Later, when working on a fellowship project through the Mandel Institute, Gordon spent time looking at schools in Israel and analyzing what makes them succeed or fail. In the backdrop was the reality that the school system in Israel is completely segregated, even in mixed communities, such as Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.<\/p>\n
\u201cI started building a rationale for a school being a wonderful venue for bringing Arabs and Jews together, because it is not just for one hour a week. Once students are in school, they are there all day, all week, all year, and have a chance to truly get to know the other,\u201d Gordon said.<\/p>\n
Realizing that he needed an Arab partner for his goal of creating an integrated school to reach fruition, Gordon was introduced to Khalaf, an educator whose hope was for his children to grow up feeling as equals in Israeli society.<\/p>\n
Hand in Hand was officially registered in spring 1997 and, for a year, Gordon and Khalaf scouted the country, trying to locate an ideal spot to start the school.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe knew we wanted one in Jerusalem but also wanted a backup,\u201d said Gordon. \u201cWe settled on an area in the Galilee where the Jewish and Arab towns are close together.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When the first schools opened in fall 1998, the primary challenges consisted of hiring teachers, raising funds and recruiting Jewish students.<\/p>\n \u201cWe knew Arabs, as the minority, would flock to our schools, it would be seen as a step up for them,\u201d said Gordon. \u201cJewish parents would be more of a struggle. We wanted our schools to be accredited and not be viewed as boutique, esoteric schools lacking legitimacy.\u201d<\/p>\n Though never without obstacles, as the schools grew each year, it became easier to recruit new parents because Hand in Hand presented an attractive educational possibility \u2013 students were learning two languages in a vigorous academic environment, they were happy and the class sizes were smaller.<\/p>\n Even today, Gordon admitted, Hand in Hand still has to work harder to recruit Jewish parents, particularly after the Hamas attacks on Oct. 7.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is the worst war of the four since Hand in Hand has been in existence,\u201d he said. \u201cJewish families often know someone who was killed or taken hostage, and many of the Arab families have relatives in Gaza.\u201d<\/p>\n While there were concerns that Jewish families might withdraw their children from classes following the attacks, that has not happened yet.<\/p>\n \u201cBringing people together is really the only way there is any hope of this conflict ending because it is not happening on political levels,\u201d Gordon said.<\/p>\n Multiple researchers have shown that there are many benefits from bilingual education, such as more empathy, better academic performance and improved engagement. Beyond those benefits, Jewish and Arab students at the Hand in Hand schools develop close friendships, which start through childhood sleepovers, birthday parties and play dates. Moreover, adults have formed long-lasting bonds with one another.<\/p>\n \u201cMany parents have spoken of how they have been transformed by the experience,\u201d Gordon said.<\/p>\n Hand in Hand schools are public, recognized and overseen by the Israeli Ministry of Education, and open to all parts of the Arab and Jewish populations in Israel. Government funding is supplemented by philanthropy and parents\u2019 fees.<\/p>\n Besides Jerusalem and the Galilee, Hand in Hand operates schools in Haifa, Jaffa, Kfar Saba and Wadi Ara.<\/p>\n![\"photo](\"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/jan-12-Israel.12.Hand-in-Hand-7b3a0605_51885546586_o.jpg\")
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