fifty-four years after the establishment of the state, overcoming the range of deepening inter-Jewish and Jewish-Arab tensions threatening the cohesion, peace and sustainability of Israeli society, represents a critical educational and social challenge," Mike Prashker told the Jewish Telegraph this week. "I believe that what we are reaching out for in Merchavim is now one of the most central Zionist challenges. It is one that all Jews - whomever and wherever they might be - need to be involved in," Mike Prashker told the Jewish Telegraph this week. The UJIA in Britain are one of many organizations that support the work of Merchavim and further British backing comes from the British Council in Israel who are eager to promote the UK as a modern and diverse society working toward greater tolerance and understanding. "We have developed a wonderful relationship with the British Council over the last few years and have gained greatly from their experience of working in partnership with non-governmental organizations in different countries promoting citizenship education," explained Prashker. Last year a group of Israeli Jewish and Arab teachers attended a seminar organized jointly by Merchavim and the British Council in Britain, during which they met with Irishman and citizenship educator, Michael Arlow. Recently Arlow, a lecturer in education at Queen's University in Belfast, spent a week in Israel conducting a series of seminars and workshops with community leaders and policy makers. He also met and worked with professionals in areas of reconciliation and co-existence with whom he shared his experiences of working in Northern Ireland and how to develop comparative learning with Israeli colleagues. "This has been an extremely enriching and surprising week for me," said Arlow, an accomplished writer as well as lecturer who has lectured across Europe. He also lectured in Egypt at the 'Peace Building in Conflict Resolution Young Leaders Network Conference' for the Peres Centre for Peace. "I was really impressed by the openness of people here in Israel and their commitment and determination to make shared citizenship education effective," said Arlow, who also said he had been somewhat bowled over by the sheer energy of the people. "We feel there is a strong resonance between the Israeli situation and that of Northern Ireland and we are looking to facilitate citizenship education here based on the Northern Ireland experience as well as other countries of conflict we have worked in," explained Carol Sethill, Assistant Director of the British Council in Israel. Arlow certainly left a deep impression on the Jewish and Arab Israelis who attended his workshops. Using scenarios from home the likes of the annual Protestant marches through Catholic areas, Arlow with his soft Irish lilt deftly and skillfully made the Jews and Arabs in attendance become such Protestants and Catholics, temporarily that is! Through role-playing the situation of others at conflict far away across the waters, the participants quickly recognized the similarities of their own conflictual reality whilst actually participating in 'the troubles' of another. "When the similarities and differences are discussed is when people begin to realize that their conflict is not the most intractable, and one's own conflict takes on a different perspective," explained Arlow. Basically stepping into another countries 'tsore s' helps one address one's own in a literally more reflective manner. "The shared citizenship model developed by educators from all sectors of the country is one of a shared vision for a fairer society," said Mike Prashkar. "We are aiming to build a society that provides fairer opportunities to all the groups that share Israeli citizenship, allowing them to fully participate, contribute, succeed and flourish, even as they celebrate and maintain their national, religious and ethnic distinctiveness," he added. "The model is designed not only to help Israelis discover areas of agreement, but also how to decently disagree - a basic art of democracy and essential for the sustainability of every multi-cultural society," Prashker elaborated. "For me the struggle for a fairer Israel is a deeply personal Jewish and Zionist challenge. I see it as both a moral and pragmatic imperative. "As a Jew born and raised in the UK, I grew up believing that caring for others, community and minority rights, were core Jewish values. "I am truly confident that Israeli citizens and the Jewish People, share the collective will, morality and wisdom to weave a common fabric that overcomes our real and often legitimate differences. "We have the power to create a fairer, more decent, safer and secure Israel that reasonably, if imperfectly, accommodates our diverse visions," concluded the man who wants to create enough space (Merchavim) for Israeli citizens to develop their own community whilst strengthening Israeli society at large. End. PHOTOGRAPH: PRASHKAR, ARLOW and Carol Sethill. add your comments Source file