Since their inception in 1998, the Hand-in-Hand Schools have been striving to build partnerships and equality between Arabs and Jews in Israel by providing schools where children from all religious and ethnic backgrounds come together to learn in a multilingual, inter-cultural environment. The schools have become Israel’s experts on bilingual and multicultural education, and their staff offer teacher-training and have established a resource centre on the subject. The Hand-in-Hand alumni form a platform for a variety of activities related to shared living.

Foremost in their educational philosophy is mutual respect, tolerance, and togetherness. Although originally established only at primary and middle-school levels, high demand for their services has led them to incorporate preschool and high school levels, and their network of schools is rapidly growing. They currently serve more than 2000 students across 7 campuses all over Israel, with another 1200 students on waiting lists.

Hand-in-Hand’s award-winning model is the epitome of success and is helping to transform Arab-Jewish relations in the region.