The Teachers’ Lounge: Belief in the Possibility of Shared Understanding Seeing the Divine Spark in Every Individual

In the hearts of Israel's most diverse communities, a quiet transformation has been taking place among educators. The Teachers' Lounge program, an initiative of Hebrew Union College's Taube Family Campus in Jerusalem, has become a vital resource for teachers seeking to build understanding across cultural and religious divides - even in the most challenging of times.

What began as a small, meaningful project in 2014 has evolved into a comprehensive national program reaching teachers in Jerusalem, the Western Galilee, Jaffa, Ramla, and Haifa. Its grassroots approach - working directly with teachers rather than through institutional mandates - reflects Hebrew Union College's philosophy of empowering individual agency in the pursuit of understanding.

"We approach teachers themselves. They join our program because of their own will," explains Anat Infeld Goodman, the program's director. This voluntary participation brings Jewish and Arab educators together - not out of obligation, but out of a shared belief in the possibility of understanding.

Navigating Crisis with Courage

Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, presented an unprecedented challenge. Program bookings vanished overnight as teachers, facilitators, and entire communities retreated into survival mode. In a time of war, conversations about multiculturalism and reducing bias suddenly felt, to many, like a luxury.

"The atmosphere was, we can't deal with this now. It's almost as if it was not patriotic," Infeld Goodman reflects. In Ramla, for example, where tensions ran particularly high, Infeld Goodman says that teachers were interested in the program but, "They said, 'We can't meet Jews at the moment, or we can't meet with Arabs.'"

Rather than retreat, the Teachers' Lounge team decided to adapt. Working with Professor Michal Muszkat-Barkan, Ph.D., Hebrew Union College's Head of Education and Professional Development in Jerusalem, they learned that the process of gradual reengagement - asking teachers from different communities to meet separately at first and only later to meet together - was invaluable. This gradual reengagement became a model for rebuilding trust. It proved so successful that nearly all participants returned the following year.

The Power of Individual Stories, Continued Support, and Official Recognition

The Teachers' Lounge program focuses on personal narratives rather than political positions. When teachers share their fears about walking in certain neighborhoods or their experiences of discrimination, abstract conflicts become human stories - reflecting the Jewish value of seeing the divine spark in every individual.

"When someone tells you their story, you can't argue," Infeld Goodman says. Teachers who had built relationships through the program now have lifelines across communities - someone to check on, to worry about, to see as an individual rather than as "the other side."

The team also launched an alumni network for teachers who have gone through the program. Now called "The Community," it offers ongoing professional development, inspiration through shared experiences and knowledge, and practical support for implementing inclusive teaching practices.

Since its beginning, the Teachers' Lounge has grown from one in which participants met on their own time to one that is now accredited by Israel's Ministry of Education, which granted it approval to work in schools directly. With that official recognition came new possibilities for systemic and national impact.

Looking Forward

Even amidst ongoing uncertainty and war, the Teachers' Lounge has prevailed. Teachers consistently report that the program provides a unique space to discuss controversial topics without fear of being labeled unpatriotic or disloyal. Its primary need now is to cultivate partners who understand that supporting teachers, even in wartime, is not a luxury but a necessity.

The Teachers' Lounge has shown that even in the most fractured times, individual connections can transcend collective divisions. With proper support for a full-time staff and further expansion, this grassroots movement - informed by progressive Jewish values - could become a model for building understanding despite differences, not just in Israel, but wherever communities seek the courage to meet across divides.

To learn more, go to huc.edu/teacherslounge/.