MAGAZINE THEME: BREAKING THE MOLD

BY: EMAN ALFFAWONA AND KHOLOOD ABU HAMMAD

To Break the Mold: to do something new, outstanding or different. As a private school that brings together a diverse group of students from all over the Bedouin sector, aiming to guide them towards the path to higher education and success, AL AHD School of Excellence in Sciences is surely “breaking the mold”. That being said, we would like to introduce our principle Mousa Abo Ganem who, in the spirit of our magazine theme, can explain further how we at AHD are breaking the mold. I have served as principal at 4 different schools, and also as a member

of the AHD Association (which built our school). The idea of AHD high school developed 15 years ago as a response to the many young, bright Bedouin students who were leaving the Negev to attend more “prestigious” schools elsewhere. The association thought, “Why not build a school of excellence here?” But at the time, people were not ready for a private Bedouin school. About 5 years ago, the AHD Association put the idea on the table again, and finally our school was built.

To me, “AHD” means: a dream, a privilege, an initiative-- something holistic. I had faith that the AHD school project would succeed from the beginning. I believe our school will help raise the level of student achievement within the Bedouin sector.

Student Authors AHD special groups- 9th/10th/11th grades AHD Access Group Guest authors, Tel Sheva C Supervising Teachers Otra khalaila- English Teacher, AHD Miki Kazin- English Coordinator, AHD Editor and Coordinator Amy Rich-English Language Fellow Embassy of the United States, Tel Aviv Overseeing Director Dr. Rachel Tal- Head of English Studies Amal Schools, Israel

AHD Principle Mousa Abo Ganem

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Introduction to our theme and the magazine staff 2 Interview with Ahd Principle Mousa Abo Ganem By: Eman Alffawana and Kholood Abu Hammad Bedouin Culture Today 4-5 Pop Culture 6 By: Ahd 10th and 11th graders Local Jokes and Lingo 7 By: Shadi Abu Jaffer and May Abu Siam Interview with Mariam Abo Ragaig 8 Owner of Desert Daughter, By: Rawnak Alnbari and Soha Abo Galin Profile of a Local Footballer: Khaled Saleem Abu Magegem 9 By Ezaldeen Abu Magegem Feature Interview with Naifa Abu Siam 10-11 First Female Bedouin Teacher, By: Wesal Abu Jaffer and Mohammed Abu Alkean Women, Men and Relationships in the Bedouin Community 12 By: Ahd 11th graders Poetry 13 Poems By Rawnak Alnbari, Rehab Abu Srehan, Tasahee Alsayed Interview with Khaled Abu Ajaj 14 Ksiffa Village Chairman, By: Marwa Ajaj “3 Cups of Coffee” 14 May and Wesal, guest authors, Tel Sheva C Teen Advice Column 15 By: Ahd 10th and 11th graders

WHO ARE THE BEDOUIN PEOPLE TODAY? We are the future and we are the kind of people who look for the best in life and believe in ourselves. - Eman Alffawona We are a society that is working together to make our community stronger and more technologically advanced. - Rawnak Hassan Alnbari HOW HAVE MEN AND WOMEN’S ROLES CHANGED OVER TIME? Women today have a more equal place in society. - Mohammed Abu Alkeaan Today, in the Bedouin community, almost everything has changed! Women have the same roles as men: they work, go out, drive—it wasn’t like this before. - Rawnak Alnbari Before it was a man’s world, and women’s roles were set in the home, raising children. Now everything has changed and men and women are working together to live a good life. - Eman Alffawona WHAT DO WE WEAR? We all dress differently. For example, I wear a hijab (head dressing) but some of us don’t.-Soha Abo Ghalin Every family has a different way of thinking, so we wear different things. - May Abu Siam Unlike before, now we wear cool clothes like skinny jeans (under our jackets). - Eman Alffawona

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BEDOUIN LIFE AND CULTURE TODAY

AL AHD 10TH GRADERS

WHAT ARE OUR HOBBIES? Reading books and comics -- Soha Abo Ghalin Playing football and dancing at weddings -- Wesal Abu Jaffa Math, dancing, reading the Quran -- Abber Alhelnany Writing poems about our beliefs -- Maram WHAT SORT OF MUSIC DO WE LISTEN TO? (WHAT’S ON YOUR IPOD?) Rihanna, Eminem, Whitney Houston and One Direction- Shadi Abu Jaffar I listen to the Quran. It’s not really music but it’s God’s language. I also listen to Arabic music! – Ahlam Abu Srehan Any rap artists, like Nikki Minaj – Kholood Abu Hammad We listen to songs in Arabic and Hebrew- May Abu Siam WHO ARE OUR IDOLS? The Prophet Mohammad- All students My father is my idol—he is not just my father but also a guide and a friend. – Rawnak Hassan Alnbari My mother -- Abeer Alhelnany WHAT DO WE WANT TO BE WHEN WE GROW-UP? A doctor -- Almost all students! Someone who makes our community stronger-- Rawnak Hassan Alnbari

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LOCAL JOKES AND LINGO

A boy asks his father about the difference between fate and dilemma. His father says, “Son, if we go down to

the river today and your mother drowns, this is fate…. But, if your mother knows

how to swim, this is a dilemma!”

