2017 conference discussions

A� Processing the First Daya��s Encounters Led by facilitators from the Adam Institute and Besod Siach The processing workshops had a two-fold focus: participantsa�� experiences during the first day, along with asking the question: what enables effective dialogue? Below are a number of responses that emerged during the discussions: Joint action is a platform for dialogue. It is crucial to conduct dialogue during times of conflict. We must first conduct dialogue with ourselves, before turning to others. It is important to understand dialogue participants, how they differ, and who/how it was determined that they are different. Joint living is a partial solution, leading us to recognize that group divisions are less important. Among Israeli society, the Arabs are demonized or […]

Debriefing and Processing Sessions

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Women Wage Peace    Facilitated by Debi Parush and Debbie Daleski, steering committee members. Woman Wage Peace is one of Israel’s largest social movements, and is not affiliated with any political party. It was formed in 2014, in the aftermath of Operation Protective Edge between Israel and Gaza. Membership includes tens of thousands of women, from the right, left, and center of the political map, including Jews, Arabs, religious and secular women, from the central cities and the more far-out regions. These women are united in their demand for a non-violent, dignified peace agreement to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, while including women in the negotiations (in accordance with UN Resolution 1325). Israel Salad was developed by women from southern Israel, […]

Israeli Salad

 in 2017 conference discussions / Art- and Music-Based Dialogue Workshops by
Jerusalem YMCA Facilitated by Nazeeh Ansari and Micah Hendler, Directors of the Youth Choir. (Arabic-Hebrew-English) The Jerusalem YMCA, specifically the youth division, runs a number of programs focused on joint living. The principle behind the programs is the combination of professional and social, cultural, and political discourse, leading to a richer experience. Dialogue becomes a means for joint exploration and creation, such as composing poems or songs in both languages. The workshop began with joint singing, where participants experienced the YMCA choir’s work process. It concluded with a presentation about the youth division’s work methods.

Dialogue through Music

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Cultures in Harmony: Facilitated by Shoshana Gottesman (All languages) CiH programs utilize the international language of music to foster inter-cultural dialogue. Shoshana Gottesman dedicates her time to studying musical spaces and developing them as a place to transform conflicts for youth. She weaves together her knowledge and experience in the field of music education, along with her experience in humanist education, human rights, and peace. The workshop was modeled after activities she leads in a Tunisian summer youth camp, and combined participants’ sounds of “home” along with other forms of musical expression – going beyond language. Throughout the workshop, Shoshana shared examples of how the Tunisian youth share and react during such activities.

A Surprising Musical Encounter

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This Is Jerusalem! (HUC), the Teachers’ Lounge in Memory of Shira Banki Facilitated by Yoav Segal, educator. The Teachers’ Lounge in memory of Shira Bank aims to bring Jerusalem’s multi-culturalism to the fore, while fostering dialogue and encounters between the city’s different sectors. The program brings together Jewish and Arab teachers who work on different sides of the city, for a joint training. Workshop participants submitted two photos of their homes in advance – one from within, and the other from without. The workshop demonstrated how photography and examination can become platforms for inter-cultural encounters. After discussing their photos, the group created a joint collage.

Art as a Method for Fostering Intercultural Encounters

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Tzav Pius Encounters on the Field Facilitated by Iddo Diamant‏, Director of the soccer program. Tzav Puis aims to change Israeli reality by creating frameworks for joint living by promoting basic values such as mutual respect, tolerance, and understanding, in order to create a unified Israeli society, with a glorious past and promising future. The method for this workshop was taken from the larger soccer curriculum, which promotes tolerance, while becoming deeply acquainted with the “other.” Using soccer as a metaphor and means towards advancing dialogue, the workshop comprised two stages: Introductions: each participant introduced themselves, while selecting a position on the field that represents them and explaining their choice (defense, coach, goalie, etc.). The group was given 40 cards, […]

Encounters on the Field

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Plugta Fight Club: Who’s Afraid of Disputes? Facilitated by Daniel Kandler, Director. Plugta is a social initiative founded by ultra-Orthodox Jews who wanted to encourage their fellow Israelis to take joint responsibility over our national destiny, as a nation and country. Plugta believes as the first point of contact, disputes offer the opportunity to meet, connect, and even argue. Plugta conducts various learning and dialogue opportunities, inviting the public to talk, disagree, and jointly figure out the disputes that affect our destiny as a nation and country. The workshop examined the power and potential of disputes, and how disagreements can be leveraged to create closeness.

?Fight Club: Who’s Afraid of Disputes

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Gesher Jewish and Israeli Identities Facilitated by Adaf Adler, Education Director. Gesher works to promote joint living among the different sectors in Israel, creating a joint future for Israeli society and the Jewish people. The workshop focused on the complexity of defining Jewish identity and Israeli identity. Using coordinates to map out their sense of belonging, participants explored the different aspects of establishing their identities. Using the Duplo Method, participants examined both identities, highlighting the complexity between Judaism and Israeliness.

Jewish and Israeli Identities

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Initiated by Gil Gilad, Besod Siach This space was created in the spirit of the conference, and attendees were invited into this space to meet, engage in deep dialogue, and take action – without any facilitation. Throughout the conference, this space was spontaneously occupied – groups gathered to talk about various aspects of dialogue pertaining to the conference and its theme (whether from an organizational, community, or general standpoint). Some participants chose to discuss previous workshops, conference experiences, and personal experiences and ideas. Sheets of poster board were available for participants to summarize their discussions, ideas, questions, thoughts, conclusions, etc. Thus, each new group read and was inspired by those who had come before it, while reacting and adding their […]

The Open Workshop: The Space between the Spaces

 in 2017 conference discussions / Environment and Open Spaces Based Dialogue Workshops by