New Israel Fund Australia (NIF) is proud to host This is Not an Ulpan (TINAU) for a 4-week course exploring democracy & citizenship in Israel. The course, carefully considered and presented by the unique voices of TINAU, will be hosted online for four weeks:

October 9th - Immigration, land and borders

October 16th - Suspended citizenship: The military rule over Palestinian citizens of Israel

October 23rd - The occupied territories, chronic indecision and the rise of the settler movement

October 30th - The Bastion falls? The lacking constitution and politicisation of the supreme court

The political and social fabric in Israel hangs on the precipice, while the occupied territories seethe with intensified violence. Propelled by a coalition led by settlers, the nation marches forward, fraying the already delicate social bonds that once united Jewish-Israeli society. In parallel, Palestinian citizens of Israel grapple with the encroachment of formidable criminal organisations within their towns and neighbourhoods, a direct result of years of neglect.

Simultaneously, a wave of positivity has swept over numerous Israeli citizens who have previously not been politically engaged. They are now enthusiastically participating in large-scale protests on a weekly basis. Vibrant discussions about democracy and its core values are taking centre stage.

Unravelling this complex web from an external perspective can be demanding. Yet, the purpose of this course is to provide us with the necessary analytical tools to achieve precisely that. Over the course of four informative sessions, we will delve into the historical underpinnings that have moulded the environment and produced the situations we encounter today.

With TINAU expertise, this course also will immerse participants in learning that explore culture, language and social dynamics in Israel-Palestine. TINAU offers a unique perspective, rooted in diversity of background and thought. Operating as a cooperative, we come together – teachers and students, Jews and Palestinians, alongside international friends – in a non-hierarchical manner, poised to challenge the current reality. TINAU are academics, activists, artists and reporters - with a lot of experience on the ground and are dedicated to political and cultural education. TINAU holds steadfast commitment to nurturing hope while maintaining a realistic perspective is the driving force, infusing this class with an optimistic and practical outlook.

About TINAU

This is Not an Ulpan (TINAU) is a cooperative of Palestinian, Jewish, and international educators, students, and activists who believe in radical Hebrew and Arabic education as a tool for (re)shaping society.

TINAU was founded in 2012 by a group of teachers and students frustrated by their own Ulpan experiences where the language taught was too often removed from the real world. The group believed a language school should teach the language of everyday life (and in real-life situations where possible). The group also identified the lack of language schools teaching both Hebrew and Arabic and believed that in order to reduce cultural barriers within Israel that first the language barriers needed to be reduced.

Today TINAU stands out as one of the only language schools in Israel that teaches both Hebrew and Arabic and is run by Jews, Palestinians, locals and newcomers together. TINAU students can expect to learn in a refreshing style that doesn’t revolve around endless textbooks or grammar charts but to focus on speaking and everyday conversations that they will need once they leave the classroom.