After the 1948 war, the family of Dalia Landau, newly arrived Bulgarian Jews, moved into the home.
Since 1991, the house has served Ramle’s Arab population, providing the town’s only Arabic-language day-care center.
In addition, its Center for Jewish-Arab Coexistence is a place where Jews and Palestinians meet, share joint activities and hope to overcome any negative stereotypes they have of each other.
Fanous, a member of the Ramle City Council, sees the development of Open House as “a sign of reconciliation between Israel and Palestine.”
Landau, formerly director of the religious peace movement Ozve Shalom-Netivot Shalom, is an interfaith educator. “This project,” he said, “is our modest contribution to what Jewish tradition calls tikkun olam, repairing the broken world and making it whole again.”
Sponsors of the local gatherings include the Aquarian Minyan, Congregation Kol Emeth, the East Bay Jewish-Palestinian Dialogue Group, Jewish Voice for Peace, Kehilla Community Synagogue and the Jewish Palestinian Living Room Dialogue Group based in San Mateo.
At 8:15 p.m. Tuesday, Fanous and Landau will speak at Kol Emeth, 4175 Manuela Avenue, Palo Alto. At 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, they will appear at the Berkeley Monthly Meeting House (Society of Friends) at Vine and Walnut streets. For information, call Kol Emeth, (650) 948-7498.