Madrasa - Learning to Communicate
Madrasa - Learning to Communicate
What is Madrasa?
Madrasa is a social, educational, and technological organization that teaches
hundreds of thousands of Israelis to communicate in Arabic. Currently, over 95,000 Israelis are enrolled in at least one of Madrasa’s completely free colloquial Arabic courses. Additionally, Madrasa has over 200,000 monthly engagements with our various social media content. Madrasa also has partnerships with 50 different businesses, social service organizations, schools, universities, and government agencies that benefit from our educational and strategic projects.
Why Madrasa?
Sadly, roughly 95% of Jewish Israelis do not know how to communicate in Arabic, even though Arabic is the native language of 22% of the population in this region, is key to many Israelis familial, historical and cultural heritage and bears many similarities to Hebrew. Moreover, the importance of having a common language for communication is well known and has the potential to change individual’s perceptions and attitudes.
Our Vision
Our vision is that the Arabic language will become a common denominator across the various ethnic, cultural and societal groups in Israel and will help turn transform Israeli society into one where in which all members of the society can communicate with each other fluently and without difficulty.
How do we get there
By changing the attitude and public opinion about the Arabic language and Arab people.
We do this by creating and exposing hundreds of thousands of followers to top-quality Arabic content on social networks and media. This content focuses on everyday personal interactions, highlighting the Arabic language in a positive light.
By making absolutely everyone a student!
Over 100 people sign up for our online courses daily, all of them reach our courses exclusively by being exposed to our online content. Every month, we start a new learning track in approximately 10 communities and organizations.
By teaching people to genuinely communicate
our method combines the most advanced technological and pedagogical tools in the world for language learning and is based on the Proficiency Approach. Our teaching focuses on practical tools designed to break down personal and social barriers, in order to make the Arabic language and culture accessible in a positive and humanizing manner.
By creating conversation opportunities
between native-speaking teachers and coaches and our vast student community: Speech practicing sessions occur across the country, we offer hybrid courses in local communities, as well as long-term pedagogical processes and large-scale educational programs in schools, universities, the National Student Union, the Israel Medicine Association, various government agencies.
By creating a social movement
numbering hundreds of thousands. This is a movement that promotes an alternative discourse and a fresh outlook on communication and takes responsibility through learning, meeting, volunteering and advocating for public and institutional change.
Start learning with our Basic Dictionary
Our Team
Gilad Sevitt
Founder and R&D director. Holds a BA in Sociology, Anthropology, Arabic, and Buddhism. Lives in Jerusalem and is interested in ecology, music, and (obviously) languages.
Daniel Dotan
Lawyer and social activist. Founder and CEO of Madrasa. A soccer addict, photographer, and writer of cryptic crosswords (only in Hebrew for now), and the father of Alma and Yahel.
Yaniv Gershon
Website manager and content writer at Madrasa. Holds a BA in Information Science and Arabic from Bar Ilan University. Has knowledge of Arabic and a number of computer languages. His Holy Trinity is Arabic, technology and social change. Likes board games and healthy foods.
Louise Drori
VP of Business Development and Marketing at Madrasa. Establishes and manages business development departments in organizations combining the social, public and business for over a decade. Lives and breathes the world of marketing and sales and specializes in opening doors, creating opportunities and connecting people from different professional worlds.
Michal Rosen
Director of digital media at Madrasa team. Holds a BA in East Asian Studies and Likes languages. Learns Arabic and engages in creating content for networks, graphic design and teaching. practices Yoga and is a creative musician.
Sondos Alhoot
Teacher and Presenter in Madrasa. A graduate of the Hebrew University, Sondos teaches Arabic and Hebrew in the US, and in the "Medabrot" program, She works in the Snunit program as an Arabic field coordinator, translator and content writer and mentors Arabic language teachers. Her dream is to establish her own school.
Raghed Azam
Produces digital content in Madrasa. Raghad is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Arabic and Islamic studies. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Italian Literature and Communication and works in translation (Arabic, Hebrew, English, French and Italian). She is the mother of Basbusa - a two-year-old cat
Shahaf Barkai
Administrative manager. Holds a Bachelor's Degree and a teaching certificate in History. Loves nature, people and animals. Believes that meeting and communication are the basis for creating an effective society and good relationships.
Ofir Lugasi
Director of training and language activities at Madrasa. Holds a Bachelor's Degree in Middle East and Psychology from Ben Gurion University. Creator of the podcast "Tishrafna". In her free time, Ofir watches anime and studies Arabic.
Ori Yurovitz
Director of Operations. A newly transplanted Jerusalemite who comes straight from Mitzpe Ramon. Ori loves books, music and cinema. He studies physics and philosophy at Hebrew University
Join the Revolution
People often ask us – why teach for FREE?? Why not take just a small amount from each student? HOW WILL YOU SURVIVE?
Our answer is clear – Each and every one of us deserves the opportunity to learn to communicate in Arabic.
We do not sell a “product”, or offer a hobby. We are all (our team, students and fans) promoting a social goal – to create a healthy, communicating society.
We came all this way thanks to thousands of people who believe – in us and in our social vision.
Join now!
Funds and Institutions
