A New Way

A New Way (Hebrew: אפשר אחרת, Efshar Acheret) is an Israeli nonprofit organization (amuta) founded in 1998 with the mission of building a shared society for Jews and Arabs in Israel. It operates long-term, multicultural educational programs within the formal school system, reaching approximately 5,000 Arabs and Jews each year across the country. The organization works with students, teachers, school principals, parents, local leaders, and municipal teams, with a particular emphasis on Israel's social and economic periphery. The organization's vision is to enable change through direct, unmediated personal encounters between Jews and Arabs; to reduce fears, prejudices, alienation, suspicion, and hostility; and to replace them with tolerance, understanding, trust, respect, and a deep commitment to multicultural partnership. Its educational methodology combines contact theory, narrative approach, and a call for joint action. Programs are approved by the Israeli Ministry of Education and the Headquarters for Civic Education and Shared Living, and are designed for students in grades 4 through 12. A New Way's flagship programs include a two-year shared civics matriculation study program (under the Tamar framework), a core multicultural community partnership program ('Makpetza le-Hevra Meshutefet'), training for educational teams in multicultural work, and 'Poalim Yachad' — a two-year program for Jewish-Arab youth cooperation in mixed Israeli cities. The organization also runs seminars and leadership development initiatives for youth, women, and school principals. The organization has received recognition for its work: in 2021 it was awarded the Berlson Prize for Jewish-Arab Understanding by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and in 2022 it won the Jerusalem Prize for Israeli Unity. Its founder and chair is Dr. Tikva Bracha, a Middle East historian; its CEO is Dorit Bliman, an organizational and business consultant. Past chairs include Francis Lorenzo (1998–2003), Major General (res.) Amos Lapidot (2004–2012), and Dan Piltz (2013–2016).

A New Way (Hebrew: אפשר אחרת) was founded in 1998 out of a commitment to building a shared society in Israel. The organization's work focuses on the essential need to create long-term, multicultural educational processes that enable Jews and Arabs to engage in meaningful cooperation within the formal education system and residential communities. It operates as a unifying force, attempting to challenge existing rifts in Jewish-Arab relations in Israel. The vision of the organization is to enable change through the creation of personal and direct encounters between people themselves; to reduce fears, prejudices, alienation, suspicion, and hostility and replace them with tolerance, understanding, trust, respect, and a deep commitment to multicultural partnership between Arabs and Jews. In 2021, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev awarded the organization the Berlson Prize for Jewish-Arab Understanding named after Yitzhak Rabin, and in 2022 the organization won the Jerusalem Prize for Israeli Unity. The organization operates a variety of long-term educational programs between paired schools in the Jewish and Arab sectors. It works with students, teaching staff, and local authority officials, and also conducts joint activities for multicultural groups of parents and students. The organization brings together two school communities, Jewish and Arab, for a program aimed at building an educational platform for mutual acquaintance and learning about the other society and its culture. The educational program connects students, parents, and educational teams and emphasizes strengthening students' connection to the local community, developing dialogue, and encouraging joint volunteer activities as a contribution to the community. The process is based on a deep and ongoing connection between the two heads of authorities, heads of education departments, school principals, and key community figures. The programs are unique in their educational approach and are built from a combination of: the contact approach, the narrative approach, and a call for joint action. The organization's programs are approved by the Ministry of Education, the Headquarters for Civic Education and Shared Living, and are designed for students in grades 4–12. The programs are supported by a detailed syllabus but are flexible enough to be specifically adapted for schools as required. Educational programs include: a two-year shared civics matriculation study program under the Tamar framework, where a leading class from each grade partners with a parallel class from the other society (Jewish and Arab), emphasizing learning through experience and allowing students a unique experience in active citizenship and joint research tasks, with students examined side by side in a shared civics matriculation exam in both languages; the core program for multicultural partnership between Jewish and Arab communities ('Makpetza le-Hevra Meshutefet'), based on a holistic, multi-community approach working simultaneously with multiple stakeholders to create circles of influence and systemic impact; training for educational and teaching teams in multicultural work, approved by the Ministry of Education and recognized as a GML professional development program (external program in the green track no. 1481), working with Arab and Jewish educators from across the country to promote their development as change agents; and 'Poalim Yachad' — a two-year program for multicultural cooperation among youth in mixed Israeli cities within the framework of the program for personal development and social involvement, aiming to replace fear, anger, hatred, prejudices, and stereotypes between Jewish and Arab students with brotherhood, respect, and cooperation, culminating in joint volunteer initiatives with 60 hours of shared community volunteering. The organization also runs a variety of seminars and initiatives for leadership development in a multicultural society, including 'Lirot – Lehakshiv – Lachshov' (See – Listen – Think) a shared living seminar for school principals, 'Mitnadvim Yachad' (Volunteering Together), 'Nashim Yotzrot Shinui ba-Kehila' (Women Creating Change in the Community), and training for multicultural leadership for youth and young adults. The organization's team includes Jews and Arabs working in full cooperation across the country. The founder and chair is Dr. Tikva Bracha, a Middle East historian, graduate of a bachelor's degree in Islamic history and Arabic from Bar-Ilan University, and holder of a master's degree and doctorate from Tel Aviv University. The CEO is Dorit Bliman, an organizational and business consultant with a master's degree in management – organizational consulting and a degree in psychology, education, and social sciences. Past chairs of the organization include Francis Lorenzo (1998–2003), Major General (res.) Amos Lapidot (2004–2012), and Dan Piltz (2013–2016).

• 2022

  Won the Jerusalem Prize for Israeli Unity.

• 2021

  Awarded the Berlson Prize for Jewish-Arab Understanding by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.

• 2013

  Dan Piltz begins term as chair (2013–2016).

• 2004

  Amos Lapidot begins term as chair (2004–2012).

• 1998

  Organization founded by Dr. Tikva Bracha.

• 1998

  Francis Lorenzo begins term as chair (1998–2003).

Nonprofit educational organization fostering Jewish-Arab shared society through direct encounter and long-term school-based programs.

• Shared civics matriculation study program

  Two-year program under the Tamar framework where a leading class from each grade partners with a parallel class from the other society, emphasizing experiential learning and joint research tasks, with students examined in a shared civics matriculation exam in both languages.

• Multicultural community partnership program ('Makpetza le-Hevra Meshutefet')

  Core program based on a holistic, multi-community approach working simultaneously with multiple stakeholders to create circles of influence and systemic impact, connecting neighboring communities living in separation, conflict, or instability.

• Training for educational teams in multicultural work

  Ministry of Education approved program (GML no. 1481) working with Arab and Jewish educators from across the country to promote their development as change agents.

• 'Poalim Yachad' — two-year Jewish-Arab youth cooperation program

  Program for multicultural cooperation among youth in mixed Israeli cities, aiming to replace fear, anger, hatred, prejudices, and stereotypes with brotherhood, respect, and cooperation, culminating in joint volunteer initiatives with 60 hours of shared community volunteering.

• Seminars and leadership development initiatives

  Includes 'See – Listen – Think' shared living seminar for school principals, 'Volunteering Together', 'Women Creating Change in the Community', and training for multicultural leadership for youth and young adults.

1. 1אפשר אחרת | a new wayanewway.org.il
2. 2A new way - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3אפשר אחרת - Wikipedia (Hebrew)he.wikipedia.org