Basic HTML Version
Education
for
International
Understanding
FTER
the War of Inde–
pendence in Israel in
1948-49,
1
had a
dream to develop cooperation
and promote friendship be–
t wee n
J
ewish a nd Ar a b
youths in the newborn state
of Israel.
1 wanted to work toward the
elimination of the hatreds that
had developed during the war.
We had to begin anew- to build
bridges between Jews and Arabs, to
foster mutual understanding and
knowlcdge of our different cul–
tures.
At that time 1 served as world
head of Youth Aliyah, a movement
created to rescue and rehabi li tate
J cwish children who had miracu–
lously survived the Holocaust in
Eu rope, and those who had lived
under adverse conditions in the
Norlh African and Arab count ries,
wherc lension was created between
the J ewish and non-Jewish popula–
t ion afler lhe War of 1ndcpen–
dcnce. To implement my dream, 1
envisioned a cente r to be estab–
lished for the educational and cu l–
tural programs that would be devel–
oped toward this goal.
The Dream Fulfilled
Ül hers were dreaming of ways lo
foster international understanding
May 1984
by
Moshe Kol,
Past Minister of Tourism and Development
in Is rael. One such g roup, who
were good friends of Youth Aliyah,
was an American lnlerfailh Com–
mittee under the leadership of Dor–
othy and Murray Silverstone (20th
tance of other coun tries through
music, films, lectures, exhibits and
visits, a center that could serve lhe
whole coun try.
By building this center in Jeru-
Jerusalem's children- whether Moslem or Christian Arabs or Armenians or
lsraelis- share experiences on the playground in Liberty Bell Park.
Century Fox Film Company Presi–
dent). They had collectcd funds lo
build a n l nternational Cultural
Center for Youth in J erusalem
( ICCY).
1 e nvisioned it becoming a
national instit u te, bringi ng to
Israelí youths the cu ltural inheri-
salem- a city close to the hearts of
Chrislians, Moslems and J ews- it
might serve as a model for similar
institulions in otber countries lo
overcome narrow-rnindedness and
extreme nat ional ístic approaches.
The idea appealed to Murray S íl–
verslone, who brought it before lhe
5