An Oasis of Inclusion: The Green Terrace Initiative
In the first weeks of the Swords of Iron war, amid ensuing turmoil and uncertainty, a remarkable initiative took root on Hebrew University’s relatively deserted Mt. Scopus campus. Three lecturers and a diverse cohort of students set out to create an inclusive space for collaboration – the university’s first green rooftop terrace – casting ripples of hope across the campus community.
Written by: Keri Rosenbluh
Prompted by students’ apprehensions about returning to campus amid escalating tensions and war, Dr. Michal Braier and Dr. Noga Keidar of Hebrew University’s Urban Clinic, and Dr. Diego Rotman, Head of the Department of Theater Studies, collaborated to develop an urgent course titled “Creating an Inclusive Space During Wartime: The Green Terrace at Mt. Scopus Campus.”
Recognizing a deep need for connection and community among students, the trio of instructors endeavored to create a safe haven in which students of all walks could come together through shared learning and action. The thinking was, at a time when wounds were still so raw, taking collaborative action would prove more effective than merely engaging in dialogue to diffuse tensions.
The course was introduced into the curriculum of the Department of Theater Studies at the Faculty of Humanities a mere month prior to the scheduled start of the academic year, which had been postponed due to the prevailing war conditions. It was funded through the generous support of philanthropist Lawrence Neubauer.
Within a matter of weeks and despite the bureaucratic hurdles in their path, the course quickly gained traction, drawing an overwhelming 100 applicants from varied backgrounds and academic disciplines. Ultimately, 45 students – representing both Arab/Palestinian and Israeli/Non-Arab identities – were selected to embark on a collective journey of exploration.
In late November 2023, the opening session faced uncertainty following a terrorist attack in Jerusalem that very morning. Despite concerns, the instructors resolved to proceed as planned. “Because of the events that transpired that morning, we felt an obligation to forge ahead as scheduled,” shares Dr. Rotman. “We wanted to demonstrate to the students that coming together to learn and create is not only feasible but essential, even amidst adversity, and in spite of our fears.”
Over the course of 6 weeks, participants engaged in lectures, discussions, and hands-on activities while exploring themes of art, performance, ecology, placemaking, community activism, and more. Finding the ideal location proved challenging, but the instructors’ perseverance paid off. They secured a rooftop space at the Rabin Building, offering panoramic views of Hebrew University’s campus, the neighborhoods of East Jerusalem, and the distant Judean Desert.
Yet the green terrace provided more than just a physical space; it became a sanctuary for students to disconnect from the chaos of their realities and focus on their shared humanity. Beneath a Middle-Eastern winter sky, and with background music to set the mood, students rolled up their sleeves and got their hands dirty, delving into the work and into the conversation. Amidst plant cuttings, botanical gardens and greenhouses, meaningful relationships were cultivated.
Throughout the course, students not only engaged in academic discourse but also shared their personal stories and experiences. A standout moment occurred during the second course session, when students were asked to present plant cuttings that held personal significance or symbolism. One student brought in a cutting signifying her grandmother’s garden, another shared a geranium plant from a farm in the Gaza envelope, while yet another contributed an olive branch as a symbol of peace and friendship. The rooftop terrace, nurtured by the collective contribution of the course participants, became a tangible representation of the students’ diverse experiences and perspectives.
For many, the Green Terrace Initiative was a transformative experience. One Palestinian student, Manar Mtour, initially skeptical about engaging with her Jewish Israeli peers, related that she made genuine connections for the first time since commencing her studies at the university. For her and others, these connections transcended the boundaries of the rooftop, evolving into friendships within a broader community that had achieved something significant, together.
Moreover, most students reported that their participation in the pre-semester course enabled them to begin their semester studies with a calm and collectedness that their counterparts who had not participated in the course lacked. These students had spent 6 weeks on campus in the months prior, diffusing their fears and anxieties about how they would navigate their return to the university’s diverse campus during wartime.
While the course concluded in January, its impact continues, sowing seeds of change on campus. Funded by the University of Toronto - Hebrew University of Jerusalem Research & Training Alliance as well as private donors, ten scholarship recipients were selected to further develop the rooftop space as a hub for continued dialogue, multicultural exchange, and community engagement. Plans for the space include an open classroom, cultural activities, a thriving greenhouse, and additional collaborative projects geared toward inclusion and intercultural dialogue.
Ester Kremer, a Jewish Orthodox Israeli social work student who participated in the original course and was selected as one of the ten scholarship recipients, describes her experience: “I found not just knowledge, but a space for discourse, action, and meaningful connection. It was a journey of learning and doing, of friendship and creation, and every step left me enriched.”
Collaborations with internal and external organizations such as the Botanical Garden of the Hebrew University on Mount 
Scopus, Mamuta Art and Research Center, and the Roof Organization further enhanced the experience, highlighting the interconnectedness of academic community endeavors.
What’s more, the Green Terrace Initiative underscores academia’s pivotal role in promoting dialogue and multi-cultural exchange. Through meaningful engagement, this course challenged prevailing narratives of fear and division, offering students a glimpse of a more hopeful future. Dr. Rotman sums it up, “Through the simple act of being together, we were challenging our fears, bridging the divide, and reshaping the reality surrounding us.”