Shared Society
Shared Society is a new paradigm to improve the relations between all members of society, especially in the heterogeneous, multi-cultural societies of the 21st Century. It is one in which all individuals and identity-groups are treated as equals with regards to their cultural, social, political, and economic rights. In a Shared Society, each member enjoys a sense of belonging, stability, and security. Therefore, each contributes to building a general good that is richer than the sum of its parts, and each regards other groups’ contribution as a gift instead of as a threat.
Our programs in the Shared Society field aim to reduce the levels of mutual mistrust by addressing attitudes and assumptions through encounter processes between participants from different backgrounds and create tangible, need-related, added-value results.
By providing opportunities and guidance for members from all different identity subgroups to meet, learn about each other's needs, reduce stereotypes and fear, and build more solid and harmonious relations – we aim to reduce the levels of cultural violence and promote a rich harmony out of the cacophony that exists today.
Projects
Path Of Hope and Peace
POHAP is a grassroots organization of Palestinians and Israelis — dedicated to building coexistence through interdependent economy while fostering personal interaction and friendship between people and communities, mostly working in the Zur Hadassah-Hussan area (South-West of Jerusalem).
Our Abu Tor
Our Abu Tor’s goal is to enhance and buttress the community’s synergy by harnessing the residents’ commitment and skills, as it transforms from a precarious mixed neighborhood into a socially cohesive shared neighborhood.
Understanding Shared Society
An action-research program aimed at better understanding the potential and characteristics of promoting a shared society in Israel, including practical recommendations at both grassroot and policy levels. Conducted in cooperation with the Center for Advancement of Peace Initiatives.
The Cooperative Society Forum
We are one of the founding members of the “Cooperative Society Forum” which intends to unite all bodies in Israeli society that promote a common society and reduce the polarization between the different sectors in Israel - religious, secular, ultra-Orthodox, Arabs, settlers, liberal currents, Ethiopians and any other community or stream in society.
Past Projects
Living Together in the Negev
The project’s goal was to develop practical and strategic mechanisms to cultivate approaches for the building of a shared society, mutually beneficial cooperative work, conflict resolution based on a shared experience between Israeli Jews an Bedouins living in Negev Desert Region in Israel. Conducted in cooperation with A New Dawn in the Negev.
Learning and Acting Together for the Environment in Jerusalem
A group of committed Palestinian and Israelis activists were brought together to learn each other’s language and work towards improving environmental issues in Jerusalem, despite the political pressures to maintain the distance, the fear and the hatred between the two nations. Conducted in cooperation with Mazar.
Galilee For All
We were one of the founding members of the “Galilee for All” coalition (initiated by Alternative) that works since 2018 to promote practical steps for improving the relationship between all citizens of the Western Galilee area, mainly Jewish and Arab-Palestinians.
Neighbors-Jir’an Rahat-B’nei Shimon
A group of Jewish and Bedouin neighbors from the B’nei Shimon Regional Council and the city of Rahat, respectively, worked together to create a safe-space and learn skills to promote the improvement of the regional situation in the Negev area. Conducted in cooperation with A New Dawn in the Negev.
Kumu! Politicizing Jewish Pluralism in Israel
This project’s goal was to encourage the members of the Jewish Renewal movement to express themselves on general political and moral subjects, instead of focusing exclusively on matters of religious practice. This project became independent from Challenge in 2018.
J-AmLat – Progressive Latin-American Jews For Israel
This project goal was to support those members of Latin American Jewish communities that support a more assertive search for peace in the Middle East to express themselves and promote a vibrant and democratic public debate.