Jewish-Arab circus - A New Technique for Harmony

In northern Israel, Arab and Jewish children are finding common ground in an unusual way - at the only youth circus of its kind in the country. Based in the town of Carmiel, the Galilee Circus aims to bring the two communities together by teaching friendship and co-operation through the performing arts. There are 50 Arab and Jewish performers, from mainly Jewish Carmiel and Israeli Arab villages, who meet for classes twice a week in a community centre gymnasium. BBC published testimony of participants .

Fourteen-year-old Manar Asadi is from the village of Dir El Assad. She said she never met any Jewish children before she joined the circus. "At first I thought they were bad, but when I met them at the circus I found they were good and beautiful people," she said. "I think the circus is a good idea because it is doing something special and it's good for our future”. Shair Ben Yosef, 14, an Israeli Jew from the village of Atzmon, said he also met Arab children for the first time at the circus. I didn't know any Arabs before although I never felt hatred towards them. Now I have made a lot of Arab friends here," he saidI think the circus is a great way to bring Arab and Jewish children together, doing something that's fun."

This new technique more appealing to everybody. Two main goals exist behind this attractive form - teaching skills and fostering co-existence. Through this, they teach the kids about friendship and the importance of relations between Arabs and Jews. "The first time you speak to the children about it, it's very hard, but we tell them each child who comes here must be prepared to learn the craft and accept each other”. They were on a continuous high and really got to know each other, which is what life is like in a travelling circus."
This practise of circus helped them to widen the circle of relationship.As the circus' popularity began to grow, the children's parents formed a committee and organised their own activities. "Even the parents are becoming friends," said Gilad. "We not only want the children to form relationships, but parents too. We want to widen the whole circle. Now circus helps to promote communal harmony. The organizer says that,” we want to be a leader in teaching circus skills and communal harmony so people across country will want to come and learn here."

For further readings :

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/07/middle_east_jewish_arab_circus/html/1.stm

http://www.pforp.net/editorial46.asp