The Orchard of Abraham’s Children nonprofit was born out of an exceptional love story between a Muslim man and a Jewish woman.
Ihab, a Muslim Arab from Jaffa, a spiritual leader and a peace activist, and Ora, a Jewish body-movement therapist from the Galilee, fell in love, and despite the gaps and tension between the two cultures, the couple took a leap of faith and tied the knot.
In 2008, Nur, their first child was born and soon after they were facing a profound dilemma: Jewish kindergarten? Arab kindergarten? There was no good available option.
Overcoming the dilemma, they established in 2010 a unique kindergarten, for Jewish, Christian and Muslim children that reflect their interfaith way of living and beliefs. The Orchard is a multicultural kindergarten, based on love and acceptance for all religions and cultures in the Holy Land.
What started with one child in a single kindergarten, soon grew into multiple kindergartens. Over the past decade thousands of children were educated in the Orchard in Jaffa and the Galilee..
By 2018, hundreds of Jewish and Arab families - adults, parents and neighbors, sparked with a strong desire to meet and deepen the ties - have joined the Orchard in establishing the Human First Education Center (HFE). Promoting a new language of peace- the Community Center offers multicultural human interactions and empowerment activities through workshops, lectures, art courses, spiritual teaching and religion sessions.
Over time, the Orchard has become a role model, inspiring many organizations, institutions and individuals from the Holy Land and worldwide, leading to establishing an inspirational, one of a kind, visitor center for tourists and supporters from around the world. Nowadays, the Human First Education is a symbol for a new, groundbreaking educational-social and community model, transcending barriers of fear and ignorance, and cultivating a culture of respect among communities and individuals.