A dozen rabbinical and cantorial students from Hebrew Union College, Jewish Theological Seminary, the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and Gratz College gathered in New York City?s Beit Shalom offices on January 30, 2005, for a day of information and skill-based workshops on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
These future leaders of the American Jewish community are wrestling with the question of how to engage in dialogue on Israel once they stand in front of a congregation. Some of the challenges confronting them are: How to talk about Israel without revealing their personal opinion; how to discuss contemporary issues in Judaism without focusing only on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; and how to build coalitions within the community when there are so many different political orientations.
The goals of the program, organized by The Union of Progressive Zionists, were to:
1) Sharpen the students? knowledge of the current situation on the ground.
2) Discuss the challenges they face in their communities regarding the conflict, and help them to conduct constructive dialogue on it.
3) Encourage these students to visit UPZ-affiliated undergraduate campuses to share concerns and experiences on how to discuss the conflict in the Jewish community.
The program included presentations from: Noam Shelef (Grassroots Coordinator for Americans for Peace Now); Gon Kafri (U.S. Coordinator of the Parents Circle-Families Forum); Rabbi Brian Walt (Director of Rabbis for Human Rights North America); Adam Gaynor (Assistant Director at NYU?s Bronfman Center); Mira Colflesh (Jewish Dialogue Group).
Noam Shelef spoke about the U.S. Government?s responsibility in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Mr. Shelef, a Washington-based Israel advocate, stressed that the Bush Administration must ensure that facts on the ground, such as Israel?s settlement building and military operations, don?t interfere with the steps being taken to move the peace process forward.
Gon Kafri explored the conflict from the perspective of Israelis and Palestinians who have lost relatives in the violence, and who, as a result have come together to turn anger and despair into healing and understanding. She said that although all the efforts made by politicians and advocacy groups are crucial to ending the conflict, attention must be paid to the emotional state of people on the ground.
?We believe that without reconciliation between both peoples, no peace agreement will be sustainable, because politicians are the ones that sign the agreement. The people on the ground are the ones that must live with it. Unless they are gradually exposed to the pain and suffering of the other side, the needs and fears, and accept them, a peace agreement will not be effective. The goal of this healing process is to eliminate the dehumanization of both sides, because this is what we have been doing to each other for decades now.?
Rabbi Walt, from the perspective of a rabbi and a human rights activist, spoke about how to separate personal and political when talking to the Jewish community.
?In 1986 I started an educational program at my synagogue that gave voice to both sides. I brought in guest speakers to say the things that I, as a rabbi, could not personally say. You can say whatever you want about God, about Torah, about Kashrut, you can say God is Dead, that you don?t believe in the ?Shma,? you can say the Ten Commandments don?t exist, but you cannot say that Israel?s occupying another people and oppressing them without facing a large response. Israel is what Jews, and especially the previous generation, believed in. They didn?t believe in God. They believed in Jewish survival. Obviously this is a stereotype, but a large segment [of the Jewish population] believed that Israel was God. I could have said almost anything, and I did say other things that were as challenging. I could have said anything about God, especially as a Reconstructionist rabbi, it would have been cheered. They were waiting for me to say that God is dead and were disappointed that I didn?t. But they were really unhappy when I said that there is a generation here participating in an occupation and that it is a moral issue that we should face.?
Adam Gaynor, who coordinates programs on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for New York University?s Bronfman Center, reinforced Rabbi Walt?s suggestion that the best way to get out a point of view is to bring speakers to do it for you. Mr. Gaynor outlined the ways in which he diversifies programming, so that education about the conflict remains as dynamic as possible.
?Recreating definitions [of Israel advocacy] for students and the folks we work with is very effective. The bottom line is supporting Israel?s right to exist, and [within that context] students can choose whatever path they want to follow in terms of how they want to relate to Israel and what kind of activism they want to do.?
Mira Colflesh, of the Jewish Dialogue Group, led an interactive mock dialogue that demonstrated how discussions on emotionally-charged subject matter can be conducted in a constructive and non-intimidating manner. She highlighted the importance of abiding by rules of respect and confidentiality, as well as the importance of facilitators who are prepared to preside over the discussion.
The first exercise called for each person in the room to turn to another and share with them an experience they had trying to talk to somebody about a controversial issue and why it was so difficult.
The second exercise broke the participants into two groups, to discuss in more detail how the Israeli-Palestinian conflict affected them personally. After each person spoke, reactions to what they said were expressed. The participants were told to direct reactions to whether or not a comment sparked frustration or anger and why, and whether or not something that was said was new or fresh, and why.
What Participants Had To Say
?I really appreciated this conference ? it certainly felt good to gather with like-minded people.? (Josh Snyder, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College)
?I really liked hearing from Adam Gaynor, particularly since he is a lefty working in a mainstream organization, and how to keep that balanced.? (Esther Lederman, Hebrew Union College)
?I think keeping the dialogue and discussion going is important. It is very important for us to know how to discuss/approach or teach these issues in our various positions (as rabbis or cantors or educators), where we are often toeing a very thin line.?
(Elliot Glassenberg, Jewish Theological Seminary, School of Education)
?Coming together as a group, discussing issues of professional duties versus political commitments. It?s good to struggle together.? (Joe Gindi, Jewish Campus Service Corps Intern, Yale University)
?It was so great meeting/seeing other rabbinical students and making professional contacts at progressive Israel organizations.? (Brian Fink, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College)
