Last Tuesday I was reminded of the vitality and the power of cooperation, and its capacity to make a positive change. On the morning of February 23rd, YEDID held a Human Rights Fair and Conference at the new central District Courthouse in Haifa. The fair was the inaugural event for the People's Court Project, a program designed by YEDID in collaboration with the Courthouse and with the help of the Haifa Boston Connection, in order to make the legal system more accessible and friendly to the general public

The event began in the main lobby of the Courthouse. A variety of organizations brought their volunteers and their materials and set up informational booths in the hall. A broad spectrum of groups was represented. Women rights groups sat next to a table that assists immigrants from Ethiopia and across from an advocacy program for people with special needs. The entrance to the Courthouse became more bustling than usual, as the regular Courthouse crowd mingled with invited guests amongst the tables, asking for advice, information and opportunities to help. I was most impressed by the level of collaboration between the groups themselves. I saw just as many volunteers leaning across their tables to get information from an adjoining table as guests, and vibrant discussions were held across the aisles.

After the fair, the conference moved to the auditorium of the Courthouse. The Conference was led by YEDID Legal Department Director, Yisraela Gratzyani. Several Courthouse officials provided words of welcome, Yossi Gluzman, Israel Director, offered the support of the Haifa-Boston Connection and Danny Zanti, now the secretary of the Nazareth District Court and former YEDID volunteer gave a presentation on YEDID's implementation of the People's Court Project in the Nazareth District Couthouse to an engaged audience. In this way, the conference was a microcosm of all of the components that will be necessary to make this project a success in Haifa.

Through the People's Court, YEDID in cooperation with the Haifa Boston connection plans to educate a group of liaisons about the bureaucratic processes involved in executive order, family law, labor law and small claims. The intensive training period will include both technical information about the process and practical tools to assist a person in the often anxiety filled experience of going to court. At the conclusion of the training, this cadre of volunteers will provide assistance regarding the bureaucratic process (not legal advice) to the general public going through the legal system. This in depth endeavor requires the cooperation of the Courthouse, the Haifa Boston Connection, YEDID, and a willing group of volunteers. This conference helped to solidify the realization that all of these components are ready and willing to make the effort to ensure the success of this project.

The event concluded with a tour of the courthouse, though it was clear to me that throughout the day the participants became familiar with more than the building itself. This event helped to bring together a group of motivated people and allowed them to share their thoughts, ideas, goals and methods. This level of comfort and collaboration is the crucial basis for the People's Court Project. For this reason, I stood in the lobby of the Courthouse as the volunteers and participants filed out, and I was excited to have the opportunity to see the outcome of this cooperative effort.

Adar 5764 - March 2004