Testimonial from Susan Landau

Participant in a 3-year Activist Dialogue Series

I confess. I initially wasn’t sure what the Philly-based Activist Dialogue sponsored by Jewish Dialogue Group could offer me.

As a seasoned career psychotherapist and educator, I have a substantial repertoire of state of the art listening skills. And as an activist on the issues of Israel-Palestine, I have regular conversations on this subject. Most of them go pretty well, I told myself - except when they don’t. In retrospect, I suspect my arrogance was a convenient cover-up for my discomfort. I jumped in anyway, and am I glad I did!

I can now humbly admit that my experience with the Jewish Dialogue Activist Group is distinct and different from any and all other private and public conversations about Israel-Palestine. How did this happen?

As I look back, the Ground Rules and structure, initially simplistic and redundant, created trust. With the support of conscientious, non-intrusive, competent leadership, together we established a safe space for truth-telling, individual exploration, and interpersonal engagement. Each member of our group became genuinely interested in the very different experiences of other members, absent a desire to argue, challenge, or change each other. The experience was and continues to be extraordinary!

For me, participating in what has become an ongoing, albeit infrequently meeting Activist Dialogue Group has been transformative - and a source of amazement, support, and surprise. Each meeting provides very palatable bite- size experiences that reconfigure my internal world. Each encounter is an opportunity to stretch my interpersonal, spiritual, and emotional muscles.

Here’s my ultimate admission: As a result of my experience with the Jewish Dialogue Group, the world is more interesting, less black and white. My conversations on Israel-Palestine are more satisfying. I am more tolerant of difference. My activism is more thoughtful and less reactive. I see and hear more clearly. Actually, I like myself better – and as a result, I like everyone else a bit more, too.