What's Happening?
The UJA-Federation of New York has donated $1 million to the Arab-Jewish Center for Empowerment, Equality, and Cooperation – Negev Institute for Strategies of Peace and Economic Development (AJEEC-NISPED) to establish a center named after Vivian Silver,
a Canadian-Israeli peace activist killed by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023. Silver co-founded AJEEC-NISPED, the largest shared society organization in Israel, which operates under a co-CEO model with one Jewish and one Arab leader. The new center aims to promote Jewish-Arab partnerships and will be part of a larger headquarters project in Beerheva, Israel.
Why It's Important?
This donation and the establishment of the Vivian Silver Center for Shared Society represent a significant investment in fostering peace and cooperation between Jewish and Arab communities in Israel. The initiative aligns with the UJA-Federation's mission to promote shared society and resilience in the face of conflict. By supporting such projects, the federation sends a powerful message of hope and commitment to peace, potentially influencing other organizations to invest in similar initiatives. The center will provide educational and cultural opportunities, strengthening social fabric and collaboration across cultural divides.
