Middle East tightrope

BARRY DAVIS ISRAEL PRESS SERVICE

Of all the Jewish-Arab projects currently taking place in Israel, the Jerusalem Jewish-Arab Circus is probably one of the most colorful and gratifying. Established 11 years ago under the aegis of the Jerusalem Circus Association (JCA), the circus aims to appeal to as wide an audience as possible and serve as a vehicle for dialogue and coexistence between Jewish and Arab youth who live in Jerusalem.

"Learning circus arts is a fun way for youth from different social and economic backgrounds to come together and meet in a safe and equal environment," explained JCA founder and general director Elisheva Jortner, a Tunisian-born art teacher who trained in multicultural education and conceived of the circus project as a way to bridge ethnic and social gaps in Jerusalem.

The circus currently employs the talents of 18 Arab and Jewish youngsters, aged nine to 18, from in and around the capital, who rehearse twice a week.

"We performed at the Israel Festival [the country's premier cultural event] this year," said Jortner proudly. "That was really a professional step up for us."
Aviva Barzani, grants co-ordinator at the Abraham Fund Initiatives, which has been supporting the circus for the past six years together with the Alan B. Slifka Foundation, is equally enthralled with the youngsters' progress.

"It's wonderful how well they are doing and how well they get on together," she said, adding that they also provide each other with physical support, in a literal sense, as they hoist each other onto ropes and trapezes, lean and climb on each other, juggle together and carry out synchronized routines.

"The beauty of this art is that it serves as a live demonstration of how different people from different backgrounds and with different talents can fully trust and rely on each other and together succeed in creating something wonderful," said Barzani. "There is a worthwhile lesson here for all of us – Jews and Arabs – who share this country."

Although learning circus skills involves developing a range of individual physical abilities, it also requires teamwork and trust. This is illustrated by the working and social relationship that has evolved between 19-year-old Arab Israeli Abdullah Taha and 11-year-old Jewish Jerusalemite Jamie Bregman.
Taha became involved in the circus four years ago.

"My motives were twofold," he said. "I heard about the circus from a teacher at my school. I liked the idea of learning circus tricks and the interaction between Jews and Arabs appealed to me. It was also an opportunity to improve my Hebrew."
Bregman admitted to harboring similar intentions.

"I go to the Arab-Jewish bilingual school in Jerusalem. I was very excited about joining the circus, especially as there were Jews and Arabs working together."

The circus is now starting to make waves beyond Israel's borders. In addition to forays into the United States and Belgium, the youngsters performed in Germany last year, alongside the German circus troupe Cabuwazi. In July, Cabuwazi returned the compliment and travelled to Israel to perform with the Jerusalem Circus.

The circus has been through some rocky times, as a result of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian struggle. Fortunately, however, the children and their families have survived the difficulties with their enthusiasm undiminished and continue to visit each other's homes and spend time together socially.

"The children in the group have become almost like a family," said Jortner. "One Jewish girl lost two friends in terrorist attacks. She received a lot of support from everyone in the circus, both Jews and Arabs. Today, the members of the circus don't really regard themselves as Jew or Arab. No one denies their cultural roots, but they say: 'We are more than that.' ... In many ways it's the realization of a dream."

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