Main Projects / Activities

The Teachers’ Lounge (TL) is a flagship program of HUC–Jerusalem, established in 2014 to promote tolerance, dialogue, and a shared society among Jewish and Arab educators in Israel. Through weekly meetings in six centers within mixed cities and regions, including Jerusalem, Ramle, Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Haifa, Western Galilee, and the Negev, teachers from separate education systems come together in a safe, facilitated space to engage in open dialogue, explore identity, and develop tools for a shared society within their region. Co-led by Jewish and Arab experienced and expert facilitators, the program combines personal encounters in groups, space for artistic expression, site-based learning, and joint local educational initiatives led by the program’s alumni members in and outside schools. Participants gain multicultural sensitivity, innovative pedagogical skills, and a sense of agency to promote equality and respect within their schools and communities by sharing insights and knowledge.
The Teachers’ Lounge Program in memory of Shira Banki, advances HUC’s mission by bringing together Jewish and Arab educators for a transformative process of professional training, which involves learning, in-depth dialogue, and multicultural collaboration.
The program’s goal is to nurture educators as agents of change who model tolerance, mutual respect, and civic responsibility, contributing to a more cohesive and compassionate Israeli society. The program aims to improve the climate of Israel's multicultural life by mobilizing educators to raise awareness and discuss with their students about important matters such as racism, prejudice, hate, and mistrust between the two sectors. Recognized by the Israeli Ministry of Education, the vision behind “The Teachers’ Lounge – in memory of Shira Banki is an Israeli society that wears its diversity proudly and that heeds the call for mutual recognition and for dialogue among its communities of residents.