December 19, 2014

Jewish-Arab Kindergarten in Israel



I first published this post on January 11, 2008.

The backstory
From Jerusalem, Judith Green's email inspired me to make this video.
Forget all the dark things in the news about the ME [Middle East]. This recording of my friend's nephew Shlomi's little girls outshines them all. Shir and Shaked attend the Jewish-Arab kindergarten in Beersheba [in Israel's Negev desert]. Shlomi recorded them singing in Arabic, Hebrew, and English the classic English-language nursery song Put your hands on your head while he played the keyboard. I am attaching a sound file that you can put on your blog, with proper recognition of the artists! 

Remembering Asher Green

I dedicate this post and video Asher Green's memory (his mother, Judith, sent me the email and sound file). Asher's multiple talents and adventurous spirit led him to study at the Institute for Culinary Education in New York City. He had also studied stage design in London, and film and art in Jerusalem. Asher was planning to volunteer in Southeast Asia as part of a project to teach street children restaurant skills. He had hoped to open a similar program in Jerusalem for low-income Israeli and Palestinian teens.

אשר בן יהודית וג'ף. יהי זכרו ברוך
Asher ben Yehudit v'Jeff. Yehi zichro barukh.
Asher, son of Judith and Jeff. May his memory be a blessing.

Related Post
An Israeli Arab "Profile in Courage": Marwan Amer

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

i love your video! the pictures are great and i love how it changes languages. also , i love how you have pictures of me in it and how the music is kids singing.

BronzeBuckaroo said...

Beautiful! Why doesn't the news media report things like this I wonder. I've never underestimated the power of images. You place it here on your blog. It is making a much needed difference by challenging a great deal.

Anonymous said...

Comment via email Q&A with Tamar (Me)

ME: What did you think of my current post and video? Truth, please.
HE: Have I ever lied to you? I liked it, though I didn't like the music.

ME: Did you sing that song when you were in gan [kindergarten]?
HE: Of course. all the time. That's how they teach kids here where their head is. They tend to forget it as adults, though.

judith said...

Thank you so much, Tamar, for finding the beauty in this and continuing to be such a good friend to Asher.
Judith