JEWISH COMMUNITIES


Rabbi reads from the megillah, telling the story of Purim


Child watching lighting of the menorah
The Public Conversations Project’s extensive experience in Jewish communities includes a wide range of work related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, addressing issues within a single congregation, customized trainings, and the published guide Constructive Conversations About the Israeli-Palestine (co-authored by the Jewish Dialogue Group).

Following are specific examples of the Public Conversations Project’s work in this field:

Preparing future Rabbis
January 2008
The Public Conversations Project’s workshop for twenty fifth-year rabbinical students at Hebrew College prepared the students to facilitate dialogue among their peers, community, and congregations about the Israeli and Palestinian conflict.

A congregation divided reconnects
January 2008
The Public Conversations Project helped a large congregation in Rhode Island address issues around alternative worship services. About seventy-five members participated in nine dialogue groups, focused on healing the divisions within their congregation.

Young Jewish professionals apply skills to Israel-Palestine
August 2008
The Public Conversations Project and Workplace Connections trained Jewish professionals ages 20 to 35 to lead intra-Jewish dialogues about Israel and Palestine. Encounter, an educational organization that exposes Jewish leaders to Palestinian life, hosted the training.

Teaching about the Middle East conflict in high schools
January 2009
The Public Conversations Project and the Middle East Policy Council designed an experiential component of a workshop for high school teachers on teaching about Israel and Palestine. The workshop was part of a series created by Primary Source, which provides resources for K-12 teachers to use in creating curricula and lesson plans on conflict and resolution in the Middle East.