AN INTRODUCTION TO GIVAT HAVIVA’S MANY FACES

Haggai Halevi, Executive Director of Givat Haviva meeting with Ora an Michael Morrison during their visit to the campus and right: by the Peace Tree on the central lawn.

Michael Morrison, co-founder and acting director of the Artists and Humans Projects based in New York, and his wife Ora were guests of Givat Haviva during their recent visit to Israel.  The Morrison’s had been in touch with the New York staff of the Givat Haviva Educational Foundation following the decision earlier this year to award Givat Haviva the AHProjects Cultural Achievement Award.

Staff members at the Wadi Ara, Israel campus were delighted to have the opportunity to welcome the Morrison’s in person and share with them background information regarding the various departments at Givat Haviva and to get to know some of the personalities behind the projects on and off campus.

The Morrison’s also accompanied a member of the International Department on a tour of the Wadi Ara region and made a note to continue to get to know the area more closely next time they visit our shores.  Upon their return to the United States Michael emailed that they were still pouring over the maps, notes and photos – souvenirs of a very special Givat Haviva day – some time after their return!

“We not only met people involved in the Arts Center, library, International Department and others but also received updates on the Through Others’ Eyes photographic exhibition in New York,” commented Michael in his mail.

The Morrison’s were happy to meet up with Haggai Halevi, Executive Director of Givat Haviva, as they strolled around the spacious campus and were impressed by the madaffi (guest reception room) of the Jewish-Arab Center for Peace, described by Michael as being “simple, beautiful and elegant and where I imagine there have been some memorable and historical meetings and an apt place for us to be discussing various aspects of the Jewish-Arab Center for Peace, group meetings and language studies carried out at the center.”

Michael and Ora Morrison looking through Arabic language newspapers in the Peace Library and chatting with Etti Amram, Director of the Givat Haviva Arts Center and Peace Gallery