Living Behind the HeadlinesHeadline news around the world draw attention to this city. But behind the headlines livemore than three quarter of a million people. Muslims, Jews, Christians, east and west Jerusalemresidents alike are entitled to a just, civil society, founded on democratic principles. Thesepages describe only a fraction of our coexistence programming that level the playing field,promote mutual respect among different groups, and advance inalienable rights for all.

The Jerusalem Intercultural Center (JICC), pictured above, was recently renovated thanks to Professor Dr. Jan-Philip Reemtsma, theHamburg Foundation for the Promotion of Science and Culture. The JICC is instrumental in many of the coexistence programsfeatured in this edition.

on JerusalemThe Jerusalem Foundation Periodical l December 2010

Silwan, situated on the outskirtsof the Old City of Jerusalem is linkedto the ancient city's holy sites. It islocated on the ancient ruins of theearliest known civilizations in theJerusalem area, making it a vitalcenter of archeological exploration.

Silwan is a perfect example of thecomplexity of Jerusalem, a site thatintensifies the debate and conflict overthe city.Yet, underlying that conflict are theday-to-day struggles of Silwanresidents.

Produced by Jerusalem FoundationEditor: Ariella Bernstein Photos: David Hoffmann Design: Abstract

The Jerusalem FoundationP.O.B. 10185 Jerusalem, 91101 Israel Tel: 972-2-6751711info@jerusalem-foundation.org www.jerusalemfoundation.org

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2 l Windows on Jerusalem l December 2010

The neighborhood of Silwan is hometo 70,000 Arab residents who struggleto exercise their rights and receiveservices due them.

The Jerusalem Foundation identifiedthe Silwan neighborhood as one inneed, with an overarching goal toempower Arab residents and buildcapacity among their leaders to improvebasic services, from garbage collectionto well baby clinics. With the supportof donors in Switzerland and Canada,and in particular, the Dear Foundation,change is coming to Silwan.

Living Behind the Headlines

Due to narrow roadways, garbagetrucks cannot pass and strewn garbagehas become a public health hazard,particularly when workers dumpconstruction waste to avoid dumpingfees. Silwan leaders, with the assistanceof the Jerusalem Intercultural Center(JICC), started a grassroots campaignto increase awareness about the problemwithin the municipality. Their effortspaid off - the municipality recentlyagreed to strategically place additionaldumpsters and to increase weeklypickups.

the forefront to secure what theyrightfully deserve in their community.As of this writing, the Ministry ofHealth approved the opening of a well-baby clinic in Silwan. 

Windows on Jerusalem Windows on Jerusalem l December 2010 l 3

With respect to health care, well-babyclinics have been sorely lacking inSilwan. Long known to modernmedicine as critical to early detectionof developmental delays and basicinfancy care, children in Silwan haveno well-baby clinic. There areconflicting claims about the creationof the clinic. The municipality assertsthat a clinic was made available butwas closed due to insufficient usage. Residents contend that the clinic wasinaccessible and did not have convenienthours. Either way, residents currentlyhave no clinic.

Silwan residents, with the help of theJICC, are now more empoweredbecause they understand the vagariesof the municipality's often lengthyprocess in creating and funding a wellbaby clinic. And they understand theircritical role in bringing this issue to

And, there is the decades-old problemof day laborers, teenagers fromthroughout the Jerusalem area whocart wares at the Mahane Yehudamarket instead of books. These childrenlack schooling, social activities, hotmeals and a proper framework forchildren their age. This year, theHandcart Children program providedchildren with enrichment and socialactivities, integrating them with Silwanyouth and returning them to theirchildhood. A small group of thesechildren also received special assistancewith their studies, enabling them toimprove their academic standing fore n t r y t o j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l .Coordinators visit the children's homesand schools to ensure academicimprovement and to attend to theoverall well being of the family.

And, art has come to Silwan. Childrencan attend art workshops run by theBarbur Gallery, with the help of theBezalel Academy of the Arts.

