Students of the Arava Institute on a field tripThe Arava Institute for Environmental Studies (AIES) is the premier environmental education and research program in the Middle East, preparing future Arab and Jewish leaders to cooperatively solve the region's environmental challenges together. Located in the heart of the Arava desert, AIES is a unique oasis of environmental education, research, and international cooperation. Visit the Arava web site.

At Arava, the idea that nature knows no political borders is more than a belief. It is a fact, a curriculum, and a way of life.  

Come to the Levantine Cultural Center, enjoy refreshments and a presentation by Friends of Arava Institute (FAI) executive director David Weisberg along with FAI board members Mehnaz Afridi and Sunny Zia as they discuss peace building and environmental issues.

Students at the Arava Institute explore a range of environmental issues from a regional, interdisciplinary perspective while learning peacebuilding and leadership skills. Studies at the Arava Institute are international in scope, with a student body comprised of Jordanians, Palestinians, Israelis, North Americans and others (comedian Sarah Silverman is an alumnus).

The Arava Institute gives Jewish, Arab and other students a unique opportunity to study and live together for an extended period of time. In so doing, our students build networks and understanding that will enable future cooperative work and activism in the Middle East and beyond.