Lee Gordon co-founded Hand in Hand in 1997, and soon after created the American Friends of Hand in Hand network. Based in Portland, OR, American Friends of Hand in Hand has become a community of almost 10,000 friends and supporters aligned with Hand in Hand’s mission. Now, after 25 years,…

Last month (November 2023), over 200 people from all around the world joined Hand in Hand to discuss how the organization is facing the ongoing crisis, and how we maintain our commitment to our causes, values and missions. Panelists Mohamad Marzouk, HIH's Director of Growth; Efrat Meyer, HIH Jerusalem High…

At Hand in Hand schools, we celebrate holidays from each of our three core religions to foster community, respect and build shared values that last a lifetime.  No matter one’s religion, holidays are an anchor marking life through the year, and a way to express identity, culture and heritage. It…

The AFT annual conference brings together education and other helping professionals from all around the U.S. to network, exchange expertise, and promote shared values. Hand in Hand was invited to take part in the AFT national conference in July 2023, bringing over a delegation with our Executive Director, principals, and…

With our Hand in Hand University Student Community program, we build Jewish-Arab relations on campus using values that last a lifetime.  Hand in Hand students learn in a bilingual environment that champions equality and shared values. But we only reach a small percentage of the population – most of Israel’s…

The T4 global network of over 200,000 teachers recognizes different forms of excellence around the world. HIH Jerusalem is named to the list of top 10 schools worldwide in overcoming adversity. We are so excited that Hand in Hand’s Max Rayne Jerusalem School has been shortlisted for the World’s Best…

HIH Galilee is one of 12 schools awarded the Ministry of Education's 2022-2023 prize for excellence! In May, Hand in Hand Galilee received one of the most respected accolades in Israel’s education system: The National Education Prize from the Ministry of Education. Each year, the award is presented to just…

The completion of our 3rd grade Arabic curriculum inspires compassion, respect and equality inside and outside the classroom.  Shared language opens the door to connections, and promoting bilingualism is at the heart of our mission at Hand in Hand. We’re therefore delighted that teachers have begun rolling out our newly-complete,…

This past week, Hand in Hand hosted a delegation of our core donors and supporters. The mission trip began with a visit to the Knesset, where delegation members met Members of Knesset Gilad Kariv and Ayman Odeh, two members of the previous government who have long supported Hand in Hand's…

In this Mishmish episode, our team of alumni filmmakers interview David Wachsman and Mohammad Babaei, the creators of the movie "Two Kids a Day", which is about Israeli military policies of detaining Palestinian minors. https://youtu.be/REiyIyZVWXU

Every year, each of Hand in Hand's communities come together for our annual Iftar celebration — a traditional break-fast meal attended by our Arab and Jewish community members. This year, in the spirit of Ramadan, our community members raised money and packed food for those in need, decorated lanterns, participated…

At Hand in Hand our values and mission are not just empty words or promises; they permeate every aspect of our work—from the education being provided in our schools, to the activities planned in our communities, and the way we operate as an organization. As we mark 25 years of…