A Brown Bag Lunch & Learn Event Featuring Project Leaders Rama Zahwa & Noa Saraf with Program Director Asi Garbarz
Co-Sponsored by J Street; Snacks & Refreshments will be served

Join us for an inspiring gathering where emerging young leaders will share their experiences and hopes for a different future — one rooted in true partnership between Jews and Arabs. In these uncertain and difficult times, when Jewish-Arab relations are especially fragile and Israeli democracy faces profound trials, this event offers a chance to hear from those working to build bridges, advance equality, and strengthen shared society. Come engage with voices of resilience, collaboration, and change.

"Seeds of Partnership" is a groundbreaking leadership program created by NIF grantees HeChalutz and Standing Together. They train young Jewish and Arab leaders, fostering a shared commitment to building a just and equal society, advancing Jewish-Arab partnership, combating racism and discrimination in Israel, and promoting peace. Through hands-on training, leadership seminars, and a growing alumni network, the program cultivates dialogue, encourages the exchange of narratives, and empowers participants to take political action. They are visiting the US on a delegation sponsored by J Street U.

REGISTER TO PARTICIPATE

Speaker Bios:

Asi Garbarz brings extensive experience in community building and social activism to his role as co-director of Seeds of Partnership, which he helped establish five years ago. He holds a degree in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Haifa and currently heads the expansion division at Koach LaOvdim workers union. His background includes serving as a Shaliach for the Jewish Agency and Hashomer Hatzair in South America, and he serves as a lecturer at the Forum for Regional Thinking (also an NIF grantee). Asi lives in Kibbutz Ramot Menashe with his wife Tamari and their child Lavi.

Noa Saraf is 27 years old and works as a social worker while continuing her studies of  psychotherapy and bodywork. She was born in Minnesota and returned to Israel when she was 8. After participating in a Seeds of Partnership summer seminar three years ago, Noa was motivated to address the separation between Arab and Jewish students on campus at Tel Hai College. Together with Rama, she founded the "Sabaya Circle" – a group for Arab and Jewish female students that began at Tel Hai College.  

Rama Zahwa is 26 years old and was born and raised in the Golan Heights, next to the border with Syria and Lebanon. Rama studies psychology and behavioral science, and considers herself a social justice activist. From an early age, she felt a calling to speak out for justice and human rights. Thanks to Seeds of Partnership, Rama has had the opportunity to express her beliefs and be part of a community that strives for a world where all Israelis – Jews, Palestinians, and people of all backgrounds – can live together peacefully. For the past two years, she has been leading the "Sabaya Circle" with Noa and creating a community of Arab and Jewish women that fosters partnerships.

The New Israel Fund is the leading organization advancing and defending democracy in Israel. Widely credited with building Israeli progressive civil society, we have provided over $300 million to more than 900 organizations since our inception in 1979. Learn more about NIF on our website at www.nif.org.

J Street organizes pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy Americans to promote US policies that embody our deeply held Jewish and democratic values and that help secure the State of Israel as a democratic homeland for the Jewish people. We believe that only a negotiated resolution agreed to by Israelis and Palestinians can meet the legitimate needs and national aspirations of both peoples. Learn more at jstreet.org.