A Palestinian and a Jordanian go to a bakery. While in the bakery, the Palestinian steals 3 pieces of cake and slips them into his pockets. Upon leaving the bakery the Palestinian brags to the Jordanian “I stole that cake so smoothly and not one person noticed!” The guy from Jordan laughs and says: “You wanna know how to REALLY steal? Come with me.” They go back into the bakery. The Jordanian asks the baker, “Do you want to see a magic trick?” The baker says, “yes, please!” “OK,” the Jordanian says, “give me a piece of cake.” The baker gives him a piece of cake and he eats it. The Jordanian says, “now, give me another piece of cake.” The baker gives him another piece and the Jordanian eats it. The Jordanian requests a 3rd piece of cake--the baker, annoyed now, gives him a third, which the man from Jordan eats. Angrily, the baker demands, “Where is the magic trick?” The Jordanian smiles and replies, “look in the Palestinian’s pockets, you will find the 3 pieces of cake have appeared there.”

NAR: The word nar literally means “fire,” but in slang it means “cool”!

YELAAN HARESH: means “damn”—like “damn, you look good!

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by: S

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Abu

Jaffe

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by:

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BY: RANAWK ALNBARI AND SOHA ABO GALIN

For those who don't know you, who are you? My name is Mariam Abo Rogaig. I am the manger and founder of an herbal cosmetics Company/Tourist center for herbal education called Desert Daughter, which is located in the Bedouin Village of Tel Sheva. Tell us about your business. My job is to manage all aspects of the company. I also host foreign visitors and educate them about our products and how they are produced. My business has had such a positive effect on my life and it means everything to me; however, it has not been easy--I have faced a lot of challenges in order make this project run successfully. What kind of challenges did you encounter? The people around me did not accept my career easily at first as it was based in an industry that no one else had pursued before me in my community. I was criticized lot in the beginning, especially because I choose to devote all of my time and energy towards my work. I faced my critics by ignoring them! Can you tell us more about some of the difficulties you’ve faced and how your own Bedouin culture has influenced you? I have dealt with many difficulties throughout my journey, from financing of my business to leaving the house to work. To be honest, Bedouin tradition played a big role in slowing down my journey. My Bedouin culture has affected me both negatively and positively. On the negative side, I was discouraged to begin the project because I am a woman and “should not work”.

It was difficult for people in the Bedouin community to understand that as a woman my goal in life wasn’t to just get married and make a home. But, people here have such a love of nature and now seem to appreciate what I do—that's the positive side. What inspired you to go into this rare profession? I actually discovered this concept while studying abroad in England. When I saw that people there were returning to natural products (unlike our country, where synthetic cosmetics are widely used) I felt inspired and began asking my grandmother about traditional ways of extracting herbal medicines and manufacturing natural soaps. What advice would you give to the young people in our society, particularly girls? My advice to every young person in our society is to have perseverance in your work and dreams. Every important idea started with a dream; we must believe in our dreams in order for them to materialize.

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Owner/Founder

Desert Daughter

Played for Habo Al Tel Aviv and the West Bank

Deers

Born in

Rahat

Height: 178cm Weight:

66kg

Hobbies: reading the

Quran & playing football!

Has scored 195

goals!

20 Years

old

KHALED SALEEM ABU MADEGEM

The biggest lie ever: “Do you want another cookie?” “No, it’s ok!” (yesssJ)

You text me, I text you back, you don’t text back, I FEEL STUPIDL

Art by Access student, Omar Abu Nade

TALKING POINTS WITH EMAN

AND KHOLOOD

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★ ★

FEATURE INTERVIEW WITH NAIFA ABU SIAM

By: Wesal Abu Jaffer & Mohammed Abu Alkean

We chose to interview Naifa Abu Siam because we believe she is breaking the mold in every sense of the word…

Tell us about yourself. My name is Naifa Abu Siam, I live in Rahat, I’m (almost) 56 years old, and I currently teach Hebrew at Aslam School in Rahat.

