Binational School for Jewish and Palestinian kids

The Zoo Lab is an educational and therapeutic initiative designed to encourage students (pre-K through 6) to learn about, interact with, and care for some of the animal species who share our world, in the context of a comprehensive interdisciplinary environmental studies curriculum. It is one of the many extra-curricular programs run by the Primary School to enrich the children's learning experience. 

Last summer, Israel experienced record-breaking temperatures and this was very hard on the animals. Despite various experiments with ice and water, the Giant Rabbits (a special kind of rabbit) and chinchillas died. The children, on returning to school, were very sad about this. The birds managed all right, perhaps because some of these are warm weather varieties. Currently, there are cockatiels from Australia and doves from Africa. There are also parrots, guinea pigs. silkie chickens and ordinary rabbits.

All of the children in the school spend time with the animals for one class hour per week. The younger children mainly pet them and follow the progress of egg hatchings and births, etc. The older children take more responsibility. Among the tasks are gathering food, including kitchen waste, greens from nature and bought food (seeds and mixtures). They learn about how the animals protect themselves from parasites by eating herbs such as rosemary, and add these also to their food. Another responsibility is taking the waste from the floor of the zoo lab to use as compost in the plant nursery. All the children love the zoo lab, and some show a special penchant for taking responsibility there.

Links:

• American Friends of Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam
• Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam

Every year, the Primary School chooses certain holidays for the children to celebrate. This year, due to the proximity of the Muslim Festival of the Sacrifice (Eid al-Adha), the Hijri or Muslim New Year, the Jewish Hanukkah holiday and Christmas, we prepared a celebration in common for all the children and their parents.

From the beginning of November, the teachers began discussing and planning the celebration, and divided the celebration among the classes, so that each class would play a particular role in the celebration. The children prepared art work, songs, plays and quizzes. The Eisenberg Family auditorium was decked out in holiday trappings and painting and drawings by the children were hung on the walls and windows.

A little after 6:30 PM, the parents and children took their places and the celebration began. We began by honoring a guest, the American philanthropist and benefactor of the school, Richard Goodwin and his partner Sondra, who were with us for the celebration, and then launched into the activities that the children had proudly prepared.  

One activity led into another, from singing to processions illustrating parts of the pilgrimage to Mecca, to a visit of the three wise men, to the story of Hannukah, with respect and honor for each holiday and each religion, and some original ideas of presentation. The evening was fun for children, teachers and parents, and everyone learned something new about each other's faith and culture.

Links:

• American Friends of Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam
• Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam