Co-Sponsored by ARZA, Union for Reform Judaism, RAC, and CSA
Tremont Grand
222 Saint Paul Place ◊ Baltimore, MD
Phone: 410-727-2222
On Tuesday, May 13th 2008, ARZA will convene its Second Annual Special Issues Consultation. This year's program will focus on Jewish Dialogue with Muslims and Christians About Peace and Conflict in the Middle East, and will include both discussions on policy and workshops on strategy and methodology.
Click HERE for Registration Form.
National Assembly delegates are encouraged to join the Consultation; there will be an additional charge for the luncheon.
ARZA is committed to helping Reform Jews advocate on behalf of Israel. Such advocacy can take many forms, including lobbying government officials, writing “Letters to the Editor” of local newspapers, and communicating with Israeli representatives. However, one of the most fundamental ways in which advocacy is expressed is in conversation, or dialogue, with one's non-Jewish neighbors. The importance of such dialogue in general has increased in recent years in light of the following:
- Union of Reform Judaism’s President, Rabbi Eric Yoffie's speech to ISNA (The Islamic Society of North America) in 2007
- Remarks made by ISNA President Ingrid Mattson at the 2006 URJ Biennial
- Policy debates about divesting from companies doing business with Israel in the Presbyterian and United Methodist Churches
- Controversy surrounding the positions and motives of Evangelical groups such as Christians United for Israel
These and similar events and discussions have made it clear that the Reform movement needs to think seriously about whether, when, and how to dialogue with Christians and with Muslims about peace and conflict in the Middle East. This process will clearly be long and complex. A first significant step will take place at the ARZA Special Issues Consultation on Tuesday May 13, 2008. Participants will begin to learn about the issues involved in dialogue with Christians and with Muslims. During the Consultation, techniques, strategies, and methods for engaging in constructing dialogue will be presented. Attendees will then be able to bring this learning home to their congregations.
KEYNOTE: An Overview of Critical Issues in Dialoguing with Christians and Muslims about the Middle East.
Presenter: Prof. Yehezkel Landau, Hartford Seminary
Jewish-Muslim Dialogue: Reflections on Issues and Experiences
Panelists will reflect on and discuss the issues they have encountered in their own dialogue experiences
Panelists: Rabbi Bob Orkand, Temple Israel, Westport, CT
Dr. Omar Atiq, Chairman, American Muslim Peace Initiative
Jewish-Christian Dialogue: Reflections on Issues and Experiences
Panelists will reflect on and discuss the issues they have encountered in their own dialogue experiences
Panelists: Rabbi David Sandmel, KAM Isaiah Israel Congregation, Chicago, IL
Rev. Christopher Leighton, Executive Director, Institute for Christian and Jewish Studies
Rev. Jason Poling, Pastor, New Hope Community Church, Baltimore, MD
Break
Lunch – Dialogue 101: An Introduction to Strategies, methodologies, and approaches
Presenters: Reena Bernards, Najat Khelil
Dialogue in the Real World: An experiential skills-acquisition workshop.
Facilitators: Reena Bernards, Najat Khalil
Closing Plenary: Next Steps
Click HERE for Registration Form.
Click HERE for information on ARZA's National Assembly
