by Yori Yalon
"These meetings [between the students] allow for change regarding tolerance, respectful relationships, understanding and intercultural sensitivity," says Etai Ziv, project manager at the Efshar Aheret organization
Students take part in the
Lod Mosaic archaeology program
|
Photo credit: Courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority  |
Jewish and Arab elementary school students
from the mixed city of Lod in central Israel are working together in a
unique program that includes an archaeological dig at the site of the
city's famous mosaic, in cooperation with the Israel Antiquities
Authority.
The program, titled "Shared Lives -- Communal
Archaeology in Lod," is run jointly by the IAA, the Efshar Aheret
(Different Can Be Better) organization, Merchavim -- The Institute for
the Advancement of Shared Citizenship in Israel, and is funded by the
Morningstar Foundation and the Lod Municipality.
As part of the program, the students learn
together about the city's past and take part in an excavation at the
mosaic site. Students from Jewish and Arab schools meet throughout the
program.
Efshar Aheret project manager Etai Ziv said,
"These meetings [between the students] allow for change regarding
tolerance, respectful relationships, understanding and intercultural
sensitivity."
At the same time, there are classroom visits
from IAA staff, wherein children enjoy experiential learning workshops
about the history and archaeology of the area.
Esther York, who manages the project for IAA,
said, "It is important to us to encourage pride among the students and
to have them become ambassadors for publicizing the importance of
preserving antiquities."
The Lod Mosaic was discovered in 1994. During IAA
excavations at the site, archaeologists found remnants of an ancient
Roman villa and an exceptionally well-preserved mosaic depicting
animals, geometric shapes and marine scenes.
Yori Yalon
Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=41429
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