What is your background? Well, I was born in Rahat. Back then Rahat didn’t look like it does today, you know, it wasn’t a real city yet. Anyway, I’ve lived here most of my life and attended school here. Attending school back then was a bit tricky. The road I walked every morning was a long, arduous path to school. I also remember that there was only one class that combined all students from 5th -8th grades. We used to learn together all in the same room and I was the only girl in the class! For high school, I studied in Jewish schools in Beersheva. I would wake up really early in the morning so I could catch the bus, which only came to the main road. It would take me more than an hour to get there everyday.

While you were studying with Jews did you feel like you were treated differently ? During that time the divide between Jews or an Arabs seemed less than it is today….

How did you get into teaching? When I finished high school both my school principle and the Ministry of Education approached me about teaching, but I really wasn’t interested at first. The Ministry of Education sent me a letter encouraging me to reconsider, explaining that a new class in the Teachers College designed specifically for Bedouins was opening. If I declined their offer I was still free to study in the university with the Jewish students.

So, what did you decide to do in the end? I decided to study with the Bedouin students at the Teachers College. The class was made up of twenty students from the Negev, all of which were men, except for me.

How was life in college? It was very good. In my second year of the college, I decided I wanted to get my driver's license. Since I was the first Bedouin woman to get a license it was a big headline in Israeli news. Reporters came to take pictures of me, my house, and the road I used walk every morning. We didn’t have a TV at home, so my father and I went to a Jewish friend’s house to watch the story on TV. That same thing happened all over again when I became the first female Bedouin teacher.

First female Bedouin Teacher!

First Bedouin woman to get a driver’s license!

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After university you became a Hebrew teacher. Was this your choice? Actually, no! Even though I was the best English student in my class I was told I must teach Hebrew (since my Hebrew was good). At the time though, I wished I could have become an English teacher. When did you start teaching? In 1977. I remember that I was about 19 years old. I wanted to teach somewhere outside of Rahat but the Ministry of Education wanted me to stay and teach Hebrew to the Bedouin and encourage young students, specifically girls, to continue their studies. So, I began to teach at Eben Khaldon School. A year later a new school called Aslam was opened and I moved there, which is where I still teach today, 35 years later! How do you feel after teaching all of these years? I feel normal- I don’t feel like this is a great achievement and I am ready to teach for many more years to come.

Did you have to break any rules to get where you are today? Yes, I definitely broke Bedouins rules and my specific family's rules, but my father was always by my side that’s why I didn’t worry that much. Besides it was all for a good cause!

What was your your family’s reaction when you started teaching? They were so happy, especially my father, who always supported and encouraged me. But, of course many people didn’t agree with my path, like my uncles and nephews. I didn’t care and did what I wanted.

Do you think that there is difference between the students of the past and the students of today? Yes, of course there is a huge difference. Ask your mother and father, because I taught them too!

(Wesal’s mother)- Yeah, that’s right! I still call her “Teacher Naifa!” Yes, anyway one of the differences is that the students in the past used to respect teachers more, but students today don’t and act like they’re doing you a favor by being in your class! From another perspective, students today are more educated.

Do you think you’ve helped girls in your community to think outside of the box or break the mold? I believe that I have opened the door for girls/women to do what I did. Their parents saw my work and the good reputation I’ve upheld—perhaps it encourages parents to allow their daughters to study.

Do you advise young people to become teachers? Yes, we need more young teachers! We need them because students today come from the technology generation and only someone young can relate to the way their minds operate. I call this generation the “electricity generation,” because they can stay awake as long as the power is on (i.e. they have access to technology or the Internet)!

What do you want to do after you retire? You know, I have never gotten tired of teaching students; however I would like to try a different job or even a different lifestyle. What I really want to do most is take trips with my best friend all over the world.

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WOMEN, MEN AND RELATIONSHIPS IN THE

BEDOUIN COMMUNITY, AL AHD- 11TH GRADERS

What are some current issues in your community that affect women? ✪ Some men don’t allow their wives to have jobs and most

people believe that all women should be married ✪ The idea of women working is still difficult for some to accept

How is life different for you than it was for your parents? ✪ Women and men learn together now ✪ Our parents wanted to go to university but didn’t have the

means (money or transportation) to do so. Today we have so many more options.

Has the tradition of marriage changed? How? ✪ Yes, now a woman can choose her husband ✪ Yes. Now girls are able to marry men from other

families— and also, we are not forced to marry anymore ✪ Yes, unlike the past, the opinion of the girl matters now.

Have relationships between men and women changed? How?

✪ Yes, they connect more and there is more respect between wives and husbands. I think relationships today are built on love and respect.

