Hagar Association: Jewish-Arab Education for Equality

15/05/2026

“The Lemon Tree"🍈- When our 6th graders took the stage, something rare happened. Our graduating class performed a theater play based on "The Lemon Tree", a story that holds, with honesty and humanity, the pain of both a Jewish family and a Palestinian family. Two peoples. Two losses. One tree.

Before the show, our families gathered around a different kind of table - rolling, stuffing and folding vine leaves🍀 together. Hands busy, hearts open. The kind of togetherness that happens before words are even needed. Then came the play. Our students -Jewish and Arab - performed it with courage and empathy. And after the final bow, the families stayed. They talked. They listened. They sat with each other's pain without rushing to answer it. That is not a small thing in Israel in 2026.

In a society where it has become almost impossible to say out loud that the other side also suffers, our children did exactly that In both languages and for their parents to witness. 🌿 This is what we do in Hagar- the only Jewish-Arab bilingual school and educational community in the Negev -every day. It takes courage to build this. It takes resources to sustain it. And it takes a community that believes - even now, especially now - that shared life is worth fighting for.

If you believe in this too, share this post🙏. Let more people know that this flower in the Israeli desert exists and that it needs to be nurtured. 🌸

06/05/2026

Yesterday, our Hagar community gathered for a different kind of Lag Ba'omer celebration 🌿🔥, one rooted in nature, creativity, and togetherness. Dozens of children, parents, and neighbors from the surrounding area joined us for an afternoon of children's activities, workshops, a theater forest performance, and a deep reconnection with the natural world.

The celebration was also a moment to hear more about our "Tree Nursery" project - where our Jewish and Arab students are growing and caring for approximately 380 young trees, each child responsible for nurturing at least one tree over three years, before they are planted together across our neighborhood and city. This is not just environmental education - it is a living lesson in shared responsibility and shared future.

Two months ago we launched this pioneering project as part of Israel's National Shading Program, with a vision of 70% tree shade coverage on walkable streets by 2040. Yesterday reminded us why it matters: when children grow trees together, they are also growing something in themselves - patience, care, and the understanding that what we tend today shapes the world we share tomorrow.

At Hagar, we believe that environmental stewardship and shared society are rooted in the same soil and yesterday, our community proved it beautifully. 🌱

22/04/2026

We live together. We grieve together.
חיים יחד, כואבים יחד — نعيش معًا، نتألم معًا 🌺

Yesterday, our Jewish-Arab school in Beersheba marked Memorial Day. Jewish and Arab children stood side by side, remembering those we have lost, singing the Song of Peace together, for the third time since the outbreak of the war of October 7.

There is grief. There is anger. And still - this school remains our Island of Sanity 🌤️. Proof that another way is possible. A greenhouse for shared life, for children and parents alike.

We will not give up on that hope🕊️

27/02/2026

Two days ago, in our school courtyard, we held one of the highlights of our year as a shared Jewish-Arab educational community in the Negev: a joint Iftar meal during the month of Ramadan, with an entire evening in which hundreds of members of our community came together- in full partnership and mutual respect- to celebrate both Purim 🤡 and Ramadan 💫.
The event opened with the Adhan ceremony marking the breaking of the fast. At the communal Iftar meal, we enjoyed the dishes lovingly prepared and brought by each family, creating an abundant and diverse culinary spread. We continued with greetings from parents, who beautifully connected the traditions of both holidays -Ramadan and Purim- to our shared life together. This theme also inspired the costume contest that followed.
In the artistic program, we watched performances by the school’s dance troupe and a young talents showcase, and took part in an energetic drumming workshop.

The school principal presented the “Hagar News” newspaper on screen, and a printed edition was distributed to attendees. Also screened in a premiere showing was the alumni video 🎥, “Hagar Raised Me,” featuring several of the school’s wonderful graduates. It was deeply moving to see and hear them reflect on their cherished elementary school memories and share how meaningful those years were for them.

As the largest (and only) Jewish-Arab educational community in the Negev, we see great importance- now more than ever- in continuing to strengthen our shared life here 🌿. There is no better time than Ramadan to demonstrate good neighborliness and reinforce the solidarity between us -Jews and Arabs living in Be’er Sheva and the surrounding area.

