In Rabbi Toba’s Rosh Hashanah talk, she raised the possibility of a new orientation to conversations about Israel/Palestine, one that encourages radical curiosity about positions that are not our own and fostering an embrace of all those who live in the Holy Land. Rabbi Toba acknowledges the challenges of discussing Israel/Palestine in Jewish community, ‘‘I think it is fair to say that the topic of Israel is one of the most divisive forces in American Jewish life.  It is a division that is experienced not just communally but personally…[with] deep heartache on all sides.” In an effort to move beyond divisions and silence, we are inviting parents into a beginning conversation about Israel/Palestine at our Religious School. 

At this parent learning session, facilitated by Rabbi Toba and VP for Education (and master educator) David Rhodes, we want to create a space for Dorshei Tzedek parents to share their experiences with Israel/Palestine in your lives. This conversation is for everyone: for those with deep personal connections to the place and topic, for those deeply struggling, for those who don’t currently know how to feel or don’t have strong opinions, and for everyone in between. In this first conversation we will simply answer the first question God asks humankind in the Torah, “ayecha?” (where are you?). Parents will have a chance to share in small groups and have the opportunity to simply listen to one another. It is our hope that we will get to see the complexity, beauty,and diversity of relationships to Israel/Palestine in our community. In future conversations we will engage parents in a process of values clarification as we build our curriculum. We want to involve as many parents in this process as possible, to get the broadest range of voices and experiences in the room.