Jewish and Arab kindergarten teachers cope with the challenges of encountering the other in Israel: ‘My Diverse Kindergarten’

Our article explores the challenges that faced Jewish and Arab kindergarten teachers, and their different ways of coping with those challenges, during the implementation of the programme 'My Diverse Kindergarten' in three mixed cities in Israel. The programme aimed at reducing prejudices and improving the relationship between Jews and Arabs in these cities. Based on data from a qualitative study, including interviews with Arab and Jewish kindergarten teachers, we examined the challenges related to the encounter with the other, and identified a variety of coping patterns, mostly related to the ethnic and professional identities of the kindergarten teachers. Our discussion relates to some of the factors that enabled the success of the programme in achieving its purpose.