Roots/Shorashim/Judur

Roots – Shorashim – Judur is a local initiative fostering a grassroots movement of understanding, nonviolence, and transformation among Israelis and Palestinians. Operating since 2014, it specifically engages communities throughout Judea and Samaria/the West Bank, in the heart of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Functioning as a network of regional associations, its flagship center is strategically located in the Bethlehem-Gush Etzion-Hebron area, which frequently experiences the pain of the conflict. Because our members live in the towns and cities of the region, Roots’ activities impact the discourses within and across these neighboring communities. By creating programs that reduce hate and fear, address injustices, and foster mutual trust, we aim to create resilient partnerships that persist amidst the unfortunate reality. We envision the creation of a political and social reality that honors the rights and connection of both peoples to the land, and provides freedom, dignity, and civil rights for all its inhabitants. Our joint projects include a year-long young-adults program and attendant alumni network of over 100 members, womens' groups, summer camps, outreach to tens of Israeli pre-army academies - facilitating understanding between those going to the army and local Palestinians, interfaith events during Ramadan and other holy-days, interfaith meetings of local religious leadership, lectures and events that provide a setting for dialogue between the ordinary people, monthly lectures in Hebrew and Arabic about each other's identity, religion and politics, responding to acts of violence by visiting and assisting those who have been attacked, and much more. To date, our network of four branches (in varying stages of development) includes representatives from over 50 towns and villages across the West Bank, including mayors and local leadership, modeling the theory of change developed at our Bethlehem-Gush Etzion-Hebron center. Roots/Shorashim/Judur is a project of the registered nonprofit organization 'Beit HaTeotron'