Jewish Dialogue Group -- Reflections

Praise for Our Materials and Consultation

The Jewish Dialogue Group/Public Conversations Project Guidebook provided the ideal framework for the Perspectives on Israel conversation series at Yale Hillel. It allowed flexibility to adapt many of its suggestions to our unique student-led, student-focused group, while suggesting more structured ways to conduct the dialogue than I had previously explored. The Guidebook's recommendations helped us run respectful, interesting, insightful, and productive sessions in which students learned from each other, really listened to other points of view, and were able to get a better idea of where issues relating to Israel stand on our campus. Whereas the conversations had the potential to be contentious, the JDG's tools helped foster our already unusually respectful environment at Yale and focus our informal conversations into productive -- and popular -- dialogue sessions.

—Sarah Turbow, Yale University, Class of 2010

Constructive Conversations about the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict is, as it is purported to be, an excellent “guide for convening and facilitating dialogue in Jewish communities in the US.” We have used the material primarily for training conversation facilitators for our “Conversation Israel” dialogues, which focus on personal connections, expectations, and disappointments with Israel, and not specifically on the conflict focused discussion. Our facilitators-in-training have often expressed their satisfaction with the quality of the training material prepared by the Jewish Dialogue Group and the Public Conversations Project.

We all know how important it is to bring people of disparate views, Jews and non-Jews, together to discuss Israel, just as we know the multiple difficulties facing people and organizations that take on this challenge. In the absence of the proverbial magical wand, which apparently is not out there, this book is as good a preparation guide as we have ever found. Go forth and dialogue.

—Dr. Micha Balf, former education shaliach
Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, Partnership for Jewish Life & Learning

The Jewish Dialogue Group/Public Conversations Project handbook for convening and facilitating dialogue on Israeli/Palestinian issues is a landmark work and incredible resource for anyone wishing to compassionately and openly discuss this complex issue. The JDG/PCP approach puts the emphasis on Jewish values and personal relationship building, offering any group of any background a way of building community while dealing with an often difficult and polarizing subject. JDG has helped a number of Reconstructionist congregations to build trust and engage a broader spectrum of membership through the process outlined in the guide.

—Rabbi Shawn Zevit
Director of Outreach & Tikkun Olam, Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

I cannot imagine a more useful, compelling, and insightful guide for this difficult but absolutely necessary dialogue.

—Dr. Lawrence D. Lowenthal, former executive director
American Jewish Committee, Boston Chapter

Last year, I downloaded “Constructive Conversations about the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict," the guidebook co-written by the Jewish Dialogue Group and the Public Conversations Project. After reading through the well-written and informative guide, I was able to pull out different concepts, themes and strategies to integrate into the work we are doing across Canada. Indeed these materials have been adapted to facilitate conversations about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Holocaust education and leadership development. Thanks to JDG's leadership and experience, Jewish dialogue groups (and sessions) in Canada have a model to which to strive. We look forward to continuing to work with the Jewish Dialogue Group in the future.

—Ryla Braemer, B.A, M.ED.
Manager, Campus Initiatives
Canadian Academics for Peace in the Middle East

Thank you for your excellent guide, "Constructive Conversations about the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict". It couldn't have arrived at a better time! I had been wanting to convene dialogue in the Vancouver community on this issue, and your guide was like manna from heaven. If there is a question it doesn't answer about how to convene and facilitate such dialogues, then it's a question I haven't yet thought to ask. The guide covers everything from invitation to follow-through, and addresses every possible contingency that could arise during the dialogues.

We used the guide for a small, exploratory dialogue among six members of our community representing divergent viewpoints on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We also had the great advantage of having one of JDG's facilitators in town to co-facilitate our dialogue. We followed the suggestions in the guide pretty much to the letter, both in terms of the questions suggested and the process used. Everyone agreed that it created the space for a frank and respectful exchange of views. One participant said she found the dialogue "very inspiring and thought-provoking." Another, commenting on the process, said: "Everything was well designed to create safety, and given safety and a good structure, I feel most people could have a constructive dialogue across their differences. That seemed very hopeful to me."

Everyone present agreed that they would like to continue with a series of dialogues in the fall, and others in the community have also indicated their interest. I have every confidence that by following the ideas and processes outlined in the guide, we'll be able to negotiate this difficult topic with grace and respect, and heal some of the rifts that have arisen in our community over this issue.

—Avril Orloff, Ahavat Olam Synagogue
Vancouver, British Columbia

I've been very impressed with the work of the Jewish Dialogue Group. The guidebook for facilitators that they and Public Conversations Project have put together has been very helpful in guiding my congregation's dialogue process on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They give a lot of attention to group dynamics, ground rules, and structuring a conversation so that people feel safe. The conversation that we created was reflective and growthful, and we were all inspired by the process.

—Rabbi Laurie Zimmerman
Congregation Shaarei Shamaym, Madison, WI

I have found that methods suggested by the Jewish Dialogue Group and the Public Conversations Project have made safe space possible for highly sensitive conversations between Jews from all over the political spectrum. I facilitate dialogue among politically and religiously diverse groups of Jews while they are in the West Bank encountering Palestinian realities, usually for the first time; the potential for mutual and explosiveness is high. JDG provided us with tools to create a structured conversation that can hold all of the conflicting emotions and perspectives that arise in participants. With JDG's help, participants better understand the ways their views are rooted in their own personal stories, and feel comfortable enough to open themselves to others' views in unexpected and often transformative ways.

