Amichai Zur

Peer Learning Zionist Jewish and Secular Education 

How hard it must be for two sea shells
To have a proper conversation
Each one lends its ear to her own sea
Only the pearl diver or the antique dealer
Can decide with authority, that it is the same sea of attentiveness
Attentiveness/T. Carmi

The multiplicity of seashells in the sea dictates the existence of a pearl diver and an antique merchant who must collaborate and learn together how to overcome the raging waves of the sea. We believe that peer learning is the key to the program's success and to deepening Jewish, Zionist, and civic identity. Each year we hold peer learning meetings in schools which are at an advanced stage of the program. At these meetings questions arise, connections are formed, and worldviews are tightened. A space is created which on the one hand glorifies the partnership and togetherness of the community, and on the other hand the difference and uniqueness of each individual.

Peer Learning: Yigal Alon, Hod HaSharon

After a red carpet reception and a guided tour from the school's pupils, the school Principal Levana Neviderfer opened an exciting dialogue regarding the process the school has been through with the 'Maarag - Kol Israel Haverim' program. Levana presented the questions of identity which she asked herself with regard to Jewish, Zionist, and civic identity and the corresponding questions asked by the school. We continued to listen, to be moved and to feel inspired by the wonderful activity of the schools which are advancing the process.

We continued by forming smaller groups, which together discussed core topics being dealt with on the program: leading the process, connecting the parents' community to the school process, and presenting identity discourse in the daily life of the school.

Responses from the day:
"I was very excited by the meeting with the Yigal Alon team and by what the principal said. I was moved to tears!"
"I enjoyed seeing a variety of products and also to hear different people -teachers who spoke about the difficulties, parents and the pupils."
"The combination of the pupils and the teachers, the division into groups, exemplary hospitality!"

Peer Learning: Shazar Kfar Saba

After a moving reception from the school pupils, which included detailed explanations about the core values and story of the school, the principal of Shazar Middle School Toby Rosenberg opened with the special story of the school and the 'Maarag - Kol Israel Haverim' program. Afterwards we heard about the school's core values in the fields of science, the weekly Torah portion committee, the different classes, and we finished with a performance by the school choir and watching an excerpt of the Zionist Congress.

Afterwards, we had a peer conversation in small groups, which dealt with the role of the leadership in leading the process. This conversation covered the difficulties, the dilemmas and the different ways of dealing with them in a community.

Responses from the day:
"Very impressive. We noticed the hard work and the participation of the pupils."
"Pedagogy at an extremely high level. You see it via the pupils."
"I saw a vision that I would want to reach. I saw that it's possible."