Students and staff of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Wroc³aw founded the Polish-Israeli Nadzieja-Hatikvah Society in the autumn of 2000. Hatikvah also functions as a student academic circle, at the Institute of International Studies at the University of Wroc³aw.
The Society fosters contact between communities, social and educational organizations in Poland and Israel, and with the Jewish minority in Poland. An important element of Hatikvah's activities is the effort to fight racial and ethnic prejudice among young people in Europe and in particular in Wroc³aw, and to introduce young people to the history and culture of minorities. Other areas of interest include the history of the Jews in Europe and in Poland, the State of Israel, Polish-Israeli relations, and intercultural education. The Society's activities are based on organizing and participating in open discussions, meetings and lectures, international youth seminars, community service, student workshops and interships abroad. The Society also publishes Hatikvah twice per academic semester.
The Society's most important activities include these:
· The "Minorities in Poland and Around the World" lecture series
· Publication of Hatikvah magazine, 32 pages, circulation 300 copies, ISSN 1730-6574
· Cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Sport on student exchange with Israel
· The "Peace Education" training course for leaders of interculturalism classes
· The "Colorful Tolerance" program for painting over anti-Semitic and racist slogans around the city
· Organizing the volunteer work of young people from different countries at Jewish cemeteries and memorial sites.
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