Love, Hate and the Jewish State

May 17, 2012

Zeek is proud to cosponsor the New Israel Fund’s Love, Hate and the Jewish State: A Conversation on Israel and Social Justice May 17, 2012, 7–10 PM Hub San Francisco in the SF Chronicle Building

Since the first edition of the “Love, Hate, and the Jewish State” series debuted in Manhattan in 2009, it has become the home of open, direct, and non-persuasive dialogue on the intersection of social justice and Israel for Jews in their 20s and 30s. We now have the opportunity to bring this cutting-edge event to the Bay Area.

The Problem Too often, Israel and social justice have represented unconnected, sometimes polar, options for involvement and activism for young Jews. A dissonance that many experience between a connection to Israel and a commitment to social change creates numerous tensions in our Jewish community—at times unspoken, and at times explosive. These tensions have led to internal conflicts, ruptured relationships, and, at times, complete disengagement either from Israel or from the Jewish community for many Jews in their 20s and 30s.

Addressing the Challenge “Love, Hate and the Jewish State” help creates a dialogue for young Jews to grapple together—in their own authentic voices—with these tensions and challenges. We aim to support young Jews to move beyond paralysis and into direct conversation on difficult issues in a collegial, constructive, and vibrant environment that affirms and makes space for difference of opinion and experience. Our immediate goal is a nuanced dialogue that fosters community without shying away from differences. Our long-term goal is an enhanced capacity for our young adult community to deal with the complexities of the relationship between social justice and Israel.

The Event
The event will take place on Thursday, May 17, 2012 at the Hub San Francisco in the SF Chronicle building, and will bring together 100 young Jews (21–40) from the Jewish social justice communities. The central activities will be highly interactive, exploring the issues described above, and will help raise the following themes and questions for participants:
• How do your relationship to Israel and your commitment to social justice causes connect to and/or conflict with one another?
• What range of feelings do you experience related to Israel?
• Are there particular social justice concerns in Israel, if any, that complicate your relationship to these questions?
• What, if anything, would you most like to be able to discuss further, more openly, or more honestly with peers, family, and the broader community regarding Israel?
• What has characterized your experience of the conversation about Israel in the Jewish community in the Bay Area?
• What has characterized your experience of the conversation about Israel with others committed to social justice in the Bay Area?
• What kind of a public conversation about Israel would you like to see in the Bay Area? In your professional circles? In your personal and social life?

More Info & Registration.