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Join the Race

Ding dang dong rings the bell of the Church, Allah Akbar sings the song of the Mosque, We are all the same--brown, black, white,

Fat, thin, tall or small--different sizes, but equal rights.  

We would all help a cancer patient struggling with life, Join their race, make them smile, mile after mile,

What stops us from loving others with our embrace? And what sort of cancer do you face?

  Good comes to the bad and bad comes to the good,

Do not look up to the sky and ask why, Just smile like I smile; let it shine brightly on your face,

We are all the same- come join the human race.  

So much work to do, but before we will walk, We must sit together and learn to talk,

And say YEAH, what a gift it is, to be on this great Earth Give peace a chance, for what it’s worth.

By: Rehab Abu Sreham,

Tel Sheva C High School

A lot of advice I have to tell, About love, buying or choosing to sell,

Of learning, following rules or going to jail, When falling in love is like being in hell.

When you have feelings, at first they will kill,

After a while you may start to feel well, But keep your feelings deep inside,

Love can bring problems, you must set it aside.

If you love in vain, you'll feel sadness and pain, So don’t sell your mind short for a girl or money gain,

Before buying gold, don’t forget to think twice, Perhaps you will find something twice as nice.

To be a cool guy you don’t have to be bad,

Or smoke and wear a black hat on your head, To reach your goals you must “walk on the knife”,

Never let ‘em hurt you--put ‘em in your mouth and chew.

Learning is the only solution--have no doubt or fear, You must take a risk and cross that ocean my dear.

So be on your way and have no regrets, Finally, I wish you all the best!

Crossing the Ocean by Rawnak Alnbari

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INTERVIEW WITH KHALED ABU AJAJ, VICE CHAIRMAN OF KSIFFA VILLAGE By: Marwa Abu Ajaj

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How would you describe yourself? I would describe myself as practical man and leader, who has a strong personality, and loves his job. What are the goals you wish to achieve in your Business? I am working towards the development & prosperity of Ksiffa Village as well as the advancement of our people in the village. Are you satisfied with what you have accomplished so far? Of course I am satisfied! You have 23 years in the education corps! What experiences have changed your perspective on life, on either a personal or practical level? It has happened, in so many instances, that my view on life has changed. In a practical sense, I have dealt with difficult situations where people have actually made me more interested in my own job. Personally speaking, I have established strong friendships and have gotten to know some very important personalities in the state

Did you always want to be a chairman or did you start out with a different type of dream? To answer your question, no, this was not my dream from the start. I started out by simply desiring to be an educated and intellectual man. What I did know, was that I wanted to someday Play an important role in my community What does change in the Bedouin Community represent for you? For me it represents success, a positive future. Is there something that troubles you in the Bedouin community? Yes, the phenomenon of violence bothers me a lot and I am helping to find solutions to eliminate it. What do you hope will remain unchanged in the Bedouin community? Customs and traditions are most important to our people and I want to help preserve them.

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3 Cups of Coffee By May and Wesal, Tel Sheva C High school What makes the Bedouin people special is that we are considered one of the most generous communities in the world. It’s actually a part of our culture to be generous to others, especially when it comes to hospitality towards our guests. Years ago, if a stranger came to our tent, the man of the house would cook the guest a whole sheep—even if the guest arrived in the middle of the night! Today, you might not get a sheep at 2am, but what you might receive are 3 cups of coffee. Each cup has its significance: Cup 1 -- We give the first cup simply because the guest has arrived. Cup 2 -- The second cup is so the guest can truly enjoy the taste of Bedouin coffee. Cup 3 -- The third and final cup is the most important. After a guest drinks a third cup of coffee, tradition says that the guest will be protected by the Bedouin tribe who is hosting the guest.

TEEN ADVICE COLUMN

I like a girl/guy in my school. How can I tell him/her how I feel? Don’t worry about love right now. Study hard and finish school—after you’ll have time to consider matters of love.

Help! My best friend doesn’t want to hang out with me anymore! This person is clearly not your friend. Try not to think about it and make new friends.

I’m really shy—how can I make new friends? Smile and people will come to you. Compliment others, help others—or do something new, cool or outrageous that gets peoples’ attention in a good way.

I’m failing a subject in school and want to give up! It’s not the end of the world. You’ll have more opportunities to succeed so don’t give up. Get off of Facebook and Twitter and refocus!

I’m worried about my appearance and don’t want to eat because I want to be skinny.  What you are doing is not good for your health! Focus on cultivating your mind and soul. What you have inside is more important than your outward appearance.

Never go to sleep angry

because you never know if you or the person you are mad at will wake up in the morning.

Always forgive someone. Things happen, get over it! You may not forget but

it is better than knowing you will never get to say sorry or I love you again.

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TIP!