Dear Friends,<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
This week we heard the police commissioner making racist remarks against Ethiopian citizens just barely a month after the government adopted the Palmor Committee recommendations on how to eradicate racism against Ethiopian Israelis. The Committee was right to suggest that efforts against racism be made through the education system, not only via legal tools. At the same time, the report presents a partial and limited understanding of the phenomenon of racism that could jeopardize the entire process.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Here at ACRI, we have been racking our brains over the issue of racism for quite some time. It is clear to us that racism can\u2019t be eradicated against only one group of people, in an isolated manner. There must be a holistic approach: Combatting racism must be done based on a worldview that understands it is a phenomenon that affects a wide variety of groups in society.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Racism is a worldview that sees \u201cother\u201d groups as inferior from \u201cmy\u201d group. People who have these views will always see \u201cothers\u201d as inferior \u2013 whether they belong to another nation, or another group within their nation, another gender, another sexual orientation, etc. That is why a campaign against racism that focuses only on one victimized group is likely to fail, since it doesn\u2019t attempt to deal with racist thinking as a whole. It is difficult to effectively prevent racism against one group, when people are still being classified within a hierarchy. Such an approach could also produce the opposite effect and perpetuate treatment of that group as \u201cother\u201d and \u201cinferior.\u201d It may also imply that racism \u201cfrom within our people\u201d is unacceptable while racism against \u201coutsiders\u201d is legitimate.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
As we embark on a new school year, it is important to remember that combatting racism against Ethiopian Israelis must be part of a comprehensive plan that opposes all forms of racism in Israel. This requires a deep shift in perception, and a working assumption that sees every person as a human being with equal rights. Our Educational Department, headed by Sharaf Hassan<\/a>, published a book entitled, A\u00a0Lesson\u00a0for\u00a0Life:\u00a0Anti-Racism Education\u00a0from\u00a0Kindergarten to High School<\/em><\/a>,<\/em> which suggests implementing education against racism at all age levels, in both formal and informal education, and in all subjects. Teacher trainings should provide the tools for coping with all forms of racism in the classroom, whether against the present \u201cothers\u201d or the \u201cabsent others.\u201d Educational materials should counter stereotypes and impart the culture, heritage and history of all groups that make up Israeli society \u2013 Jews and Arabs, Mizrahim and Ashkenazim, Russians and Ethiopians, poor and wealthy, men and women, etc. <\/p>\n Yours,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sharon<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dear Friends, This week we heard the police commissioner making racist remarks against Ethiopian citizens just barely a month … Read more
\nWishing everyone a successful and productive school year,<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/gallery.mailchimp.com\/3476224e38bd22add086658b6\/images\/ba988b80-51cc-49d8-bac9-dc807fe1db39.jpg\")
\nSharon Abraham-Weiss<\/strong>
\nExecutive Director
\nThe Association for Civil Rights in Israel<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"