Grassroots community organizing skillsare critical to improving the lives ofSilwan residents and we will continueto work hard to empower them andassist them in securing equal access toservices enjoyed by the rest of the city.

Silwan leaders, with the assistanceof the Jerusalem InterculturalCenter (JICC) started a grassrootscampaign to increase awarenessabout the problem within themunicipality.

The neighborhood ofSilwan is home to 70,000Arab residents whostruggle to exercise theirrights and receive servicesdue them

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Perhaps as much as a third of the population ofthis city lacks the language skills for basic medical care,let alone complex jargon of advanced medical terminology.This city is home to elderly Russian immigrants who neverabsorbed the language, Arabs who lack sufficient commandof Hebrew, and Ethiopians whose culture is so vastlydifferent that modern medicine is foreign to them. Recentstudies show that 73% of Hadassah Hospital's own staffrecognize that communication difficulties hamper goodmedical care.

The right to healthcare is a fundamental human right, andit includes your right to understand your medical conditionand that of your loved one.

The Right To Understand

Imagine seekingmedical care only tofind that you are astranger in a strangeland, a place whereyou don't speak thelanguage. You don'tunderstand thedoctors or nurses andthey don't understandyou. This is neither atheoretical problemnor a transient one.

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Cultural competency programs, initiated by the Jerusalem Foundationand the Jerusalem Intercultural Center, are designed to address severedeficiencies in the hospital and health care provider systems. Usinga multi-pronged approach, they provide language training for healthcare providers; sensitivity training on cultural issues that can hamperproper health care; initiate translation systems in large organizations;encourage form translation into multiple languages; and facilitatecultural adaptations to make the delivery of health care easier.

In 2010, with the support of the Jerusalem Foundation and the SobellFoundation, the Jerusalem Intercultural Center trained staff fromClalit Health Services, Alyn Pediatric and Adolescent RehabilitationCenter, and the Hadassah Hospital. The training was focused onlanguage and translation services, appreciating cultural differencesand how they impact health care choices.

The issue has received significant press attention. In an investigativereport, the Jerusalem Post noted the vacuum left by the Health Ministryin providing translating services. The JICC has leaped into the breach,finding solutions to this complex problem, giving every patient theinalienable right to understand.

Cultural competencyprograms, initiated by theJerusalem Foundation andthe Jerusalem InterculturalCenter, are designed toaddress severe deficienciesin the hospital and healthcare provider systems.

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Interfaith Ethics and Tolerance

Abraham Foxman, Director of the Anti-Defamation League,drew on the poetic symbolism of his friendship with Mr.Gudzowaty - for Foxman himself is a Polish Jew and Mr.Gudzowaty is a Polish Catholic, both heralding from acountry with a painful past.

Mr. Maciej Kozlowski, deputy director of the Middle EastDepartment in the Polish Foreign Affairs Ministry andformer Polish ambassador to Israel, noted that words andmonuments together, like the Tolerance Monument sponsoredby Mr. Gudzowaty, can lead to a revolution.

The public panel discussion that followed focused on themeaning of holy sites for the Bahai, Islam, Christian, andJewish faiths, with an animated question and answer session.

Participants made their way to a moving closing ceremonyat the Tolerance Monument situated in Armon Hanatziv,between the Jewish neighborhood of East Talpiot and theArab neighborhood of Jebel Mukaber. As the sun set overthe Old City and the holy sites of the Kidron Valley,participants enjoyed music from different faiths: from theTelmus a capella vocal quartet, to the Noam Threesome,a Jewish-Arab music ensemble, from the Yerushalmimklezmer band and "Sounds of Peace", to the Neveh ShalomArab-Jewish School band.

he Second Annual Interfaith Ethics and ToleranceSymposium was held in Jerusalem, likely theonly city that attracts worldwide pilgrims from

Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Held on October 19,2010 at Mishkenot Sha'ananim, with the generous supportof Mr. Aleksander Gudzowaty, the conference focusedon ethical and environmental aspects of pilgrimage andthe meaning of holy sites for different faiths.

