AJEEC: Arab-Jewish Gap Year

The Arab-Jewish Gap Year brings together a group of dedicated young people for a 10-month program of joint service and learning. In addition to its original location in the Negev, in place since 2002, the program has expanded to Lod and Jaffa, with a new location in Ramla scheduled to open next autumn. Each cohort is evenly divided between Arabs and Jews, who are paired for the entire duration. Starting in autumn 2017, participants spend three days a week working in local Arab and Jewish schools, serving in non-political classes such as English (and Hebrew in Arab schools) and organizing extracurricular activities for the students. They previously spent four days in schools. The other two days are dedicated to in-service trainings, where participants discuss key topics that divide and unite both communities. One day brings together Arab and Jewish participants, while the other, as of this year, is reserved for internal discussions, allowing them to share their feelings and concerns more openly. Examples of discussion topics include environmental protection, gender equality, and the history of both communities. Field trips allow the group to see challenges first hand, have included visits to unrecognized Bedouin villages that have been demolished and to Israeli communities near Gaza in the line of fire from missiles. Over the past year, the program has begun to implement joint activities bringing together different cohorts, allowing them to learn from one another’s experiences in different parts of the country. An Alumni Community active at universities around the country allows participants to remain engaged and involved after their service has concluded.