Considering our complicated security and social reality, it’s important now more than ever to shine a light on and enhance the positive aspects of the shared life between Jews and Arabs in Israel. According to research data presented by Prof. Eran Halperin, there are instances of mutual help, support and cooperation between sectors and the more exposure to these initiatives by Jewish and Arab communities in Israel, the greater the hope for a shared future. It is therefore recommended to turn the spotlight on them and learn from them, so as to build together the story of the future collective society in Israel. Sharing these stories of solidarity can contribute to mutual understanding, bridge gaps and encourage a true partnership despite disagreements and disputes. Here is a recording of a lecture by Professor Eran Halperin from a meeting of “Shatil”.
In this spirit, I would like to share two new initiatives that highlight examples of cooperation and solidarity. The first, is the exhibition ‘Coming to Say’ which will be opening in Givat Haviva. The exhibition presents an unusual collaboration between two female artists – a Jew and an Arab – who combine art and traditions from both cultures. The second initiative is a new website that features stories of inter-group solidarity during the crisis we are currently living through in Israel. The site can serve as an important educational tool in illustrating the values of mutual aid and hopeful cooperation. Initiatives of this kind present inspiring examples of the possibility of coexistence and have the power to influence the development of new initiatives that bring together groups and show that it’s possible to build bridges in Israeli society.
The First Initiative:
The exhibition ‘Coming to Say’ brings together Sigalit Landau and Manar Zuabi alongside four young female Arab artists who are also the voices in Landau’s new work; in the piece she talks to them about reality, dreams and thoughts of the future, as creators in Israel. In a colorful world with an old-fashioned kitchen, the stove voices discussions among elderly Jewish women who are looking back at their lives. From these voices emerge personal moments from the past and present, that outline a broader story. All this is met by Manar Zuabi when she creates a grayish-white world, carved and bubbling, that is between the ruin and the imaginary and between the historical and the contemporary. Her identity as an artist, a Palestinian and a woman charge the social and political voices that she’s expressing, as she brings a voice with a deep human range.
Shams Hawari Zuabi uses everyday cleaning products in cleansing and purification processes to draw states of mind, wounds and past memories that live on, on large canvases; Morjan Ghanayem tries to capture transformation when sculpting transitional procedures in clay and light, secreting within the possibility of healing; Laila Abd Elrazaq creates her own language in a video installation with monologues for the audience and Dalleh Tarabey creates in one screen, an expedition of locations.
Each of the six separately, and all together, reveal open wounds and search for the horizon that is oftentimes harder to see; They connect the voices of the body and the soul, between trauma and healing and between a society in crises and the individuals that make it up. They truly understand the forces of separation presently at work and remind us, that any imagined future must begin with a look at the wound, agreeing to feel and being ready to talk.
Opening: Saturday December 30, 2023, 12:00
Location: The Givat Haviva Art Gallery
Curator: Anat Lidror
Gallery Talk: February 3, 2023, 12:00
Exhibition End: March 16, 2024
Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 9:00-16:00 | Friday 11:00-13:00 | Saturday 10:00-14:00
Online: https://katzr.net/5f0998
Here are some pictures from the exhibition
Sigalit Landau, Make your voice heard, 2023, installation and sound, photo: Yotam Frum
Sigalit Landau, There forever, 2023, photo: Yotam Frum
Dalleh Tarabey, It hasn’t rained, 2023, photo from video
Shams Hawari Zuabi, Untitled, 2023, Bleach on black fabric, photo: Shams Hawari Zuabi
The second initiative:
The educational department at Achord, a social-academic organization that develops innovative academic knowledge in social psychology to promote egalitarian, tolerant and respectful relations among different social groups in Israel and its neighboring societies, created a new bilingual website, which presents case studies about solidarity and mutual help among members of different social groups in Israel during the war that began in October 2023. In these days of crisis, experiencing violent and rough intergroup conflict, these stories provide inspiring examples of intergroup comradeship, solidarity and care, especially between Jews and Arabs.
In every example, you can find a summary, educational goals, ideas on how to include the example in a lesson and of course, a link to the source. The examples vary and include news articles, social media posts, video clips and more. You can filter the items by target audience or tags. The Achord staff works on expanding the database daily, and they welcome story suggestions.
The database is designed to help educators provide examples and case studies that may help tone down difficult feelings or offensive attitudes and instill some hope among students in these difficult days.
Title picture credit: Laila Abd Elrazaq, ‘you are not ashamed of yourself’, 2023. Photographer: Ariel Warhaftig
