What brought together, for one day at exactly the same hour, students from Hartman Girls High School; students from Shacharit High School and Kedma; students from Tevel and Ort Minkoff; and students from Ort Givat Ram and Ort Bet Haarava? “Jerusalem Tikkun Olam.”
The project’s name refers to a Jewish concept meaning social responsibility, community action, and contributing to the greater good.
The unique project, held recently for the second consecutive year, was conceived by Meital Peleg, principal of Ort Bet Haarava High School in Jerusalem, with the goal of connecting schools from different backgrounds across the city through social action. The schools paired up, chose a joint creative workshop – for example, making pralines or flower pots, and also designing cups – and later donated the fruits of their work to various community destinations of their choice: nursing homes, IDF units, organizations for the inclusion of people with special needs, kindergartens, and more.
What are the main fields of study at Ort Bet Haarava High School?
Ort Bet Haarava, located in the Arnona neighborhood of Jerusalem, is a technological high school with 200 female and male students studying in three tracks: hair design, computers, and autotronica. Peleg also initiated Jerusalem Tikkun Olam inspired by the nonprofit “Village Way Educational Initiatives”, which has accompanied the school for years and promotes the concept of “education that leads society.” The Jerusalem Education Administration also joined and actively supported the initiative.
“After last year’s success, we published another ‘call for participation,’ and whoever signed up simply joined and connected through us to another educational community,” Peleg says. “What’s beautiful is that at exactly the same time, everyone worked together on the project. There was both the value of tikkun olam and the value of the connection itself.”
The responses in the principals’ group after the event were enthusiastic and clearly reflected its impact: “Our girls and boys, and also the staff, enjoyed both the shared encounter and the activity so much,” wrote one principal. “They came back full of experiences and stories. What a wonderful and optimistic initiative. Thank you for the opportunity, for the hope, and for the meaning. The products were distributed to children and also to the security forces. Looking forward to the next joint project.”
“We are already in our second year of partnership, and it was such a joy for all of us,” wrote another principal. “We were lucky to have a sweet workshop made entirely of chocolate. The pralines we prepared are already on their way to a Border Police base – what a privilege! Already waiting for next year.”
