https://www.machon-merchavim.org.il/?lang=en

The Merchavim Institute, Lod (2026)

23/02/2025

How Can Social Tourism Be a Catalyst for Shared Society?

This week, Ilanit Harmati, Director of Shared Paths, a program by Merchavim Institute, represented us in a Knesset discussion on the challenges of developing tourism in Arab towns.
The discussion, initiated by MK Yasser Hajirat (Ra’am) as part of the Committee for Reducing Gaps in the Periphery, focused on ways to turn tourism into a driver of economic and social growth. Ilanit emphasized the importance of viewing tourism as a tool for promoting a shared society and the need to ensure a safe geographical space that fosters prosperity and good neighborly relations between Arab and Jewish communities.

So, what’s the path forward?
- Expanding the perception of tourism beyond leisure to a powerful tool for building a shared society, fostering regional cooperation and strengthening ties between Jewish and Arab communities.
- Investing in tourism infrastructure such as professional training, parking facilities, and more, to enable sustainable and high-quality tourism.
- Developing business tourism, for example, professional conferences, that support local economic growth.
- Holding in-depth discussions that lead to policy change and on-the-ground action.

At Merchavim, we work both on the ground and in the public sphere, because real change happens when policy and action come together.

Watch Ilanit’s remarks in the discussion (in Hebrew).

@דרכים שלובות

20/01/2025

Looking for a Meaningful Job?
Merchavim Institute, a leading organization promoting social cohesion in Israeli society for 26 years, is seeking a Resource Development Assistant.

This is a part-time (50%) position, with a hybrid work model, in a supportive and growth-oriented environment.

If you are a native English speaker with outstanding writing skills and a genuine passion for advancing social cohesion in Israel, we’d love to hear from you!

Please send your CV and a cover letter in English to: [email protected]
For more details and the full job description: https://did.li/tLzZH

Merchavim is committed to fairness and encourages applications from individuals of all communities and identities in Israeli society.

01/10/2024

השנה שחלפה הראתה לכולנו עד כמה חשובה השותפות בינינו, כל אזרחי ישראל.
הלוואי שמתוך המשבר הנורא תצמח הזדמנות לבנות חברה הוגנת ומלוכדת יותר.
מאחלים ומייחלים שכולם יחזרו הביתה בשלום ושתהיה לכולנו שנה של תקווה.
צוות מרחבים

ያለፈው ዓመት በሁሉም የእስራኤል ዜጎች መካከል ያለው ትብብር ምን ያህል አስፈላጊ እንደሆነ ለሁላችንም አሳይቶናል።
ከአስፈሪው ቀውስ ወጥቶ ፍትሃዊ እና የበለጠ የተቀናጀ ማህበረሰብ ለመገንባት እድል እንዲፈጠር ሁላችንም እንመኛለን።
ሁሉም በሰላም ወደ ሀገሩ እና ወደ ቤቱ እንዲመለስ በተስፋ እየጠበቅን ነው።
በማድረ ታፍነው የተወሰዱት እና ወታደሮች በሰላም ይመለሳሉ።
ለሁላችንም የተስፋ አመት ይሁንልን።
መልካም ዓመት
ማሆን መርሃቪም

بيّنت لنا السنة الماضية مدى أهمّيّة الشراكة بيننا، نحن جميع مواطني إسرائيل
نأمل أن تنبثق من هذه الأزمة الرهيبة فرصة لبناء مجتمع أكثر عدلًا وتماسكًا
نتمنّى ونأمل أن يعود الجميع إلى ديارهم بسلام وأن تكون لنا جميعًا سنة مليئة بالأمل
طاقم مرحافيم- مجالات

26/09/2024

This week, we had the privilege of participating in an inspiring event at the U.S. Embassy in Israel, alongside Ambassador Jacob Lew and the Embassy team, to celebrate the launch of America Hub Israel.

America Hub Israel in Jerusalem is an innovative space that sparks the imagination. It is an inviting environment where young people can promote values of a shared society and inclusion, fostering collaborations to strengthen social cohesion in Israel.
This partnership opens exciting new doors for civil society in Israel. Together with the Embassy, we can broaden dialogue and advance a diverse and equitable society for all citizens.

Thank you to the Ambassador and the team for their dedicated support of our shared goals and their ongoing interest in education and Merchavim’s work.

In the photo, alongside Ambassador Jacob J. Lew, are Dr. Einat Ronen, CEO of Merchavim, and Adi Gilboa, Head of Education at Merchavim, proudly representing Merchavim at the event.
U.S. Embassy Jerusalem

31/07/2024

Leadership Change at Merchavim: Michal Pinchuk is stepping down as CEO after four years of dedicated service.

A huge thank you to Michal for leading the organization through such a significant and challenging period, for always pushing us forward, and best of luck in your future endeavors!

