Hand in Hand
Breaking Down Generational Barriers between Jews and Arabs
DAVIDS STAR MAGAZINE
Hand in Hand
In 1983 Lee Gordon moved to Israel and secured a master’s degree in social work from Hebrew University. He then attended Mandel Institute's prestigious School for Educational Leadership which is designed to help create new educational initiatives in Israel. One of the reoccurring themes that arose throughout his time in Israel was promoting dialogue between Arabs and Jews in Israel.
There are approximately 20 percent of Israeli citizens that are Arab and 80 percent that are Jewish. Despite the fact that these two communities often live in the same towns and neighborhoods they are very segregated from one another.
“My goal was to determine how to build bridges between these communities to make Israel more inclusive and engaged with one another as it would be beneficial for everyone in Israel.”
Lee, now the executive director of American Friends of Hand in Hand said Israel would benefit from having Arabs less marginalized and the Jews and Arabs learning more about each other.
Initially he mostly facilitated dialogue groups after the fellowship program, but it was not until 1996-1997 when Lee was able to do something more significant which was founding Hand in Hand.
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