Givat Haviva Intensive Arabic Semester students visit Bet Gabriel

 

Intensive Arabic Semester students Adina, Mark, Josh, Samantha

and Rachel in the Peace Room of Bet Gabriel

 

In November, 1994 an historical occasion took place in Bet Gabriel on the shores of the Kinneret at Tzemach.  It was here that the late King Hussein of Jordan and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin met to reconfirm the peace treaty between Jordan and Israel signed just a few short weeks beforehand by Rabin and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Prime Minister, Abdul-Salem Majali. 

The late King and Prime Minister, accompanied by other well-known personalities from their countries and United Nations envoys, met in the "Peace Room," designed with a dream in mind – peace in the Middle East.

King Hussein and Prime Minister Rabin discussed the peace treaty in the beautifully designed "Peace Room."  Large windows and a series of mirrors allows every person sitting down to discussions at the round table to embrace the magnificent view incorporating Lake Kinneret and the  mountain ranges on either side of the water, the Israeli Naftali mountain range, the Syrian Golan Heights and the Gilead mountain range of Jordan.

Whilst out and about on a day study tour, students on the Givat Haviva Intensive Arabic Semester and staff member guide Lydia Aisenberg paid a call at Bet Gabriel.  Although not normally allowed, after it was explained that the students were studying Arabic and Hebrew, Middle East and Peace Studies, Bet Gabriel staff member Noam Shochat agreed to open up the "Peace Room" and explain who had sat where at that famous and other historical meetings.

Whilst the students sat in the seats occupied in '94 by great men the likes of King Hussein, his brother Prince Hassan, Yitzhak Rabin, Terri Larsen of the UN and Warren Christopher from the United States, Noam Shochat explained more in depth about the Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty that addressed boundary demarcations, water issues, police cooperation, environmental issues and mutual border crossings as well as the establishment of diplomatic relations in late November, 1994 where ambassadors were appointed and embassies opened in both countries.

Memorabilia from meetings of dignitaries in the "Peace Room" are on displayed and include art work, flags and emblems and a red and white kaffiya belonging to King Hussein sent to Bet Gabriel following the death of the Jordanian royal.

 

Around the round  table in the "Peace Room" – Adina (center) in the place of King Hussein,

 his kaffiya neatly folded  on the table in front of her

 

The Bet Gabriel Arts and Culture Center was established in 1993 by the Gabriel Sherover Foundation.

Architectural uniqueness, combining Jerusalem stone with green gardens and colorful flora, and the innovative and attractive internal design of the buildings, gleaned numerous prizes for the planners, architects and designers who worked under the late Venezuelan-born Gitta Sherover who founded the center in memory of her son Gabriel.

Bet Gabriel hosts changing art and photographic exhibitions, galleries exhibits paintings and sculptures and other varied artwork.  Films are screened in the auditorium and two outdoor large and small amphitheaters host musical concerts, dance shows and other events during the course of the year.

The different sections of the center are named after ten heroes in Venezuelan history and the central area of the main building, the Bet Gabriel Restaurant, affords a spectacular view of the Sea of Galilee (Lake Kinneret) mixed with a breathtaking interior design inside and on the outside patio – all much appreciated by the Intensive Arabic Semester students notching up another unforgettable experience during their five-month course.

 

Main entrance to Bet Gabriel

 

Photos & text: Lydia Aisenberg, April 2009