To our This is Not an Ulpan community.
It’s no secret that this past year has been one of the hardest in our corner of the world. Hope for change can feel distant, and many activists on the ground are struggling with feelings of powerlessness. Yet, two things help me stay grounded and determined: remembering that this is not a sprint but a marathon, and finding strength in the power of community.
You might ask, why invest time in learning Hebrew or Arabic now?
Because building the future we dream of starts with the actions we take today. Learning a language is a profound first step—one that gives us the most basic yet transformative tool - to communicate. It’s more than just learning words; it’s about building bridges and laying the foundation for mutual understanding and collaboration.
Like social change, learning a language is not easy. It’s messy, confusing, and requires patience. But it’s also eye-opening, funny, deeply rewarding, and, quite frankly, life-changing. This process reflects the journey of making change: step by step, with dedication and a clear vision.
But here’s the key: none of this happens alone. During the first months of this terrible war I had the privilege to learn with many of our amazing students. Our diverse groups were a real lifeline for me, having a space where we can learn, share our thoughts, ideas, pains and aspirations. Doing all that in Hebrew and Arabic, while making tons of mistakes, made it such a nonjudgmental, egalitarian and heart warming environment.
Just as social transformation requires collaboration, so does language learning. Our community is more than just a place to master new words—it’s a space to connect on a deeper level, to ask meaningful questions, and to nurture critical thinking. It’s a place to dream together, work together, and grow together.
So now, it’s time to lace up our shoes and continue this marathon with our incredible community!
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Jackson is a co-op member, an Arabic student, and one of the Ulpan's most experienced Hebrew teachers.
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