The Campus
The campus situated on the grounds of Hadassah's educational complex at Kibbutz Ketura, is an environmentally attuned facility designed to provide comfort and functionality.
The campus design also serves the program goals of "learning through living," with emphasis on four central themes:
The Arava Institute brings students together from all over the world, each sharing their own customs, beliefs and opinions. Many of the students come to the program for the cultural experience as well as the environmental training. Every effort is made to provide a diverse living arrangement in each apartment so that students can learn from each other in our multi-cultural community. Typically, there are up to eight students living together in a unit, with two students sharing a bedroom and bathroom. Differences in nationality, religion, age, language, and social norms emerge daily to create dynamics where communication can be challenging. Roommates have to decide their household policies regarding kosher / non-kosher food, Sabbath observance, Muslim alcohol prohibitions, vegan needs, composting, water use, cleaning responsibilities, etc.
In addition to the cultural exchange that occurs informally, there are also planned activities to direct some of the cultural discussions. The programs that are offered each semester vary according to the unique composition of the current student body. Typical student-run features include:
The PELS is especially designed to provide the program’s participants with a secure and facilitated, specific forum for expressing their views and feelings and address issues and differences related to identity, nationality, race, religion, age, politics, language, and social norms. Although the PELS is a required, non-credit faculty initiated seminar, student-led activities about topics they select are incorporated into the schedule.
The Holiday Committee: based on the operating principle that the path to coexistence should not require participants to forgo their identity. Special attention is given to holidays with different religious and national significance to those represented at the Arava Institute. Students organize parties, potluck dinners, and open mike evenings where the intersection of heritage, cuisine, music, and ritual is present.
The campus design also serves the program goals of "learning through living," with emphasis on four central themes:
- The campus is linked to kibbutz life, and students enjoy contact with the residents as part of the greater community. Students rely on services such as the dining room, laundry, classrooms, sports facilities, and the general library.
- The campus is open to the desert environment. The courtyard and terraced rooftops in particular allow for viewing of the breathtaking surrounding landscape. There are numerous locations, including a low-impact campsite and a seating area built from mud and recycled materials, available for meetings and solo reflection to encourage learning in nature.
- The campus is designed to be welcoming to students of all cultures, while retaining a distinct, Middle Eastern character. Consideration in the furniture arrangement, as well as the bedroom and communal space layout, also help to create a pluralistic and inviting atmosphere.
- The campus is meant to be a tool for the demonstration of environmental innovation and commitment. Environmental features for energy conservation and thermal comfort include insulated walls, double-glazed windows, shaded areas, temperature-controlled air conditioning, low energy lighting, and solar water heating. Water conservation is being addressed through the use of special toilets, low-volume shower and faucet heads, and in the plant species selection and irrigation system used in the campus garden. Furthermore, students have also been instrumental in the design and maintenance of recycling and composting centers that are both user-friendly and educational.
Cultural Diversity
The Arava Institute brings students together from all over the world, each sharing their own customs, beliefs and opinions. Many of the students come to the program for the cultural experience as well as the environmental training. Every effort is made to provide a diverse living arrangement in each apartment so that students can learn from each other in our multi-cultural community. Typically, there are up to eight students living together in a unit, with two students sharing a bedroom and bathroom. Differences in nationality, religion, age, language, and social norms emerge daily to create dynamics where communication can be challenging. Roommates have to decide their household policies regarding kosher / non-kosher food, Sabbath observance, Muslim alcohol prohibitions, vegan needs, composting, water use, cleaning responsibilities, etc.
In addition to the cultural exchange that occurs informally, there are also planned activities to direct some of the cultural discussions. The programs that are offered each semester vary according to the unique composition of the current student body. Typical student-run features include:
Peacebuilding and Environmental Leadership Seminar (PELS)
The PELS is especially designed to provide the program’s participants with a secure and facilitated, specific forum for expressing their views and feelings and address issues and differences related to identity, nationality, race, religion, age, politics, language, and social norms. Although the PELS is a required, non-credit faculty initiated seminar, student-led activities about topics they select are incorporated into the schedule.
The Holiday Committee: based on the operating principle that the path to coexistence should not require participants to forgo their identity. Special attention is given to holidays with different religious and national significance to those represented at the Arava Institute. Students organize parties, potluck dinners, and open mike evenings where the intersection of heritage, cuisine, music, and ritual is present.