The Classroom That Gives Me Hope for Israel | 10@9 | 2026.07.14

I recently visited Professor Ben Mollov's Jewish-Arab Dialogue class at Bar-Ilan University, and it left me more hopeful about Israel than almost anything else I experienced during my trip. The class begins with something unexpected - conversational Arabic. From there, Jewish and Arab students learn, laugh, argue, and build genuine relationships. For many, it is the first time they have truly come to know one another as people rather than as representatives of opposing groups. Professor Mollov has spent years measuring the impact of this work, and his research shows that these encounters have a lasting impact long after graduation. He has created an environment in which stereotypes become impossible because real relationships replace them. I had the privilege of speaking to the students myself. Their openness, curiosity, and warmth convinced me that peace is not built only through diplomacy or political agreements. It is built one classroom, one conversation, and one relationship at a time. If Israel is ever to know lasting peace - and I am convinced it will, it will need courageous initiatives like this one - and they deserve far more attention than they receive. Michael Whitman is the senior rabbi of ADATH Congregation in Hampstead, Quebec, and an adjunct professor at McGill University Faculty of Law. ADATH is a modern orthodox synagogue community in suburban Montreal, providing Judaism for the next generation. We take great pleasure in welcoming everyone with a warm smile, while sharing inspiration through prayer, study, and friendship. Rabbi Whitman shares his thoughts and inspirations through online lectures and shiurim, which are available on: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5FLcsC6xz5TmkirT1qObkA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adathmichael/ Podcast - Mining the Riches of the Parsha: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/mining-the-riches-of-the-parsha/id1479615142?fbclid=IwAR1c6YygRR6pvAKFvEmMGCcs0Y6hpmK8tXzPinbum8drqw2zLIo7c9SR-jc Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3hWYhCG5GR8zygw4ZNsSmO Please contact Rabbi Whitman ([email protected]) with any questions or feedback, or to receive a daily email, "Study with Rabbi Whitman Today," with current and past insights for that day, video, and audio, all in one short email sent directly to your inbox.