Israel/Palestine Dialogue Circle: In the spirit of soul accounting and relational repair during the month of Elul, we aim to build a community that can lean into holding and engaging in the hardest issues and conversations that confront us, and there is no tougher topic today in our community than the heartbreaking in the Middle East today and how it is polarizing our Jewish communities. In this “receiving and feeling” council circle, we will hold brave space together to share together how Israel/Palestine lives in us today and how we want to be known in relation to the devastating conflict. This will not be a conversation to argue politics or convince others of our views, but rather an opportunity to share our hearts and flex the muscle of engaging in difficult conversation. This conversation will be facilitated by Rabbi Zelig and Wowlvenn Seward-Katzmiller with clear ground rules, so please join this conversation in the spirit of vulnerability and respect for the container. 

Our Goals
1) Create brave space that is attuned to each nervous system
2) Hear and be heard by each other
3) Know and be known by each other
4) Build healthy community through healthy, difficult conversation

Our Approach
1) We will sit in council around a sacred fire, according basic principles of the Way of Council
2) We will hold clear boundaries that keep us focused on our personal feelings about Israel/Palestine, without debating, arguing, defending etc.
3) We will hold a 4-step process for each share:

1. Share: Sharing from the holy "I" (sharing with "I feel..." will be the basic invitation)
2. Feel: Everyone feels how share lands in a sacred pause after each share
3. Receive: Person sharing Invites "receiving" comments if open to it - "receiving" comments simply reflect what was heard without response or rebuttal
4. Nervous system check: circle can each briefly share how their nervous system was impacted by share