German And Israeli Educators Visit AJC Anti-Bias And Values Education Program In Chicago and Milwaukee

American Jewish Committee
Sunday, 9 September 2001

The American Jewish Committee's "Hands Across the Campus" program is sponsoring a visit by German and Israeli educators to Chicago and Milwaukee from September 10-14. This is the first time that the 20-year-old "Hands" program is expanding overseas, and that an American tolerance education program for high school students like "Hands" is being adapted for use in Germany and Israel.

"This joint project is a milestone, and a welcome sign that educating about national and civic values, and building tools for tolerance are vital insurance for our friends abroad, as well as for us," said Ann Schaffer, AJC's national director of the "Hands Across the Campus" program.

Developed by AJC in response to intergroup conflicts in Los Angeles schools two decades ago, the "Hands" program helps participants confront ethical dilemmas and learn conflict mediation. Students gain understanding and skills through active dialogue, role playing and leadership development.

The University of Paderborn's Education Department in Germany, and the Oranim Educational Institute in Israel, are working on adaptations of the "Hands" program. Partners in a joint "Education for Tolerance Project," staff at both centers hope to create Internet connections linking schools in the Germany, Israel and the United States that are using the "Hands" program. Trial runs of the adapted "Hands" material are scheduled to begin in Germany and Israel in early 2002.

This international expansion of AJC's anti-bias program is the result of a meeting a year ago in New York when German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder accepted an AJC offer to help with programs in Germany to combat right-wing extremism, anti-Semitism and xenophobia. At a workshop in December, sponsored by the German Ministry of the Interior, German educators and government officials responded so positively to the "Hands" curriculum that a steering committee to adapt it was formed soon thereafter.

The German Federal Center for Civic Education is funding the translation of the "Hands" curriculum into German. AJC's Berlin office is managing overall coordination of the "Hands" adaptation project.

"This joint American-German-Israeli educational project can provide a new approach to furthering our common dialogue on intergroup conflicts and civic values," said Deidre Berger, Director of AJC's Berlin Office. "Putting this program on a transnational basis, especially during this era of global communications, will give young people in all three countries a chance for exchange and exposure to other cultures."

Participants in the U.S. trip are Professor Irmgard Kloenne, Christoph Sturm, and Maja Bitterer, all from the University of Paderborn's Education Department; Heike Deckert-Peaceman, an educational expert on the staff of the Fritz Bauer Institute for Holocaust Education and Research; Marie Klupp, from the Institute for Comparative Historical Research in Berlin, and Suki Lechner from the Oranim Educational Institute in Israel.

Hosting them are Ann Schaffer, Director of AJC's Belfer Center for American Pluralism; Jonathan Levine, AJC's Midwest Area Director; and Harriet McKinney, Milwaukee Chapter Director.

For more information, or to contact American Jewish Committee, see their website at: www.ajc.org