Educators building shared society from the classroom outward.
Teachers’ Lounge creates a community of Jewish and Arab teachers in Israel who engage with one another as a basis for a society rooted in multiculturalism and coexistence.
The program brings together educators who may live near one another, but rarely have opportunities for meaningful encounter. Through structured professional development, school visits, home hospitality, and neighborhood tours, Teachers’ Lounge helps participants explore identity, community, and the role teachers can play in challenging racism and prejudice.
Their Role in Civil Society
Teachers’ Lounge plays an important role in the shared society ecosystem by working with educators as role models and multipliers.
Teachers shape how young people understand identity, difference, belonging, and the “other.” By giving Jewish and Arab educators tools for dialogue, reflection, and classroom practice, Teachers’ Lounge supports more respectful and inclusive learning environments. Its work creates a ripple effect: teachers who build relationships across difference can carry those experiences into their schools, classrooms, and communities.
Mission
Teachers’ Lounge works to create a community of Jewish and Arab teachers in Israel who engage with the “other” as a basis for a society that promotes multiculturalism and coexistence.
Established in memory of Shira Banki, the program is a Ministry of Education-accredited professional development initiative. Operating in Jerusalem, Ramla, Tel Aviv-Jaffa, and the Western Galilee, Teachers’ Lounge brings educators together through structured encounters that help them examine identity, address racism and prejudice, and promote mutual understanding in their classrooms.