2017 conference discussions

  Kids4Peace Facilitated by Suma Qawasmi, Yael Kalif, Ismat Uthman, and Sarah Stone, Kids4Peace coordinators. Kids4Peace is an interfaith youth group and community, bringing together Jews, Christians and Muslims who live in and around Jerusalem. Participating kids learn about tolerance and gain skills for coping with conflict in a multi-cultural environment.   The workshop was a sample unit from the youth curriculum that focuses on personal experiences within Jerusalem’s urban sphere. Participants placed noteworthy sites on the floor, which was transformed to a city-wide map. Then, each participant mapped out their daily routine. By sharing their experiences, participants were able to take a fresh look at their daily commutes and gain an appreciation for how others experience the same urban […]

Mapping Our City

 in 2017 conference discussions / Environment and Open Spaces Based Dialogue Workshops by
Zipori Facilitated by Mike Leiter, Director of the “City Meets Forest” program and Alon Oriyon, project partner. Due to demand, two workshops were held during the conference. This program’s vision is to bring as many Jerusalemites from every background to experience the wonderful renewal of the forest, thus turning the forest into a place for study and recreation. With this in mind, the workshop first focused on observing a variety of natural phenomena. Later, participants engaged in joint thinking about landscaping – the first step towards working together to maintain the forest. The workshop also touched upon the heritage of agriculture and nature. The tour departed from the Zipori Center, and entered the forest. Sitting across from beautiful, scenic views, […]

Renewing the Jerusalem Forest

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Booksurfing Facilitated by Raz Spector, Founder Two workshops were held during the conference; one on cities, the other on dialogue. Booksurfing is a format for facilitating encounters between a small group of unacquainted text-lovers. The session’s topic is selected in advance, and each participant brings a short text to the surf. Raz says, “It’s called Booksurfing, and it’s an Israeli invention. Eightstrangers meet to share and discuss short texts. Why? It’s more than a literary project; it’s about the social and cultural ties between strangers, a remedy for the ills of urban alienation.” Participants can bring any sort of text, which they share with the group. The discussion that ensues is loosely facilitated by the surf’s host.

Textual Encounters

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Ajeec – The Negev Institute Facilitated by Rose Amer, Director of the Volunteer Program and social activist. Ajeec was founded in 2001 with the goal of creating genuine partnership rooted in equality, peace, and justice. The organization has a number of divisions: a volunteer tent, which was recently recognized as Israel’s first youth organization, the economic department, early childhood, health, and more. The workshop demonstrated Ajeec’s partnership model, through role play and creating a joint project, which trains youngsters to become activists in their communities. Taliy’a (“pioneers”) is a year-long volunteer program that serves as a transitional framework for Arab high school graduates. They are trained to integrate, while developing their own personal and community identities. At the same time, […]

Identity Dialogue: Paulo Freire’s Approach to Dialogue

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Young Naamat Facilitated by Nurit Hajaj, Project and Content Director, Orly Biti, Adv., Deputy Director and Chair of Special Projects, and Ayelet Baruch-Katz, a Tel Aviv-based activist. Young Naamat provides opportunities for women to join, associate, gain skills, and act alongside other young women from varying backgrounds, employment, religions, and traditions across Israel. They are united in their belief that women can impact Israeli society, specifically the status of women. The group operates in affinity to Naamat and the Histadrut (General Organization of Workers in Israel) to promote the status of women, change social-political policies, and strive for gender equity at home, work, and society. The workshop expanded upon identities and identity politics, and was facilitated according to the method […]

Identity Dynamics

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Beit Berl Academic College Multiplicity of Identities Facilitated by Dr. Ariela Bairey ben Ishay, Director of the Group Facilitation in a Multi-Identity Society program. This workshop aimed to raise participants’ awareness of the multiple identities that are held concurrently, affecting individuals’ daily lives. Some of these are assigned at birth (e.g. nationality, gender, etc.), while others are acquired (e.g. ideology, professional identity, etc.). Any single or group of identities may move to the fore, depending on our needs or context. Thus, individuals must ask which identities help, and which hinder, when meeting other people. The workshop included theoretical knowledge that provided a background on the method’s different applications in group settings (The Other Within Us, Dan Bar-On, 1999; The Social […]

Multiplicity of Identities

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Mosaica Restorative Justice in Criminal Proceedings (Hebrew-Arabic) Facilitated by Laiki Saban, Mosaica, and Director of the Mediation and Dialogue Center in Acco Mosaica, The Center for Conflict Resolution by Agreement, functions as a community-based alternative for preventing, managing, and resolving conflicts. Mosaica encourages joint discourse and dialogue as a means for resolving conflicts between different cultural groups, while improving the quality of life for all through the use of mediation-based language and values, including: mutual respect, acceptance of the “other,” tolerance, listening, and participation. Restorative justice is a process that brings together perpetrator and victim, who together formulate a plan for healing and correcting whatever damage was inflicted. The workshop focused on the role of religion and culture when using […]

Restorative Justice in Criminal Proceedings

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The Israeli Center for Restorative Practices (ICRP) Facilitated by Dalia Tauber, Founder. The ICRP was founded in 2012 to focus on learning and developing restorative dialogue, while implementing restorative justice processes. Past activities include initiating and collecting signatures for a restorative justice treaty for Israeli society, and introducing the concept in schools and workplaces. The ICRP facilitates restorative justice in cases of sexual violence, and participated in Givat Haviva’s Roadmap for a Joint Society program, developing a model in which restorative dialogue serves as the basis for discussing and promoting joint living. The workshop presented the model’s tenets, which participants then practiced applying. The conversation forced on the model’s key questions, which focus on community-building thought and dialogue. By raising […]

Israeliness: Sharing, Thinking, and Shaping a Joint Future

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Gishurim Forum of Joint Cities Facilitated by Shai Horev (Acco), Aliza Silura (Ramla), Yaron Levin (Haifa), Noa Shalev (Lod), and Laiki Saban (Acco/Jerusalem). This workshop demonstrated the model used by the Gishurim Centers (municipal mediation centers in mixed cities: Acco, Lod, Ramla, and Haifa). The multi-faceted workshop covered conflict resolution, multi-cultural community leadership, inter-cultural community dialogue, and partnerships. Working in smaller groups, participants were presented with a case-study from one of the centers. Through questioning and investigating, participants applied the principles and model to the case study, while exploring additional options for resolution.

Forum of Joint Cities

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