Roundtables touched on the importance of protectingthe environment during pilgrimages, making pilgrimagesaccessible for all and not just the wealthy, and thecommercialization of pilgrimages.

The afternoon panel session of religious leaders fromvarious faiths, attended by 250 people, was opened byMrs. Danuta Gudzowaty, reading remarks on behalf ofher husband.

Pilgrimage and the Meaning of Holy Sites for Different Faiths

Speaking Art – Quietly

hanks to the continuing support of the DearFoundation of Switzerland, the conference was held inNovember, and for the first time, included workshops andevents at the Paley Arts Center in east Jerusalem, The Lab,and the studios of the Vertigo Dance Troupe.

Seventy two performing artists in the fields of music, danceand theater participated. They came fromall over – north, center, east and west Jerusalem,and even Nablus. "This is the first time I'veheard Hebrew in a conversation, rather thanfrom a soldier at a military checkpoint," saidone participant from Nablus.

Participants enjoyed 2 days of workshopsled by acclaimed actress Salwa Nakara,internationally renowned musician and teacherSameer Makhoul, and dancer/choreographersIlanit Tadmor and Rabaa Mourkous. Manywere so enthusiastic about their experiencethey expressed a desire to continue to worktogether throughout the year.

The theme of the conference, Quiet, refersto a state of mind that "can help us to lookinward, [giving us] the freedom to create,to dream, as artists without borders," saidHanan Ohana, conference coordinator.

Movement artist Noam Carmeli led a workshopon improvisation through movement. ShmulikHadjes, of the Psik Theater in Jerusalem, led

The 7th Annual Speaking Arts Conference broughtJewish, Muslim and Christians artists together, andgave them the freedom to create and to dream.

a special session on masks and characterization. RaidaSa'adeh, Director of the Paley Arts Center in east Jerusalemexplained the arts situation in east Jerusalem.

Dancer and choreographer Arkadi Zeides and Eyal Danon,curator at the Israeli Center for Digital Art, showed howart effectuates change. Zeides discussed his show Quiet,

where 2 Jews and 2 Arabs usemovement and touch to expressaspects of the Israeli-Palestinianconflict. Danon discussed his projectLiminal Spaces, which uses art toadvance issues where politics failed.Prominent musicians Mira Awadand Shlomi Shaban closed theconference, performing in Hebrew,Arabic and English to a full house,their first time sharing a stage.

"When we look for the humanityin Jews and Arabs, we discovertreasures and richness that bringmore satisfaction than agreementssigned behind closed doors," saidNadim Sheiban, the JerusalemFoundation's Director of the ProjectsDepartment.

The Jerusalem Intercultural Centeris instrumental in the Speaking Artconference every year.

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No matter who you are or where you live, the JerusalemFoundation believes that all communities should have accessto the arts.

More than 30 years ago, the Paley Arts Center was foundedin east Jerusalem by the Paley family, giving residents equalaccess to the arts. Since then, it has become the preeminentcultural institution in east Jerusalem, offering art, dance,music, photography, drawing, sculpture, calligraphy, computerclasses, after school, and summer activities for east Jerusalemresidents. Thanks to the Weinbaum Foundation of Canada,the facility now has a state of the art photography lab, newequipment and a new auditorium. And, there is a photographycourse with 15 participants.

Summer of 2010 proved an exciting time for east Jerusalem'schildren. In June, they had access to an intensive art programrun over three weeks for 7 hours a day, and the July programcontinued for a full month. Activities included gardeningwith recycled materials, soap bubble workshops, musicalinstruments, computers, theater, face painting, sculpture,pyramid building, movies, animation, balloon art, magicshows, dance, mask-making, acting, jewelry-making, swimming,sports and more.

But the pictures tell the story best.

ARTS forEveryone