Constructive Conversations about the
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict:
A Guide for Convening and Facilitating
Dialogue
in Jewish Communities in the U.S.
by Maggie Herzig of the Public Conversations Project with Mitch Chanin of the Jewish Dialogue Group
Download a Copy (free)
This guidebook, co-authored with the Public Conversations Project in 2006, will provide you with step-by-step instructions and all of the other materials you need to conduct dialogue programs that bring people together to:
- listen to and understand one another across political differences
- clarify their feelings
- examine difficult moral and intellectual questions
- think through the choices they face
- seek common ground
How can the guide be used?
A “dialogue” is a conversation in which people seek mutual understanding rather than trying to convince
each other, come to agreement, or reach a solution. Dialogue can occur spontaneously, among friends, in
classrooms, in synagogue discussions, or among strangers. When people are experiencing polarized conflict,
however, they may need to agree on an explicit purpose and structure for the conversation in order to hold a
constructive dialogue. In the sessions that the guidebook describes, participants meet in small groups to
listen carefully to each other and reflect on their own perspectives. An evenhanded facilitator works with the
participants to create a structure for the conversation and then guides them through it. People have used this
approach to dialogue for many purposes, including to:
- repair painful divisions in synagogues, schools, or organizations that are wracked by internal conflict
- open up new conversations in communities that have shied away discussion of Israel
- give people an opportunity to explore their questions and dilemmas in a welcoming atmosphere
- bring together activists with differing perspectives to find more useful ways to talk with each other
What is contained in the guide?
The guidebook provides step-by-step instructions for convening and
faciliating dialogue programs, plus background information, Jewish texts
that support the practice of dialogue, and sample handouts. The book will
lead you through each step of the process: determining what kind of dialogue
might be helpful in a community, deciding who to invite, planning an agenda,
facilitating the program, gathering feedback, and following up. You can use
the guidebook for small and large groups, and for one-time meetings
as well as multi-session programs.
Who is the guide designed for?
The guidebook is designed to be useful to both beginning and experienced facilitators.
No specialized training is needed. People with a wide range of backgrounds
and occupations have led successful dialogue sessions using our approach. We invite you to read testimonials from people who have used or reviewed the guidebook.
How can I access the guide?
To obtain the guidebook, you can:
-
Download a electronic copy free of charge.
-
Order printed copies online, through Cafe Press. They will be sent you through the mail for $18 each.
Supplements and Updates: We have begun creating a number of supplements and updates to the guidebook, including:
- sample dialogue agendas that are saved as Microsoft Word files, which you can save, modify, and print for use in your dialogue programs
- pre-dialogue survey forms that you can use to gather information about participants' needs and interests before a dialogue program
- post-dialogue evaluation forms that you can use to gather feedback from participants after a program
