Resources for Dialogue
Our Publications * Jewish Tradition * Key Concepts/Skills * Organizations
Our Publications
Constructive
Conversations about the
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict -- A
comprehensive, 200-page manual for organizing and facilitating dialogue
programs, co-authored with the Public Conversations Project in 2006.
Follow the link to view and download the manual free of
charge, or to
purchase a printed, bound copy. We have begun posting updates and
supplementary materials, which are also available free of charge.
Dialogue in the Jewish Tradition
This thirty-page article explains a number of Jewish teachings about dialogue, respectful communication, and listening, and describes ways you can bring these teachings into your dialogues. You may download a copy free of charge.
Dialogue in the Jewish Tradition
This thirty-page article explains a number of Jewish teachings about dialogue, respectful communication, and listening, and describes ways you can bring these teachings into your dialogues. You may download a copy free of charge.
Guidebook
for Deliberation about the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict --
Coming soon! In 2010, we will complete our next
publication: a
guidebook that will enable Jews around the United States to
systematically explore the choices they face as they consider how to
respond to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Learn how you can be
involved in developing this new resource.
Jewish Resources for Dialogue
Brit Lashon
HaTov: Covenant for Communicating in a Kehillah Kedoshah
(sacred
community)
A set of communal guidelines, rooted in traditional Jewish texts, for communicating across differences in respecful, constructive ways. This document was developed at Congregation B'nai Jeshurun in New York City in 2001 and has been adopted by other synagogues as well.
A set of communal guidelines, rooted in traditional Jewish texts, for communicating across differences in respecful, constructive ways. This document was developed at Congregation B'nai Jeshurun in New York City in 2001 and has been adopted by other synagogues as well.
Jewish
Text Handout
A one-page document with a few key Jewish texts that support the
practice of dialogue. For a more detailed explanation of Jewish
teachings that support dialogue, as well as suggestions of ways that
you can make use of Jewish teachings as a facilitator, see our article,
Dialogue
in the Jewish Tradition.
Key Concepts and Skills
These
articles describe some of the ideas, values, and theories that underlie
our approach to dialogue, and some of the skills and practices that we
hope to promote. They explain in simple, clear language how you can use
these ideas and skills.
Distinguishing Debate from Dialogue
-- A handout from the from the Public Conversations Project that
describes what we mean by dialogue and how this
contrasts with debate. Also see the Public Conversations Project's other
resources.
Balancing Inquiry and Advocacy -- A short article that provides detailed, practical advice about how to balance expresssing your own viewpoint and asking skillful questions in way that leads to mutual learning when talking across differences about difficult issues. Written by Charlotte Roberts and Rick Ross, the article is an excerpt from the Fifth Discipline Fieldbook, a classic guide for improving the functioning of companies and organizations.
The Ladder of Inference -- This tool illustrates the ways that each person's experiences, assumptions, actions, lead them from observing the world to forming conclusions. Using the ladder of inference can help you to become more aware of how you have reached your own conclusions; make your thinking and reasoning more visible to others; and understand what has brought others to their conclusions.
Difficult Conversations Small Group Study Guide -- A brief summary and study guide for the classic book Difficult Conversations, How to Discuss what Matters Most, by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, Sheila Heen, Roger Fisher. As described in Publisher's Weekly: "Bringing together the insights of such diverse disciplines as law, organizational behavior, cognitive, family and social psychology and "dialogue" studies, Stone, Patton and Heen, who teach at Harvard Law School and the Harvard Negotiation Project, illustrate how to handle the challenges involved in effectively resolving "difficult conversations," whether in an interpersonal, business or political context." The study guide provides an overview of the book, and it contains questions and exercises that you can use to improve your communication skills.
Graphic: Charting Inquiry and Advocacy -- A table showing the varied ways that inquiry and advocacy can be combined in a conversation. See the blog post in which this table is embedded: "Good leaders balance advocacy and inquiry to resolve conflict."
