Gishurim Resolves Conflicts by Breaking Down Walls and Building Bridges

"I was told you could help me. I am a 68-year-old religious man living with my wife in an apartment block, I suffer from high blood pressure… and I can't do it anymore. I have an Ethiopian neighbor, and her children are driving me mad. I've been to the police. I don’t sleep at night, in the afternoons I can't rest, I have tried to talk, shout, fight – nothing helps. They said in the municipality that you could help, do you know what to do?"

In a population as culturally diverse as Israel's, differences and disputes are to be expected but without effective communication, everyday disagreements can easily escalate into bitter conflicts. As Netanel's angry and distraught tone clearly demonstrated, for many immigrants, even those who have been in Israel for many years, such disputes can become paralyzing sources of stress.

It was for this very reason that JDC established the GISHURIM program for mediation and conflict resolution among immigrants. Operating in five cities in Israel, all of which have absorbed many waves of immigrants, the program provides a much-needed service, helping to solve disputes and increase dialogue and understanding in a small but complex country.

In response to Netanel's desperate plea for help, the mediator's first challenge was to contact his Ethiopian-Israeli neighbor. As the household did not have a telephone, a mediator paid a visit to the family at home. At first she only managed to speak with one of the sons but after several more calls the mediator eventually won the confidence and acceptance of the mother – Chana – and had a chance to discuss the situation with her.

In a mixture of Hebrew and Amharic Chana spoke of her many hardships including enduring several years of abuse from her neighbor. The mediator suggested a meeting, and after a long conversation she nervously responded, "I am ready to meet with you and my son – but not with the neighbors." This crucial first step towards healing a desperate situation also revealed years of Chana's pent-up fear and disbelief.

So began a unique mediation process, customized to the specific needs, circumstances and cultural characteristics of each side, Netanel and Chana. This was made possible thanks to GISHURIM's approach of matching the mediators and the methods of mediation to the culture and background of those involved in a dispute. The GISHURIM program engages and trains representatives from all immigrant groups. JDC is also involved in training Arab-Israeli and Druze mediators as well as conducting a special program for people with disabilities.

The mediators respected Chana's reluctance and fear of meeting face-to-face with her neighbors and also dealt sensitively with the original caller, Netanel, who found it difficult to understand the mediator's role in the process or his and his wife’s responsibilities in the situation.

Today, thanks to the efforts of GISHURIM, both households have given verbal agreements regarding their differences and the relationship has improved. The center continues to follow up with the process, remaining in touch with both families. With continued care, staff are optimistic that the current "cease fire" will reach "real peace" – that is, good neighborly relations and, perhaps in the future, even friendship.

As a program which works towards improving respect and cooperation between different sectors of Israeli society, GISHURIM is itself the product of a partnership between the ministries of Justice, Social Affairs, Absorption, and Housing, as well as the Institute of National Insurance, the Israel Police, and the Israel Association of Community Centers.