First grade children and teachers from the Max Rayne Hand-in-Hand bilingual Hebrew-Arabic school in Jerusalem (Du-Leshoni), were invited to spend their school day at the President’s Residence on Wednesday 11 Kislev.

During the day, President Reuven and First Lady Nechama Rivlin spent time and spoke with the children and staff. The children were provided with morning snacks, and together made a banner saying “Hand in Hand, we will continue together in love and peace”, in Hebrew and Arabic. In addition, the children played football in the garden of the President’s Residence.

First Lady Nechama Rivlin, together with the children’s teacher Aliah Hussein, in both Hebrew and Arabic. After which President Rivlin sat with the children, and welcomed them. The children told him and his wife, about their reactions to the arson attack on their classroom which occurred over the weekend, and about their fear and upset at losing their personal items which were destroyed.

The President said, “I am excited to welcome you to the President’s Residence. You are proof that we can live side by side in peace, and we must not let difficult experiences – such as you have been through – harm our belief in our ability to live together.”

The children of the two classrooms which were damaged, were accompanied by the school’s principals Mrs. Nadia Cnaana and Mr. Arik Sporta, as well as classroom and art teachers.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)