United Nations Church Center

777 United Nations Plaza (44th street and 1st Ave); 2nd Floor

Middle Eastern Fare will be served.

Through Others' Eyes

An Israeli Arab and Jewish Youth Project of

Givat Haviva, Israel

Through Others' Eyes is a dialogue facilitation project of the Givat Haviva Institute that speaks directly to the need for open channels of communication for Israeli Arab and Jewish youth who rarely, if ever have the opportunity to meet.  In Israel, Arabs and Jews live in separate communities, which are often in close geographical proximity to one another, and are educated in separate school systems.  Each year, Through Others' Eyes brings together a group of approximately twenty youth from communities and villages in central Israel.  The program uses art and photography as a medium for self and group expression and gives participants the vocabulary to express themselves and their ideas about identity and coexistence, as well as a safe space in which to explore these issues and create a collective identity.

The first part of Through Others' Eyes takes place in Israel.  The group meets once a week for a school year, led by Arab and Jewish professional photographers.  Sessions take place at the Givat Haviva campus and in the communities and homes of the participants, which affords the youth unique opportunities to get to know each other in a neutral place, as well as in their own environments.  They relate to each other through collaboration on photographic group exercises on common themes as: cultural and religious celebrations, family, and the body.  In Through Others' Eyes, youth from different backgrounds share personal and cultural histories and narratives, and build a common group experience. 

The second part of the project brings the Israeli group to Hashomer Hatzair's Camp Shomria in Liberty, New York for an intensive three-week seminar.  The youth engage in self and group exploration through photography and camp activities, and interact with American Jewish campers, which also widens their conceptions of group and community.  Being so far from Israel away from the influence of media and their families, combined with living together, has a profound impact on the Israelis.  As they are in a setting that is foreign to all, they focus on their similarities rather than differences, become freer to discuss difficult political issues, and increase their cohesiveness as a group.  American Jewish campers have the chance to become friends with Arab and Jewish Israelis and learn about the situation in Israel firsthand rather than from the news or preconceived notions. 

During their time in New York, the group also visits New York City for special programs as: a seminar at the United Nations with Presbyterian youth and evening event at the UN Church Center, a visit to Monmouth University hosted by a Palestinian professor active in the dialogue movement, and an opening of the Through Others' Eyes photography exhibit at the Puffin Gallery in Teaneck, New Jersey.

Givat Haviva, founded in 1949, is an educational institute in Israel, which has been at the forefront of educating for equality and understanding between Arabs and Jews through formal and informal programs with the goal of creating a shared society in Israel.  Every year, 25,000 Israeli Arabs and Jews and thousands more youth and adults from different countries participate in the Institute's courses, lectures, seminars and tours of the region.  Givat Haviva has six centers on its campus.  Through Others' Eyes is a project of the Art Center. 

For additional information contact: Julie Spiegel, Communications and Education Coordinator

Julie@givathaviva.org