Our 2027 Cohort + Mission to Israel

Mercaz Philly and Philly Unity Project (Philly UP)  are launching a free interfaith program for Philadelphia eighth graders, running January through April 2027. Five workshops, dialogue, and service projects help students challenge stereotypes, build empathy, and learn to confront hate and bias. The program is designed to culminate, if funding allows, in a trip to Jerusalem and Bethlehem exploring Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Together, the partners are helping the next generation build bridges instead of barriers.

Eighth graders are shaping how they see the world and each other. Without intentional chances to connect across differences, fear, misinformation, and division can take root, and the effects reach well beyond the classroom. The program answers that with real peer relationships. Research suggests that authentic peer relationships are among the most effective ways to reduce prejudice and strengthen communities.

Students will learn to engage across differences with respect and curiosity, recognize and confront hate and bias, break down stereotypes, and build empathy. The program is designed, ideally, to prepare students for a transformative trip to Jerusalem and Bethlehem, where they would explore Christianity, Islam, and Judaism as living traditions with interconnected histories and shared values. The trip depends on funding and approvals.