To our community of learners at This Is Not An Ulpan,
The war in Gaza rages on as the Israeli government refuses to accept any deal on the table and piles on new demands for a ceasefire and hostage exchange. The human toll is unbearable and the humanitarian crisis is worsening by the day. Inside the state of Israel, police brutality against any dissent has reached new levels, and the corrupt nationalist coalition is initiating a power grab on all fronts, in a move to dismantle the remaining democratic spaces. In the West Bank, settler and military violence has reached new heights and a de facto annexation is taking place. It is within this grim reality that we at TINAU are determined to keep working and lay down the foundations for an alternative which might arise. Working towards a vision of justice, equality and a shared land for all nations living here. An alternative where the state is not organized according to Jewish supremacy and all the people are equal citizens, enjoying the same rights.
For over a decade we have been striving to create an educational space rooted in critical pedagogy. We have cultivated a wonderful community of Arabic and Hebrew learners, dedicated to engaging with our reality with the clear goal of influencing and changing it for the better. We always believed, and still do, in the power of education as a positive and liberatory force in the world - for the individual and the collective alike. We are determined to continue with this vision in these dark times and for this we need your help as a community. Since the beginning of this terrible war many students had to leave the country and cancel their participation in our courses. We turn to you to help us by registering to our classes (either here or online) and enrich your understanding of language, culture and history. We would also appreciate your help in spreading the word about TINAU ,so we can reach new audiences that identify with our values and wish to become Hebrew or Arabic learners. There is also the option to donate to our cooperative directly. We know with the power of our community we will be able to pull through and help create a better future for us and for all the people of the land. With our community we managed to overcome the Covid crisis and navigate the turbulent times of protest against the government last year. Though this war is by far the peak of brutality in the region and it seems like dark forces are winning on all fronts, we believe that together, we can and will move forward and offer hope.
It is our moral obligation to resist injustice and to show solidarity towards the oppressed. Especially now with atrocities occurring daily we must oppose apartheid and oppose this unjust war. Within our small but vibrant educational space we offer you another avenue to express this resistance and make your contribution. Come and learn the languages of this land, bring your family and your friends, and become an active and informed part of the solution. We have faith in you, ourselves, and our values - we will prevail.
Matan Sandler
________
Matan is a co-op member, an Arabic student, and the Ulpan's most experienced teacher, and has been teaching Hebrew for 11 years.
Comments