We warmly welcome Dr. Einat Ronen as our new CEO. Good luck, Einat! 🚀

Here is Michal’s heartfelt farewell letter:

Dear Partners and Colleagues,
In the coming days, I will be concluding my four-year tenure as CEO of Merchavim, and Dr. Einat Ronen will be succeeding me in this role. I am passing the baton into Einat's trusted hands with a peaceful heart, fully confident that she will lead the organization towards continued growth and deepen its impact in the social field.
It has been a significant and challenging period, and I would like to thank you for your unwavering support and valuable contributions during my time here. Merchavim could not operate without your partnership; you are the backbone of our vital work, especially during these challenging times.
Thanks to your support and the dedication of our professional team, over the past four years we have strengthened and developed our existing activities, adapted to meet evolving needs, and expanded our programs into new areas. As part of this growth, we have entered the field of informal education, launching an incubator to train coordinators working in youth organizations on shared society principles, in collaboration with the Council of Youth and Children's Organizations. We are also currently working with six municipalities, in partnership with JDC-Ashalim, to combat biases and prejudices among municipal employees towards people of Ethiopian descent. Additionally, we have successfully integrated Shared Paths, a social tourism program designed to bridge social gaps between Jewish and Arab communities and create space for Arab culture in Israel, into Merchavim’s core programming.
The past four years have brought unprecedented challenges to Israeli society, including the COVID-19 pandemic, repeated election cycles, a constitutional revolution, and most devastatingly, the ongoing war which broke out on October 7. This reality has also impacted us as a diverse team working with a confused, frightened, angry, and anxious public. Despite this, thanks to your unwavering support and the trust you have placed in the organization and the team, I am leaving the Merchavim Institute stronger and more stable than ever before, ready to face the challenges that lie ahead.
I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank each and every one of you. I wholeheartedly believe in the values promoted by Merchavim and in its extensive work, and I hope you will continue to support the institute's activities in the coming years.
With hope for better days and the safe return of all the hostages,

Michal

26/06/2024

Meet Kamal Agbaria, the director of the Arab Teacher Integration into Hebrew Schools program at Merchavim.

Kamal is a true Jaffa native and a trailblazer at heart. From a young age, he was deeply involved in social activism. He was the first Arab citizen to serve as the chair of the Tel Aviv-Jaffa Student Council, led the Ajami Neighborhood Committee, became the first Arab director of a community center in Tel Aviv, and in 2014, received the Mayor's Award for "Shared Living and Bringing Hearts Together" in his role as the chairman of the Re'ut-Sadaka village board. Currently, he serves as the Deputy Director for Outdoor Facilities at Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality and as an advisor to the Mayor on Arab community affairs.

Kamal is an expert in leading and facilitating cross-cultural processes to integrate Arab teachers into Hebrew schools. With a firm and loving hand, he prepares the teachers for the challenges they will face, sharing his extensive experience. He encourages the teachers to bring their Arab identity into the school and supports young teachers as they navigate complex situations.

Kamal's role model (besides his father) is Nelson Mandela, who inspires him with his words: "The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall."

We can learn a bit about Kamal from the words of non-formal education supervisors who recently met with him to hear about his personal story and vision for Arab-Jewish relations:
"We met a special and wise leader that youth must encounter."
"You are truly a great pride, a personal example of someone who has dreams and a symbol of coexistence and unity."
"You are an inspiring figure. You have triumphed over everything despite everything. Your appreciation for your father is touching. You possess high self-awareness and social awareness. I'm sure you will continue to influence and lead changes in Israeli society."
"His personal story allows everyone to gain renewed strength, showing that anyone can progress and succeed in life if they just believe in themselves, follow the right path, and work in education with a sense of mission and dedication."

At Merchavim, we have the privilege of benefiting from his talents, abilities, and tremendous motivation to shape a fairer society in everything he does.

20/06/2024

What an inspiration from teacher Abir from Tayibe! 🌟

These are not conceptual stock images, but authentic photos taken by the fourth-grade students from Kfar Saba under Abir’s guidance. She asked the children to go outside, explore the concept of 'unity' through play, and capture photos representing it. The results are incredible!

Those little hands are so sweet and hold so much hope. Thanks to the diverse identities they are exposed to, we hope this generation will grow up with an inclusive mindset and be part of a fairer society.

Thank you to Abir and the fourth-grade students for this important and touching reminder. 💖📸

06/06/2024

🌟 Honoring Jerusalem Day and Memorial Day for Ethiopian Jews who perished on their journey to Jerusalem, we proudly present a special initiative by our community of Ethiopian-Israeli teachers. 🌟

Our mission is to raise awareness of the heroic and tragic story of the Ethiopian Jewish aliyah. This journey, filled with acts of bravery, daring, and tragedy, saw the loss of 4,000 lives. For those who survived and their descendants, sharing this painful history is not always easy, but their sense of mission compels them to open up and share their personal and communal trauma.

Two months ago, 18 dedicated Ethiopian-Israeli teachers embarked on a fascinating journey. They participated in a storytelling workshop led by Hamutal Gouri, where they acquired the tools to narrate their stories to different age groups. Today, they are implementing what they learned, sharing their personal and familial stories with school students and colleagues.

🗣️ Gideon Ayek, a teacher from the Ethiopian community, shares: "Today, I had the honor of giving a lecture to 11th graders. The discussion focused on the bravery and dedication of Ethiopian Jews, who held steadfast faith in the promise 'I will carry you on eagle's wings.' Their faith and determination remained unshaken even when all gates were closed. Their pursuit of the dream created great but lesser-known heroes whose spirits inspired the community on this remarkable journey."

We are proud of our teachers, our true champions, who create meaningful connections within Israeli society by sharing their stories.

May the memory of those who didn't realize their dream be blessed. 🙏

30/05/2024

On June 13, Heads of State from Italy, Germany, Japan, Canada, UK, US, France, and EU will meet for the G7 Summit to address global issues. Join us, and more than 250 other civil society organizations, in calling on them to prioritize peacebuilding at the G7 Apulia Summit.

The Merchavim Institute

23/02/2025

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01/10/2024

26/09/2024

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30/05/2024

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