1200 Jewish, Muslim and Christian students from 38 schools in Israel gathered at the Sabach el-Shir (Morning Song) Event, to celebrate 16 years of the “Dialogue and Identity” project and to sing “Seeing Eye to Eye” written in Hebrew and Arabic for the occasion.
About the Program:
The “Dialogue and Identity” program enables school students to deepen their acquaintance with their religious culture and tradition (Judaism, Christianity or Islam) and to expand their knowledge of the other’s religious culture and tradition. The program aims to promote understanding, respect and intercultural tolerance, and encourage the development of social and interpersonal skills in a multicultural society.
To combat prejudice and stereotypes towards the ‘other’ that are rooted in ignorance, ‘Dialogue and Identity’, in operation since 2006, is a Jewish-Arab school-twinning program that directly involves school principals, teachers and pupils, and benefits some 1200 Jewish, Christian and Muslim children every year.
Dialogue and Identity operates on the assumption that we live in a multi-faceted society and that we must recognize and appreciate this complexity. It is the complexity and the difference that enrich our lives in Israel; they invite opportunities for learning and encourage positive values such as democracy and pluralism.
The program works out of the belief that when we come to know others different from us, it is important to focus not only on what we have in common but also on learning about difference, recognizing and respecting it. We believe that prejudices, one-dimensional vision and stereotypes are products of ignorance, and that not only hatred and fear are created, but also disdain for other people and religions.
The program is co-directed by the Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue and Tali Foundation, and funded by the EU.
