The Fall 2024 semester at the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies came to a close last week with a sense of accomplishment and hope, despite the challenging times in our region. Students and interns from Israel, Palestine, the United States, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Kenya, and Sudan gathered for their final days, reflecting on the deep and transformative work they had done together. This semester’s group explored environmental issues, peacebuilding, and sustainability with a commitment to making a difference, even amid the region’s ongoing conflicts.
During her address at the festive graduation ceremony, intern Arielle Ben Hur said: “Days continued to stretch into nights and nights into days again as devastation in Gaza continued, exchanges between the IDF and Hezbollah escalated, attacks were carried out in Jaffa, in Beirut, in Masafer Yatta, on our hearts, our homes and our collective hopes. We have found ourselves, at times, alienated from our families and communities outside of the [Institute] – grappling with the truths and narratives, sentiments and experiences that are shared by those around us. Challenged, challenging, deconstructing and creating. Our individual righteousness dissolving. […] I do not know what life beyond this place looks like anymore. In many ways, I fear it. But I know and feel deeply that I have this family we have created to draw purpose from. To re-connect with a sense of agency and the commitments I have made to these lands. To find hope in, however fleeting, that different realities exist. That they are not only an exercise of the imaginary.”
We are proud to welcome this new group of graduates into the Institute’s global alumni network. As they look to the future, we wish them success in the many challenges and opportunities ahead.
