Breaking magic records in the name of peace

ISRAEL21c-On June 1, more than 1500 Jewish, Christian and Muslim schoolchildren from across Haifa helped set the world record for the largest magic lesson. The students, representing every school in the city, participated in "Haifa Magic for Peace," led by Israeli magician Cagliostro.

Beating the previous world record held by Scottish magician Kevin McMahon from 2012, Haifa Magic for Peace was extensively covered in the Israeli media and helped put the sponsoring organization, theBeit HaGefen Jewish-Arab Culture Center, in the spotlight.

"Magic was a good tool to bring together nearly 1,600 Jewish and Arab fifth- and sixth-graders and their teachers," says Beit HaGefen Cultural Director Hila Goshen. "The vice mayor told the children this day was like an oasis in the middle of a desert of racism and fear."

Beit HaGefen is not a new kid in town. The nonprofit center was inaugurated in 1963 as a common meeting ground for Haifa's Jewish and Arab populations, offering educational, cultural and tourism activities to a local, national and international audience. The municipality and citywide school system actively support the center's activities.

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