Dear Supporters,

Highlights & Hope: Reflecting on Our First Speaking Tour

After six years where the only source of funding was our founder Jenny Nemko, TalkMatters is now part of the registered charity the Abraham Reunion England. Like TM, the ARE has a commitment to the ideals of community, cooperation, friendship and peace among the people of Israel and Palestine.

With thanks to the Leo & Betty Gruss Charitable Trust, we celebrated our sixth birthday by bringing the Freddie Krivine Initiative to London for our very first Speaking Tour in July. Freddie Krivine was an Englishman who loved tennis and made aliya – went to live in Israel – and eventually became President of the Israeli Tennis Association. He then decided to bring together Jewish and Arab children to learn and play tennis and have fun. He has sadly has passed on but his daughter Jane together with professional help have carried on this successful project – now in its 26th year.

Children on the Freddie Krivine tennis courts in Moshav Beit Hanania

A Historic Milestone for TalkMatters – a celebration of unity through sport

Thank you to all those who joined us at Bushey United Synagogue, the House of Commons and at the historic Cumberland Tennis Club for our pre-Wimbledon strawberries and cream tea.

Pre-Wimbledon Tea at the Cumberland Tennis Club.

What an unforgettable afternoon we had at the historic Cumberland Tennis Club! Even with the heat, the energy was electric as we listened to Riham Namle and Lee Wilson tell us about their lives, their communities and how they work together.

Riham Namle speaking at the Cumberland Tennis club

We were inspired by former Israeli Wimbledon player Shahar Perkiss talking to Jane Krivine about the power of sport to unite Arabs and Jews in Israel

To add to the tennis theme, our guest speaker, the Immediate Past President of the Lawn Tennis Association Sandi Procter spoke passionately about the power of sport to unite communities in both Israel and the UK.

Sandi Procter and Aviva Wilford at the Cumberland Tennis Club

Between the inspiring talks, supporters met other supporters and enjoyed a traditional spread of sandwiches, scones, cakes, and – of course – strawberries and cream!

Read more about the impact of the tour

You can read more about the impact of the full tour- with a special spotlight on our House of Commons events – in the Jewish News: and from supporters Ann Erdurast and Gerald Holon.

👉 Read the Jewish News Article “Israeli Jewish and Arab Partners Bring Message of Hope“

Middle East Uncovered: Arabs and Jews Come Together

FKI Feature: Knesset Recognition of FKI Work

Supporters’ thoughts and reviews and guest testimonials of the speaking tour.

Our Mission Does Not Change

Whether you were in the room with us or cheering us on from afar, you are a vital part of this journey. It is the belief and generosity of people like you that can turn our vision of coexistence into a reality. Please consider supporting TalkMatters to continue its work.

Our purpose remains clear. Communities here in the UK – especially young people – need to understand the reality of Jewish and Arab citizens living side by side. They need to hear about the challenges, but also about the extraordinary opportunities that exist when we invest in relationships instead of division.

When we look beyond labels and recognise that we are all human beings who want the exact same things. We all want a roof over our heads, food on the table, and a good education for our children. Understanding this, we can unravel the ignorance that fuels anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim racism, anti-Zionism, and Islamophobia.

How You Can Help Us Do More

The Freddie Krivine Tennis Initiative is just one of over 30 initiatives TalkMatters supports, bringing people together through shared interests in sport, ecology, hi-tech, music, and more.

Now that we are officially a registered charity, we want to expand our reach. Here are the most impactful ways you can help us build these vital bridges:

• Donate Your Time: We are currently looking for dedicated individuals to join us as working Trustees. Contact: hello@talkmatters.info
• Make a Regular Gift: Setting up a recurring donation—big or small—gives us the sustainable, predictable funding we need to plan future tours and support more initiatives
• Make a One-Off Donation: Every single contribution directly fuels our educational outreach
• Celebrate With Us: For your next birthday or anniversary, consider asking friends and family to donate to TalkMatters in lieu of gifts. Contact: hello@talkmatters.info
• Leave a Legacy: Consider including TalkMatters in your will to ensure this vital work continues for generations to come. Contact: hello@talkmatters.info

Thank you for whatever you can do to support.

Updates on the Initiatives

PeacePlayers Middle East

PeacePlayers Middle East uses basketball as a platform to bring together Palestinian and Israeli youth, fostering meaningful relationships, leadership, and mutual understanding across lines of conflict. Each year, the organization engages more than 700 children and youth (ages 6-25), 75% of whom are girls and young women, with a strong focus on youth from underserved communities. Read about their tour last month when they met up with TalkMatters in London……..

Tech2Peace

Tech2Peace is building a network of young Israelis and Palestinians who are equipped with the high tech skills, professional opportunities, and mutual understanding needed to work together toward a brighter, shared future…  Read what Programme Director Arava Gerzon Raz has to say about strengthening regional cooperation.

Hand in Hand Schools

Hand in Hand is transforming Arab-Jewish relations in Israel through the power of shared living. When people live and learn together every day, they cannot be enemies. Hand in Hand’s six schools and communities have formed a resilient shared society of Jews and Arabs across Israel…..read an article published by recent graduate, Lana Tibi in the HIH Jerusalem high school paper

The Elijah Institute

Participants from Europe, North and South America and the Middle-East, Christians, Muslims, Jews and Buddhists, joined the recent Elijah Interfaith Summer School, held in Assisi, the city of St Francis and St Claire, where we studied the theme of “Saints: Historical Reality and Spiritual Legacy.”……read more

Thank you for your support

Thank you once again for your warmth, your presence and your shared belief that connection matters. Together, we can choose relationship over division.

All good wishes,

Jenny and the TalkMatters Team