—Rabbi Melissa Weintraub
Co-Founder of Jewish-Palestinian Encounter Program

In co-creating NewGround: A Muslim Jewish Partnership for Change, which is a joint project between Progressive Jewish Alliance and Muslim Public Affairs Council that brings together Los Angeles-area Muslims and Jews to build meaningful and constructive relationships, I have again and again utilized resources from Jewish Dialogue Group and Public Conversations Project. Their materials and guides are accessible and adaptable for diverse communities that are wrestling with difference and conflict on a local, national, and international level. Specifically, I have used Constructive Conservations about the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict as well as Constructive Conservations about Challenging Times. The crux of the power of these resources is the emphasis on inclusion and good process; it makes room for everyone to sit at the proverbial “table” together and have a voice to speak and to listen. I am grateful for PCP and JDG’s generous contribution to NewGround as well as the field of dialogue and conflict resolution and transformation.

—Malka Haya Fenyvesi, Co-Director
New Ground: Muslim-Jewish Partnership for Change,
Los Angeles, CA

With the help of Jews in the community, as well as the guidebook for facilitators, Constructive Conversations about the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, developed by the Jewish Dialogue Group and the Public Conversations Project, I held a small dialogue at my college. About 10 people were present, all Jewish, and a mix between students and members of the community. It was an interesting mix of people because they were coming from totally different places with huge differences in experiences around this issue. We started by introducing each other, going over rules, etc. Then, in a circle, the participants went around and talked about their connection with Israel and why this issue is important for them. Next, we did a popcorn style response in which people reflected on what resonated with them from what others said, what they felt uncomfortable with, and other personal reactions. The last thing we did was talk about personal future steps. Most people agreed they wanted to learn more about the issue.

What struck me the most about the dialogue was how open people were and how quickly a safe space was established. People took it seriously and I feel like it ended on a hopeful note. One aspect of the dialogue that was particularly significant was that its structure forced all parties to listen to those with different politics and world views. This dialogue was exciting to me because it helped all involved realize that a calm, meaningful conversation about Israel/ Palestine could take place. (read more)

—Elise Goldin
Macalester College, Minnesota, Class of 2010

This summer, I used the Jewish Dialogue Group/Public Conversations Project guidebook to co-lead a dialogue program in my synagogue. What does it mean to love Israel? Does it mean to stand vigilant, or is there room for questioning? Where does my experience of Israel fit in? What is it about this piece of Holy Land that binds us? The dialogue process provides an opportunity to fearlessly ponder these questions and others. By allowing a safe space to show ourselves more fully to one another, we increase rather than divide congregational unity. The act of communicating sincerely takes time and trust and commitment; it is sacred, a mitzvah. One session, however, is just a beginning; our Social Action steering committee could not resist programming more. Many thanks to the Jewish Dialogue Group--the guidebook is a wonderful resource, providing user-friendly instructions from convening to pre-screening to facilitating, along with the biblical text to support the process. My hope is that the work of JDG continues to ripple throughout our community.

—(Kohenet)Yocheved Landsman
dialogue co-facilitator
Congregation Bonai Shalom, Boulder, CO

The Jewish Dialogue Group was a partner in “Love, Hate and the Jewish State,” a unique dialogue that brought together over a hundred Jewish social justice activists in New York City to explore their feelings on Israel and their own work. Not only did JDG’s facilitators complement the dialogue team we assembled, but Mitch Chanin helped hone our questions and co-led our facilitator orientation. As a co-sponsor, they went above and beyond the call of duty. We hope to continue our project and our relationship with JDG.

—Ben Murane, New Israel Fund, New Generations and Development Associate

We'd like to thank the Jewish Dialogue Group and Mitch Chanin for their invaluable help in planning for our May 2009 "Jews in All Hues" gathering for adult children of interfaith families, co-sponsored with Birthright Israel NEXT. Two members of our planning team had previous training and experience as facilitators with the Jewish Dialogue Group and drew on that experience, as well advice from JDG's staff, in creating the conference. Using methods developed by JDG, we were able to frame questions that stimulated constructive conversations and created safe space for people to discuss their complex identities as dual-heritage Jews; their experiences, needs, and challenges; and their hopes and visions for the Jewish community. These methods helped us to create an environment in which participants said that they felt respected as whole human beings, sometimes for the first time. Our gathering of 30 dual heritage Jews is just the beginning of an ongoing project to create ways to support and empower Jewish children of interfaith families and bring their voices to the table.

—Mira Colflesh, Program Associate
InterFaithways: Interfaith Family Support Network

When the student initiative at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies decided to integrate dialogue groups into the scheduled class time, we reached out to the Jewish Dialogue Group for guidance. The director's extensive experience in dialogue groups, combined with the resources he provided, formed the core of our program. They were exactly what we needed to get students and faculty engaged in constructive conversations on the most burning issues facing the Jewish world today. A Pardes faculty member later told us that in his 20 years at Pardes, he had never witnessed anything like this happen before.

—Yoni Ashar, Fellow, Pardes Institute