When Marjorie Ingalls described her internal conflict about having conversations with her kids about Israel on the Web site for Tablet Magazine, she received some strong responses from readers. That’s no surprise, since there is a wide range of deeply held viewpoints and emotions about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict within the Jewish community.

Yesterday, the New York Times printed an article entitled "On Israel, Jews and Leaders Often Disagree," which began with the following characterization: "Criticizing Israel has long been the equivalent of touching the third rail in many Jewish families and friendships, relegating disagreements to a conversational demilitarized zone where only the innocent and foolhardy go." This hit home with me for a number of personal and professional reasons.

Would you like to learn how to facilitate constructive dialogue between individuals or groups at work or at home? Participate in one of our upcoming workshops!

This morning I was driving to work behind a “student driver” car going exactly the speed limit (which is to say, at least 15 mph slower than traffic usually moves on that particular road).  I started to get impatient, but then I thought I’d try to use the time to notice things around me, breathe, be mindful, and all of that.