Cartoon: Anatomy of a Conversation -- A cartoon illustrating four key principles for holding constructive conversations across political differences, published in the Christian Science Monitor just before the 2004 U.S. presidental election. Also see the commentary that the cartoon accompanied, "How to break the argument habit," written by Laura Chasin, founder of the Public Conversations Project.
Balancing Inquiry and Advocacy -- A short article that provides detailed, practical advice about how to balance expresssing your own viewpoint and asking skillful questions in way that leads to mutual learning when talking across differences about difficult issues. Written by Charlotte Roberts and Rick Ross, the article is an excerpt from the Fifth Discipline Fieldbook, a classic guide for improving the functioning of companies and organizations.
The Ladder of Inference -- This tool illustrates the ways that each person's experiences, assumptions, actions, lead them from observing the world to forming conclusions. Using the ladder of inference can help you to become more aware of how you have reached your own conclusions; make your thinking and reasoning more visible to others; and understand what has brought others to their conclusions.
Difficult Conversations Small Group Study Guide -- A brief summary and study guide for the classic book Difficult Conversations, How to Discuss what Matters Most, by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, Sheila Heen, Roger Fisher. As described in Publisher's Weekly: "Bringing together the insights of such diverse disciplines as law, organizational behavior, cognitive, family and social psychology and "dialogue" studies, Stone, Patton and Heen, who teach at Harvard Law School and the Harvard Negotiation Project, illustrate how to handle the challenges involved in effectively resolving "difficult conversations," whether in an interpersonal, business or political context." The study guide provides an overview of the book, and it contains questions and exercises that you can use to improve your communication skills.
Graphic: Charting Inquiry and Advocacy -- A table showing the varied ways that inquiry and advocacy can be combined in a conversation. See the blog post in which this table is embedded: "Good leaders balance advocacy and inquiry to resolve conflict."
Cartoon: Anatomy of a Conversation -- A cartoon illustrating four key principles for holding constructive conversations across political differences, published in the Christian Science Monitor just before the 2004 U.S. presidental election. Also see the commentary that the cartoon accompanied, "How to break the argument habit," written by Laura Chasin, founder of the Public Conversations Project.
Other Organizations
- Public Conversations Project
- Since 1989, PCP has worked in the U.S. and around the world facilitating dialogues on a wide range of contentious issues including abortion, forest management, homosexuality and faith, biodiversity, the use of animals in research, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and many others. In a world bristling with tension, controversy, polarization, and war, PCP aims to reduce rancor in public squares and promote effective communication within organizations and communities. It also provides workshops, customized trainings, and publications that teach people how to use its dialogue methods.
- Project Reconnections
- A pioneering Intra-Jewish dialogue process focused on Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian relationship. Started by Abigail Porth, visionary Associate Director of the Greater Bay Area Jewish Community Relations Council, and faciliator Rachel Eryn Kalish, Project Reconnections brings key Jewish leaders from across the political and religious spectrum together in dialogue and deep deliberation, building bridges of connection and the capacity to work with the vastly divergent views that the topic evokes. Project Reconnections supports the unfolding of a more inclusive, wider, deeper way of deliberating about the issue and takes various forms from short term events to longer, more engaged processes.
- National Coalition Building Institute
- Founded in 1984, NCBI is a leadership development organization that focuses on addressing prejudicial reduction, conflict resolution, and resource development for constituency groups - African Heritage, Latino Heritage, Asian Heritage, Jewish Heritage, Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer, and Mens' and Womens' work. NCBI has affiliates on over 60 campuses in the United States, and more than 30 community groups working throughout the world, including in Canada, England, Switzerland, Germany, Bosnia, and South Africa.
- National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation
- The National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation (NCDD) brings together people and groups who actively practice, promote and study inclusive, high quality conversations. Collectively, we seek to nurture justice, innovation and democracy throughout society through the widespread use of transformational communication methods like dialogue and deliberation. The “dialogue and deliberation community” is a loose-knit community of practitioners, researchers, activists, artists, students, and others who are committed to giving people a voice and making sure that voice counts. NCDD provides the infrastructure needed in this community so we can work together to increase both our individual and our collective impact.
