Israel Programming

COMMUNITY DISCUSSION AND REFLECTION GROUPS 2021-2022

A key part of this year’s Study and Conversation about Israel has been intentional smaller group gatherings for personal reflection and discussion after our larger community events. These spaces have helped deepen relationships and build connections within our community and provided opportunities to practice being in dialogue with one another regarding conflicting issues and values and inviting complexity into our own long held perspectives.

“Can We Talk About Israel? A Guide for the Curious, Confused, and Conflicted” with Daniel Sokatch

In November, we welcomed Daniel Sokatch, CEO of New Israel Fund and author of the book “Can We Talk About Israel: A Guide for the Curious, Confused, and Conflicted” to explore what makes talking about Israel hard in the Jewish community, ways we can step into productive discourse, and how we can be part of a healthy and safe future for Israel and all those who live within and next to her borders.

"Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor” with Yossi Klein Halevi

In March, Rabbi Zecher joined Yossi Klein Halevi, senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem and co-director of the Institute’s Muslim Leadership Initiative (MLI), for a conversation about his book “Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor” and an exploration of what motivated him to move to Israel in his twenties, how his perspectives have (and have not) shifted over the years, and his commitment to see Israel succeed as a morally responsible, democratic state in the Middle East.

“The Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism: Untangling Knotty Questions

This spring, we explored different definitions of antisemitism and their impact on the discourse about Israel and Palestine. Dr. Alon Confino of UMass Amherst, Dr. Rebecca Kobrin of Columbia University, and Emma Saltzberg of the JDA Project – USA led us in a conversation about the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism, a scholarly document designed to faciliate understanding of what antisemitism is, what it isn’t, and the wider context of contestation over the definition of antisemitism around the world.

In Conversation with Wajahat Ali

In May, we welcomed writer Wajahat Ali to discuss his 2018 article and short film “A Muslim Among Israel Settlers,“ documenting his experiences traveling to Israel with The Shalom Hartman Institute’s Muslim Leadership Initiative, and meeting and talking with Jewish Settlers in the West Bank, as well as his new book Go Back to Where You Came From: And Other Helpful Recommendations on How to Become American, one of Amazon’s Best Books of the Year.

Together, we explored the rise of white nationalism, Islamophobia, and antisemitism, the polarizing debates about Israel and Palestine, and what hopes we can hold for the future, all with boldness, honesty, and humor.

The Conflict in Israel/Palestine: Is There Room for Dialogue? Rose Feinberg Memorial Lecture with Mira Sucharov

Why is the concept of “dialogue” so controversial? Why do some people object to the term “conflict?” In May, we welcomed Mira Sucharov, Professor of Political Science at Carleton University and public commentator on IsraeliPalestinian and Diaspora Jewish affairs to take us through the debates over dialogue, activism, and peace building in the Israeli-Palestinian domain. Sucharov highlighted the work of grassroots groups and civil organizations in Israel and Palestine, while suggesting avenues for Diaspora Jewish communities to advance a vision of equality and justice for all.