Professors Present on Experiences at The School for Peace at Neve Shalom–Wahat al-Salam, Israel

College of Human Development, Culture, and Media professor James Daly, Ph.D., welcomed Bob Mark, Ph.D., and his wife, Michal Zak, to his classroom to present on their experiences as teachers at The School for Peace (SFP) at Neve Shalom–Wahat al-Salam, Israel, to candidates in the Educational Studies Department. The SFP is an educational institution in Israel founded to promote broad-scale change toward peace and more humane, egalitarian and just relations between Palestinians and Israelis.

“Both as individuals and as future teachers, our students need to be aware of global issues and concerns,” Daly said. “Hearing how schooling continues during a time of war recognizes the vision of hope for the future that can inform education.”

Mark and Zak hail from a village in Israel that was established to build relationships between Israelis and Palestinians. As the community grew, the need for a school to educate the village's children led to the establishment of the SFP. Established in 1979, the SFP was the first bilingual school in Israel, teaching students in both Arabic and Hebrew to promote peace between Palestinian and Israeli students.

Their presentation theme, "Obstacles and Opportunities for Dialogue," was a thought-provoking exploration of the challenges and potential solutions in the current war. They built on Pablo Freire's work by framing conditions necessary for individuals and groups to recognize and confront these challenges, engaging the audience in a deep and meaningful discussion.

Mark and Zak’s personal stories of the war’s impact on their community, the teachers and the students in the school resonated deeply with the audience. Their comments shed light on the struggles of individuals and groups in their daily lives as they discussed the harsh reality of suffering and the consequences of the current situation. Following their presentation, Mark and Zak opened it up to the audience for a candid question-and-answer session.

“As members of a school and community built on seeking understanding and peace between Palestinians and Israelis, [Mark and Zak’s] story revealed the stresses and tensions that commitment has been facing,” Daly said. “The loss their community members have felt, the fear and the anger were all explored.”

Mark, a former Seton Hall scholar-in-residence with the Educational Studies Department, recently retired from Achva College in Israel. Mark has continued to work with the Center for Global Education in the Educational Studies Department, a partner with the Center for the Study of Genocide and Human Rights at Rutgers University. Zak has worked with groups seeking reconciliation and ways to move beyond conflict in several countries. She has shared her work with several global audiences.

Categories: Education, Nation and World