TKM Workshop

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NIV-TKM is pleased to offer a Cross-Cultural Middle Eastern Workshop in Israel.

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This is a 9-day workshop which introduces Western businessmen and other interested parties who plan to visit and/or work in the Middle East to cultural patterns and issues of contemporary Middle Eastern society. The workshop is based on extensive personal experience, scholarly research, recent field work, and observations of some of the top Israeli experts in this field.
The Workshop will provide participants with the necessary skills, materials and hands-on experience to significantly enhance their knowledge of the region and help them act and interact appropriately. Graduates of the workshop will be made to feel more “at home” in Moslem/Arab environments. The workshop will enable them to perform any activities requiring communication and interaction with the local population more efficiently and effectively.

The workshop's program has 4 units:

• Unit # 1: Basic day-to-day Arabic language lessons.
• Unit # 2: Arabic culture, customs & habits.
• Unit # 3: Personal Security.
• Unit # 4: Tours and visits in Israel including “real life” situations.

Expected achievements:

1. Language. Participants will be able to understand and communicate in basic Arabic by using elementary words and sentences. Vocabulary texts will be tailored for businessmen or other professionals and localized for the target country. A concise handbook of basic Arabic words, phrases, and sentences will be provided to every graduate.
   
   
2. Habits. Participants will learn about habits, norms, and customs in Arab and Moslem societies. For example: How does one pay a visit to a local inhabitant? How does one  behave in a conservative family? What are the differences between villagers and town inhabitants? What are the main religions and beliefs? What is the best way to cope with prejudices? What are the different foods? How are certain foods eaten? How do you greet your host? How do you part? When and what gifts should be given? What subjects may be discussed? What subjects are taboo? And many more subjects covering every day life in the Moslem community. Participants will visit a few Arab villages and towns and will have a chance to view in real life all theoretical aspects of the workshop.
   
   
3. Security. Participants will learn how to better protect themselves while working or acting in a hostile or a partially - hostile Middle Eastern environment. Course material will include rules of behavior for self protection and counteracting potential terrorist threats or kidnapping. A session will be devoted to the psychology of terrorists and kidnappers and what is the best way to behave if encountering extreme circumstances. This section will be instructed by leading Israeli security experts.

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Workshop instructors will be selected from top former IDF and other Israeli security and intelligence units. Appropriate instructors will be made available based on countries and subject specialties.

Among the scheduled instructors:

Brigadier-General (Res.) Shalom Harari
A very experienced Middle East expert who has served more than three decades in the areas of Judea and Samaria (The West Bank) as advisor for Arab Affairs at Israeli Ministry of Defense.

Dr. Shmuel Bar
A Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy and Strategy in Herzliya , after 30 years of experience in the Israeli Security and Intelligence Community (as an intelligence officer in the IDF and in the Prime Minister’s Office.

Col. (Res.) Moshe Elad
Former Military Governor of Jenin and Bethlehem districts (in the West Bank). An expert on Arab affairs (especially on Arab and Moslem habits and customs, internal relationships, Moslem communities).

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Workshop program

Following is a general outline of the workshop. Specific dates, locations, subjects, and instructors will be determined once a group is finalized based on the commonality of the participants, the area in which they plan to travel, and any special requests of the group to which we will adapt.

Please note:

1. The type of hotel has not been determined and will be a function of cost (will probably be 3 stars or higher).
2. Overnight stays will be in 2 centers: in the Tel Aviv area and in the Haifa area.
3. All breakfasts will be taken at the hotels.
4. Most all other meals will be in Arab restaurants and/or Arab villages and will be an integral part of the course material.
5. All “tours” will be an integral part of the course with emphasis on what can be observed in relation to the Arab community.
6. Strict security standards will be maintained at all times.

WORKSHOP PROGRAM (Suggested)

Thursday evening: Leave from JFK or Newark (will permit arrivals from other parts of the US during the day): Friday afternoon: Arrive Israel, transfer to TLV hotel, orientation, presentation of detailed workshop program, welcome dinner, meet the instructors, short presentation of the Israeli/Arab/Palestinian conflict. Saturday: Jerusalem, Old City, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Dome of the Rock, Western Wall, observation on Palestinian-Israeli points of conflict, Jerusalem separation wall, Israeli Arab village, overnight TLV Sunday morning: Arabic, habits & customs Monday morning: Security, habits & customs Tuesday: To Northern border, Border with Lebanon, Nazareth, Golan Heights, Tiberias, Arab village, overnight Haifa Wednesday morning: Habits & customs, Wednesday afternoon: Haifa as an Arab city, Druze village, Arab village, overnight Haifa. Thursday morning: To Tel Aviv via “Triangle”, separation wall Thursday afternoon: Tel Aviv – security, Arabic, overnight - TLV Friday morning: Arabic, habits & customs Friday afternoon: overnight TLV Saturday morning: Saturday afternoon: summary of workshop, gala dinner, overnight TLV Sunday: Free in Tel Aviv 1 AM Leave Ben Gurion airport Arrive at JFK Monday 6AM.