About Us > Praise for our Work
Staff, Board and Advisory Committee 
Press Praise for Our Work
Organizations Who Have Hosted Dialogues
I want to express my
appreciation to the Jewish Dialogue Group for providing a caring forum
for meaningful conversations among JTS students, faculty and staff over
the past few years.
As you know, several of our JTS students were so inspired by these
dialogues that they decided to participate in your facilitator training
workshops. I am so pleased that your great work will continue to
have an impact on other communities.
Thank you so much for your time and energy. I look forward to
engaging the Jewish Dialogue Group to facilitate more conversations at
JTS in the future.
On August 13, 2006, Kol Tzedek Reconstructionist Synagogue held a community conversation on the Israel-Lebanon war that used the framework of the Jewish Dialogue Group (JDG). The group recognized differences, while not trying to convince each other of their viewpoint. Individuals were able to express deep emotions and fears in a safe environment. Overwhelmingly, participants expressed gratitude for a safe space in which to express themselves and explore their perspectives. These dialogue sessions have served as a great way to begin an important conversation that we know will take a long time. (more)
—Rabbi Lauren Grabelle Herman, Kol Tzedek West Philadelphia Synagogue
The Jewish Dialogue Group created a safe space for Corps members to use Israel as a case study for how to discuss politically volatile issues in a productive way. This workshop gave them the skills to be able to talk about difficult things, like Israel, within their community – things they had wanted to discuss for months, but weren’t quite sure where or how to begin. These newly acquired tools will allow them to begin all sorts of conversations that are difficult yet necessary to create and sustain community.
—Amy Ravis Furey, M.S.W, AVODAH: The Jewish Service Corps, Program Director, New York City
The Jewish Dialogue Group has led conversations for Renaissance Group members who are passionate about Israel. We first began working with JDG because we wanted to deepen the conversations our members were having with each other. JDG facilitators did a great job leading conversations about experiences and commitments, rather than politics. The structure of a JDG experience really helped everyone present feel like their opinions and experiences were equally valid as everyone else's.
—Addie Lewis, Director of the Renaissance Group
Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
I am co-chair of the Adult Education committee of the Jewish Center of Princeton. This past spring 2007, Mitch Chanin of the Jewish Dialogue Group, with assistance from Barbara Foxman and Wilma Solomon, facilitated two sessions of constructive dialogue among Jewish Center congregants. The sessions were both well-received and helped the congregants come together and discuss their shared values and differences as they look at Israel and the situation in the Middle East. The sessions were so helpful that congregants want to see the process continue with the goal of broadening our program offerings at the synagogue and reaching out to others in the community.
—Tirza Wahrman, Jewish Center of Princeton, Princeton, NJ
Because several of us believe that structured dialogue can help to improve inter-personal communication in our congregation, we wanted to experience a session led by the Jewish Dialogue Group. The Israeli/Palestinian issue has been very divisive in the past, and we do not talk about it in the synagogue. Therefore, we decided to start with a less controversial, but still important, topic -- namely, the role of tikkun olam and social justice activism in the synagogue. In a single session we quickly became comfortable with the facilitators and process. Participants expressed their feelings about tikkun olam, learned from each other, and suggested how we might revitalize our program. Now we may be ready to dialogue about the Israeli/Palestinian issue.
—Gabe Groner, President, Keddem Congregation, Palo Alto, CA
Hosting a dialogue for grad students through the Jewish Dialogue
Group was a great opportunity to bring together a group of people who
may not have otherwise met but who discovered a lot of commonalities
in the midst of their differences. The participants overwhelmingly
had positive experiences, and the dialogue gave several participants
an entry point into the grad student community.
—Miriam Steinberg, Director, Jewish Graduate
Student Network (Philadelphia)
When we invited the Jewish Dialogue Group to come to Congregation Beth Or and help us address a very difficult issue (the Union for Reform Judaism's Biennial resolution on the Iraq War), it was impossible to know just how effective they would be at facilitating a dialogue that was fair and constructive. I was tremendously impressed by the outcome of the session that they planned and facilitated which, due to the sensitive and professional way in which they ran the event, was able to be a forum for our congregants who may disagree passionately with one another on this issue to hear one another speak with open and trusting hearts. Jewish values were at the center of the experience and it was a true manifestation of the commitment to 'eilu ve-eilu' as our tradition instructs us. I am grateful for their presence in the community and look forward to hosting them at Beth Or again.
—Rabbi Craig Axler, Congregation Beth Or, Maple Glen, PA
At Moishe House Boston: Kavod Jewish Social Justice House,
our community shares a commitment to social justice and progressive domestic
views, but on Israel, though everyone wants to make the situation better, there
are much more divergent views on the potential causes and solutions to the
conflict. We have people working for the pro-Israel lobby and folks who
organized a "die-in" to protest Israeli government action in the Lebanon war.
Israel is often the elephant in the room, an issue that just feels too painful
to talk about. But, whether critical, supportive, or just confused - as Jews,
we can't escape our relationship with the Middle East.
The Jewish Dialogue Group and the Public Conversations Project opened the door
for honest, needed conversation. By establishing ground rules and setting the
goal of understanding one another, not convincing, we were able to create a safe
space where people could speak their minds and hear one another. For many of
us, the issues became more complicated when we heard the experiences and
perspectives of those with whom we expected to disagree. We haven't created
world peace, but talking and listening compassionately seems a good first step.
—Margie Klein, Coordinator, Moishe House Boston: Kavod Jewish Social Justice House
Mitch Chanin, Director of the Jewish Dialogue Group, came to the undergraduate Peace and Conflict Studies class that I teach at West Chester University to facilitate a dialogue on the Iraq War. The students responded with remarkable enthusiasm to the experience of hearing each other on such a hot topic. After a semester of role-plays and exercises designed to bring to life concepts like the value of listening and the challenge of determining the other's interests, the students commented that the JDG dialogue format applied their learning and increased its usefulness. Students who watched the dialogue found ways to apply aspects of the format to their analyses of international and other public conflicts. Those who participated were energized, and all commented on Mitch's patient, respectful, even-handed, and seasoned skill in responding to a set of highly unpredictable contributions to the conversation. The dialogue was a highlight of the semester for the students and for me.
—Rebecca Subar, mediator, negotiator, teacher, organizational development consultant
Mishkan Shalom contracted with the Jewish Dialogue Group to help Board members and Tikkun Olam Committee members engage with one another around our experience, frustrations and dreams for Tikkun Olam at Mishkan. Mitch and Elissa's wise leadership was professional and exceedingly ethical as they guided us through a very structured discussion. They provided us both with the tools and the space to talk honestly with one another. Mitch and Elissa encouraged us to listen openly about our intellectual and heartfelt hopes for Tikkun Olam in this community. It was a deeply moving and regenerative experience for those of us gathered in the room.
—Rod MacNeil, President, Congregation Mishkan Shalom, Philadelphia
