Future rabbis learn Arabic for peace building
Rabbinical students at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College were engaged in a progressive initiative earlier this year when they were taught Arabic as a way to learn about the similarities between Arabic and Hebrew and to find ways to bridge the divide between Jews and Arabs.
Rabbi Nancy Fuchs Kreimer, 1982, invited Dr. Barry Mann to teach the class, using their knowledge of Hebrew. Both languages, like the people, are cousins with many similarities. Mann learned Arabic during his sojourn in Israel.
Each person was tasked with learning enough of the language so that a presentation could be done in Arabic as part of a final “testing” of knowledge and understanding.
In addition to rabbinical students, graduates and community members also participated.
To learn more, visit rrc.edu/video/dreams-peace to see how the class unfolded.