A unique preparatory program for professional and accessible acting studies in the performing arts for people who are blind or visually impaired opened in Jerusalem in October 2025, in collaboration with the Na Laga’at Center and the Nissan Nativ Acting Studio. The curriculum provides a practical introduction to the world of theater, offering foundational tools in acting, movement and physical expression, voice development, text work, personal creation, and improvisation. The studies take place in small groups and in a supportive environment, under the guidance of teachers from the Nissan Nativ Acting Studio alongside a professional team from the field of theater.
The Lab for a Shared Society (2024) is a collaboration between CoLab and the Jewish Arab Center in Givat Haviva to promote social cohesion through joint action. The initiative brought together 18 women and men from diverse fields and backgrounds in Israel, who took part in a personal and group journey of deep mutual learning, building trust, connection, and social entrepreneurship. The group was led by Orit Eisen (CoLab facilitator) and Yaacob Ibrahim (CoLab cohort 03 graduate).
Political polarization that spilled into the streets, alongside the public and legal struggle over segregated prayer in Tel Aviv, has challenged existing conventions and raised fundamental questions about the nature of the public sphere and the boundaries between tradition and freedom. This initiative proposes to facilitate local dialogue on the nature of prayer in the public sphere, aiming to clarify red lines, explore areas of compromise, and support local authorities in reaching context-sensitive agreements. The process began in September 2025 with a gathering of dozens of prayer leaders and a discussion on the character of public space. It continued with a public conference bringing together representatives of local authorities, civil society, policymakers, and scholars to address these issues, alongside the development of a proposed process for shaping broad agreements and an action plan within elected authorities, in collaboration with civil society actors and experts in the field.
This initiative is designed to train a group of youth leaders to promote responsible, relevant, and fact-based digital discourse. Throughout the course, participants engaged with experts, participated in workshops and study visits, and developed skills to identify fake news, understand the impact of algorithms, and create positive and effective online content. At the end of the training, participants shared the knowledge they had gained with additional groups in the city. The initiative benefited from strong collaboration with schools, local authority leadership, students, and parents, and is currently exploring new partnerships to support its expansion (2025).
The new season of the podcast “Simply Enjoy the Road” features interviews with five CoLab graduates—entrepreneurs, leaders, and change-makers—who are active in diverse communities. The conversations open a window into each participant’s personal story and unique work, creating opportunities for genuine human connection even within a complex and divided reality. The series aims to expand exposure to work that fosters connection, highlight optimistic voices, and harness the power of media to inspire shared living. The series is currently in the recording stage (2025).
Shikufiyut is a multicultural playback theater initiative that fosters meaningful dialogue between women from diverse backgrounds—Haredi, religious, and secular—through real-life stories that are transformed into powerful and moving stage performances. The diversity of the actresses enables a wide range of voices to be heard and to coexist. Since 2022, two training programs have been held for professional actresses and creators who now perform together in schools, local authorities, organizations, government offices, and community centers across the country. In addition, “Shikufiyut in the Community” offers playback theater courses and one-off workshops for women in mixed cities.מאז 2022 נערכו שתי הכשרות לשחקניות ויוצרות מקצועיות שביחד מופיעות בבתי ספר, רשויות, ארגונים, משרדי ממשלה ומרכזים קהילתיים בכל הארץ. בנוסף, ‘שיקופיות בקהילה’ מציעה קורסי תיאטרון פלייבק וסדנאות חד פעמיות לנשים בערים מעורבות.
