By Staff of A New Way, a beneficiary of the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor
In the Central Galilee region of Israel, where the communities of Migdal HaEmek, Nof HaGalil, the Jezreel Valley, and Nazareth converge, a groundbreaking educational initiative is reshaping the future of Israel’s shared society.
Imagine a classroom where Jewish and Arab students sit side by side, learning, discussing, collaborating, and ultimately preparing for Israel’s first and only shared matriculation exam. As they collaborate together over two transformative years, fear, prejudice, and hostility are gradually replaced with understanding, empathy, and trust, building the foundation for a more inclusive Israeli society.
This vision is being brought to life by “A New Way” (Efshar Acheret), an Israeli nonprofit, through its groundbreaking Joint Citizenship Matriculation Program. Launched in 2017, 500 students from across Israel have taken part in the program, which is authorized and supervised by Israel’s Ministry of Education. The organization is able to fund its operations in part thanks to the Annual Community Campaign of the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor.
Unity Through Learning
For Jewish and Arab youth in Central Galilee, where opportunities for meaningful encounters are rare and limited by language, cultural differences, fear and prejudice, A New Way’s Joint Citizenship Matriculation Program provides a pathway for connection, understanding and collaboration in a new and innovative way.
The program pairs Jewish and Arab high school classes in the 10th and 11th grades, combining academic preparation for the matriculation exam in Citizenship Studies with joint exploration of social issues.
Every aspect of the program is inclusive: lessons are conducted bilingually, materials are provided in both Hebrew and Arabic; meetings rotate between the two schools with organized transportation; staff are specially trained and encounters scheduled during regular school hours to ensure that all students can take part.
In the first year, students focus on joint coursework, preparing for Israel’s first and only shared matriculation exam. Through this collaborative process, they get to know each other, deepen their understanding of one another’s cultures and discover shared values and aspirations, and improve their language skills.
In the second year, as connections deepen, students undertake a collaborative research project on a social issue relevant to their lives, conduct joint investigations, and create community awareness campaigns.
This unique experience not only qualifies the students for their citizenship matriculation exam, which is a compulsory element of the school finishing certificate, but also equips them with the cross-cultural perspective, skills and motivation to lead a more inclusive Israeli society.
Changing Heart and Minds
The transformative power of the program is best captured through the voices of its participants.
“Thank you so much for this special day. We enjoyed being together, and it was worth coming to participate” shared one student after an activity session.
“It was a unique experience to visit an Arab school and feel comfortable and unafraid,” shared by a student after a multicultural meeting at the Franciscan Convent School in Nazareth.
Ilan Simchi, Principal of Yigal Alon School, Nof HaGalil, shared: “This is an extremely important activity. I am proud of the students and staff for their engagement and enthusiasm. They got to know each other more deeply, had a great time, and returned inspired.”
The success of A New Way’s programs shines through in both stories and statistics, proving their power to create real change. Surveys show that after participating, students feel an encouraging 12% drop in negative feelings toward the other community, while their understanding of each other’s cultures grows by 14%. Added to these shifts is a 7% increase in willingness to work together towards a shared future. These numbers tell a powerful story: barriers can be broken down, trust can be built, and a new generation can learn to see each other as partners in shaping a brighter, more inclusive future for themselves and for their country.
Hope in a Time of War
The recent war has posed significant challenges to A New Way’s work, disrupting school schedules, heightening intercommunal tensions and increasing parental concerns over their children’s engagement in multicultural activities. Despite this, 70 students across Israel completed the Joint Citizenship Matriculation Program for the current year.
A New Way remains steadfast in its mission to build a shared future through meaningful interactions. Initiatives like the Joint Citizenship Matriculation Program prove that when young people learn and grow together, they build a foundation of trust and understanding that can withstand the toughest challenges.
This transformative work would not be possible without the support of the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor. The generosity of the Ann Arbor area community has helped create opportunities for students and educators to experience the power of connection and collaboration. A New Way thanks all who contribute to the Federation’s Annual Community Campaign for being part of this incredible journey. Together, we are proving that a brighter, more united future is not only possible—it is already taking shape.
To learn more about A New Way or any of the other deeply impactful organizations in Israel that are supported by the greater Ann Arbor community, contact the Federation’s Israel and Overseas Program Manager Amichay Findling (amichay@jewishannarbor.org) or visit JewishAnnArbor.org/About-Us/Community-Impact.