Please note that all the sessions have been recorded, but you can only access the recordings if you register for the series. You only need to register for the series once. See the link to "Register for this series," above.

The Havurah Israel/Palestine Committee has agreed to co-sponsor this national series.  There will be a range of perspectives expressed in these sessions and our co-sponsorship does not represent endorsement of any particular point of view.  The emphasis on open and respectful discussions is consistent with our committee’s mission.  

A group of prominent Reconstructionist rabbis from around the country will lead a series of nine Zoom sessions next year about Israel/Palestine.  The presenters will be “guided by the values of justice and the dignity and equal worth of all human life, we seek to promote discussion of the histories and current conditions of Israel/Palestine that challenge the boundaries of current Reconstructionist approaches to Israel/Palestine and re-examine customary assumptions about the role of Israel in diaspora Jewish life.  We oppose Israel’s domination of the Palestinian people in all its forms and hope to deeper our relations with Jews and Palestinians seeking a future of justice and equality in Israel/Palestine.  We welcome those who consider themselves Zionists, non-Zionists, and anti-Zionists, and those unsure about how they define themselves even as we explore the meanings of those terms.”  

The organizers of the sessions state that they “are committed to conducting discussions with open hearts and minds, respectful listening, and acknowledgement of our shared commitment to the Jewish values of tzedek ve-chesed (justice and compassion) for all.”  

Each one and a half hour session is free and will include a lecture and discussion.  They will take place at 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM Pacific Time.  Each session will stand on its own and people can pick and choose those that are of interest.  It is our understanding that the sessions will be recorded.  

• Wednesday, January 12 - Rabbi Rebecca Alpert, “Reconstructionism Without Zionism”

• Wednesday, January 26 - Sarah Brammer-Shlay, Solomon Hoffman, and Rachel Kipnes, "We find ourselves in Tears": A Conversation About Israel/Palestine with Reconstructionist Rabbinical Students

• Wednesday, February 9 - Rabbi Brant Rosen, “Decolonizing Jewish Liturgy”

• Tuesday, February 22 - Rabbi Toba Spitzer, “A New Conversation:  A Land for All”

• Wednesday, March 9 - Rabbi Laurie Zimmerman, “Rethinking Israel Education: Teaching  Jewish Kids to Think Critically about Israel/Palestine”

• Wednesday, March 30 - Rabbi Ari Lev Fornari, “Becoming an Abolitionist: Antiracism and Antizionism”

• Tuesday, April 12 - Rabbi David Teutsch, “History and Challenge: Reconstructionism, Zionism, and the Two-State Solution”

• Tuesday, April 26 - Rabbi Brian Walt, “Nakba Denial and Teshuva/Reparations”

• Wednesday, May 11 - Open Conversation

The Israel/Palestine committee is remaining flexible about the option of post-session conversations within Havurah.  If enough people attend and want to reflect on what they heard and learned, we will figure out a way to provide opportunities.  

For registration information, discussion guidelines (which participants are urged to read), speaker bios, and the Facebook page for this national series, click on the purple buttons at the top of this page.

If you have any questions, please contact Lee Gordon or Elinor Gollay, Israel/Palestine Committee co-chairs.