Project Proposal

Parallel Jewish-Palestinian Assistance in the Holy Land

SPONSOR
This local project is initiated by a Jewish-Palestinian Living Room Dialogue Group which has met devotedly for almost five years on the San Francisco Peninsula. It is discovering common ground and how to improve the environment for reconciliation here in America and perhaps, by example, also in the Holy Land.

PRINCIPLE
There are things governments can do that citizens cannot; and there are things citizens can do at the grassroots level that governments cannot. Creative ideas and models of reconciliation and collaboration are needed. In troubled regions, even-handed, outside assistance can relieve desperation and give hope and inspiration to people paralyzed by the fear and hopelessness of their seemingly intractable conflict. There are discoverable answers and a way through. Citizen vision and initiative is required.

THE PROJECT
To support the peace process and offer concrete assistance to young people in the Holy Land, we have identified two worthwhile, needy institutions: The Children's Day Care Center in Netanya, Israel, and St. Joseph School in Ramallah, West Bank. We have established reliable telephone, fax, and e-mail communication with them, and have been advised of their greatest needs. We first considered sending material supplies. Because of high import duty costs, direct financial assistance for their specific in-country purchases has been determined to be the best way to help them. They have advised us of their most urgent needs which total $14,000, to be shared equally between them.

The last stage of the project proposes bringing together, in new relationship and dialogue, the staffs and other motivated participants from these two institutions. They have expressed great interest in this proposal and in the long-term process of reconciliation.

METHOD
This short-term project will be funded by individual citizens who wish to make a difference. Support will begin with the Dialogue Group participants themselves, who will then reach out to friends and to members of Palestinian, Jewish, and other groups and institutions. Perhaps interested foundations will help, but that will not be the project's expectation. Meeting with others in the community will also be a valuable opportunity for deepening the public dialogue about building a life together. After all, we are neighbors forever.

Contributions are payable to:
Foundation for Global Community — Middle East School Project

Please mail to:
Len and Libby Traubman — Adham and Nahida Salem
Jewish-Palestinian Living Room Dialogue Group
1448 Cedarwood Drive, San Mateo, CA 94403
Web: http://www.igc.org/traubman

Voice: 650-574-8303 — Fax: 650-573-1217 — E-mail: LTRAUBMAN@igc.org

MORE ABOUT THE RECIPIENTS

The Naamat Day Care Center
Netanya, Israel

Netanya is the fourth poorest city in Israel, and the third poorest in child poverty. Rabbi Yellin's Naamat Day Care Center is in Dura, their poorest neighborhood. It serves preschool children, sixty-five percent of whom come from welfare families.

Rabbi Yitzchak Yellin , the Director, writes: "In this environment, the day care center is a picture of care and concern! It is staffed by eight professionals, and the children are clean, well mannered and surprisingly happy despite the terrible world from which they come. The center is open from 7-5 every day and is supported by a large volunteer group. The volunteer group needs resources like yours to enhance the children's world. What money you send will be used to acquire an air conditioner."

Rabbi Yitzchak Yellin, Director

St. Joseph School
Ramallah, Palestine

Sister Frieda Totah, the Superior, recalls that in 1873 Sisters of St. Joseph established a school and clinic, to educate girls and help the sick and poor people of surrounding villages of Palestine. After the 1984 war many refugees came from other towns in the Occupied Territories to settle in Ramallah. Christians and Moslems sent their children to the school, which grew thanks to generous benefactors. Since the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, other Palestinian families have returned and sent their children to the school which now has pupils ages 3 to 18, representing all classes of the society. Some students cannot afford to pay the full tuition; some of them pay nothing.

St. Joseph School offers the Palestinian community the best possible values and quality of education, producing fine citizens and sending many of its graduates on to universities.

Return to Family Homepage
Return to Main Homepage