In a country where headlines too often focus on division and fear, the idea of peaceful coexistence can feel remote. Yet at Tabeetha School on a small hill in Jaffa, that idea is a daily reality, and hope sits at every desk.
It all began in 1863 with one woman’s vision to educate girls of all faiths in Jaffa. Jane Walker-Arnott, driven by compassion and a belief in education for all, opened the school’s doors to Christian, Jewish, and Muslim girls from the local community. Her work laid a foundation that would endure through generations. When she passed away, she entrusted the school to the Church of Scotland, which has nurtured and expanded it ever since.
Today, Tabeetha School is a thriving community of 330 boys and girls aged five to 18, representing more than 40 nationalities and diverse religious backgrounds.
Christian, Jewish, and Muslim students learn together in English while studying Hebrew and Arabic, growing up side-by-side in an environment that promotes respect, dignity and inclusion.
This is not just an educational institution; it is a living example of what peace can look like in the everyday lives of children.
Every morning at 10:10, the bell rings for the first break. The halls fill with the sounds of laughter and conversations in Arabic, Hebrew, Russian, and English. Children gather in the courtyard to play football, chat with friends, or prepare for student council meetings and assemblies. These moments of everyday life at Tabeetha build relationships that cross cultural and religious divides.
When children are taught and raised from a young age to celebrate their differences, when they are given a space where they can be different yet united, they grow to accept others who differ from them as the norm. This ethos is woven into every classroom, every lesson, and every interaction at Tabeetha.
As Yousef, an 11th-grade student, put it: “Tabeetha has taught me to look beyond labels and appreciate people for who they really are. What we experience at school: kindness, respect, and unity, contrasts with the conflict that exists outside. Tabeetha is a community that has shown me what it means to live together in peace.”
The impact of a values-based education at Tabeetha lasts a lifetime.
Dr. Mohammed Aboud Kaoud, a third-generation Tabeetha graduate, reflects: “As a doctor, it is essential not to be judgmental. For me, that comes naturally because of the values I learned at Tabeetha. I see that some of my peers need training and practice to develop that mindset, but for me, it is rooted in my early experiences at school.”
In a region where tensions often run high, Tabeetha School stands out as a model of hope.
While the outside world may be marked by division, inside the school’s gates, children learn that respect, kindness, and understanding can triumph over prejudice and fear. Tabeetha’s community does not eliminate disagreements, but it creates a space where they are navigated with empathy, rather than hostility.
Yet even the strongest communities are not immune to the pressures of conflict.
The ongoing war has reduced international enrollment and increased financial pressures on local families, stretching the school’s budget in unprecedented ways. Rising costs for families have made it harder for them to keep their children at Tabeetha, and the school itself now faces tough decisions to ensure that every child continues to have access to the education they deserve. While Tabeetha’s long-term vision remains strong, the need for immediate support is real.
Helping every child in Israel continue to have quality education
That is why the school has launched the Hope at Every Desk campaign, a digital fundraising effort running from June 5 to July 11. The goal is to raise at least £12,000 to equip all 13 classrooms with essential learning materials: textbooks, notebooks, whiteboards, and stationery. These are not just supplies; they are tools that help every child succeed, ensuring that Tabeetha remains a place where coexistence thrives.
A gift of NIS 50 buys 82 pencils or seven student notebooks. A gift of NIS 500 supplies 32 personal whiteboards. A gift of NIS 6,000 equips a classroom for an entire year with everything it needs to foster learning and understanding. Every contribution helps place hope at every desk, ensuring that this rare and remarkable community continues to thrive, even in challenging times.
As one Tabeetha parent put it: “During these tragic times, our conviction to live and learn together is stronger than ever. Our school and the Jaffa community give our state a true hope of coexistence. We cherish what the school creates and represents.”
But this campaign is not just about school materials. It is about preserving one of the places in Israel where coexistence is not an abstract concept but a daily practice. It is about making sure that children of different faiths and cultures continue to share classrooms, playgrounds, and dreams of a better future.
By supporting this campaign, you are not just equipping classrooms. You are investing in a generation of young people who will carry the values of peace, respect and unity into every corner of society. You are ensuring that the model of peaceful coexistence that Tabeetha represents continues to shine as a beacon of hope.
Hope exists. It sits at every desk at Tabeetha School in the smiles of children who learn together, laugh together, and dream together. Let’s stand together to keep that hope alive and ensure that Tabeetha remains a living peace project for generations to come.
The writer is development officer at Tabeetha School. To learn more or donate, visit donorbox.org/hope-at-every-desk or email: kfreedman@tabeethaschool.org.