May we merit many more delicious and joyful days together!
🙏

15/02/2026

Yesterday, dozens of Arab & Jewish families from Hagar community headed out together for a day of nature🌺☘️ and beautiful scenery in the Shfela region, about 40 minutes north of Be’er Sheva. Even the heavy haze that accompanied us throughout Shabbat couldn’t spoil our fun.
At the Haruvit forest, we got organized and enjoyed a light breakfast. From there, we set out on a circular hiking trail at Tel Tzafit, guided by our community members Jihad and Yuval. Along the way, we spotted a beautiful gazelle, a passing flock of sheep🐑, white egrets in flight, and most of all rolling green hills in full bloom. We climbed up the hill alongside vast carpets of red anemones.
And of course, we wrapped up the day with a delicious joint lunch.

We’re already looking forward to our next community trip!

26/01/2026

As part of Israel’s National Shading Program, which aims to achieve 70% tree shade coverage on walkable streets by 2040, our bilingual school has become a pioneering green force 🌳 in the Be’er Sheva region. Over the past few years, the yard of our bilingual school has developed into a hub for promoting nature and agriculture—thanks to an active school garden, enrichment activities for students throughout the school day, and the involvement of parents in cultivating and maintaining the garden.
Last Friday, in collaboration with the Be’er Sheva Municipality and environmental organizations, we launched the “Tree Nursery” 🌱project at our elementary school. Over the next 3️⃣ years, our Jewish and Arab students will grow and care for approximately 380 young trees🪵. Each child and staff member will be responsible for at least one young tree for three years. At the end of this period, the trees will be planted—through a shared decision—in various locations throughout the neighborhood or the city of Be’er Sheva.

At Hagar, we believe that environmental stewardship and shared society are rooted in the same values: responsibility, respect, and hope for a shared future. 🙏

31/12/2025

Year 2025 won’t be remembered by many moments of light here in Israel, and just before the transition to 2026, yesterday we came together to mark moments of Jewish–Arab partnership in the Negev—as part of the second annual tradition of the event “Partnership Is Light,” 🌟 held each December.

Yesterday afternoon, dozens of families from the Hagar Community gathered in one of Be’er Sheva’s most beautiful public parks, HaSofrim Park, in Neighborhood B in the heart of the city. Our students prepared lanterns in a short and pleasant workshop, learned about the role of light in different religions, the school dance troupe amazed us with a performance, and we watched the premiere screening of a beautiful music video of the school anthem in both languages, performed by the student choir. We then marched in a procession led by the bilingual scout troop, Adam.
Because partnership is light. And yesterday, we truly illuminated the park and the city of Be’er Sheva. May we be blessed with many moments of light throughout 2026.

Wishing a Happy New year to all our partners and friends around the world.🙏🌺

02/12/2025

Hagar educational frameworks are public and inclusive, formally part of Israel’s state education system. Yet to truly advance high-quality, equitable, and multicultural Jewish-Arab education, we must constantly refine and strengthen the added value we bring. That's why we launched a crowdfunding campaign for Hagar 🦋- more info pls read below 👇

Take our pre-k programs for ages 3–5, for example - they are the seedbed🌱 of our future growth and vital to strengthening the only bilingual Jewish-Arab elementary school in the Negev.
This past Friday, we kicked off a new collaboration with a local Negev organization specializing in urban agriculture and community garden development. Through a shared process led by our dedicated preschool teams, we will build the knowledge and skills of our staff, expand and enrich the green spaces in each of our three preschool yards, and deepen the ties and sense of community between our Jewish and Arab families.
Initiatives like this can continue in 2026 only with your support.

Every contribution, big or small, makes a meaningful impact. We invite you 🙏 to join and be part of our crowdfunding campaign, link🔗📍 in the first comment.

Educating for shared life- because NOW, more than ever, it truly matters.

01/12/2025

“For over five years, Ghadir Hani has served as an active and deeply engaged member of Hagar’s Board of Directors. Her commitment to equality and justice for Jews and Arabs in the Negev, and her clear voice of hope and compassion for every human being, have been a vital source of strength and inspiration for us. Her ability to bring in new partners from Israel and abroad, especially in moments of crisis, has greatly supported us throughout our journey.” 🙌📜 ( part of the recommendation letter we submitted this past summer to the committee of Ben-Gurion University’s “Ben-Gurion Award")

We are thrilled that it helped lead to Ghadir’s selection last week as a recipient of the award, recognizing her remarkable contribution to shared life and to strengthening civil society in Israel.
No one is more deserving than you Hani – we in Hagar are so proud of you! ⭐️🥇🕊️

27/11/2025

Now more than ever - Hagar’s place in Israel is a space of connection, hope and sanity! 🦋🌹 PLS Join us

After two difficult and painful years of ongoing war in Israel, the delicate fabric of life between Jewish and Arab citizens is under greater threat than ever. So too is the need for a strong civil