The Teachers’ Lounge program in memory of Shira Banki holds meaningful in-depth encounters between teachers and educators from different communities of Israeli society living in the same geographical space. Our teachers are neighbors, but it is likely they never met for an in-depth conversation, and still, they are curious and have the need to explore, to discover, and  to get to know the “other”.

Teachers’ Lounge creates an inclusive, respectful and multicultural meeting space for groups of Jewish and Arab teachers operating in Jerusalem, Ramla, Tel Aviv-Jaffa and the Western Galilee. The program brings together teachers for ten experiential, thought-provoking and inspiring meetings. Thus leading to in-depth interactions between the participants, a result of honest conversations based in mutual respect. As part of the program, the teachers visit each other’s schools and homes, and tour their respective neighborhoods, streets and markets.

In the Teachers’ Lounge program, teachers learn how their local identity stems from their personal identity, home, family, history and customs. In Teachers’ Lounge, we look at the place where we all live together through a new prism and imagine how to bring it into the classroom. We envision how to educate a connected, committed, sensitive and hopeful future generation.

Program’s scope: 30 recognized academic hours.

Participation fee: free of charge.