On September 4, members from two congregations came together to talk—addressing shared concerns, clarifying key terms, and beginning to chart new paths toward interfaith understanding. It was the start of something meaningful: more questions than answers, and that’s exactly a good sign.
Why We Came Together
We believe that openness and curiosity transform isolation into connection. That evening, we created a space where faith and new relationships could take their place at the table—beyond politics—guided by trust, the courage to ask difficult questions, and a readiness to listen.
What We Covered
We began by defining terms such as Zionism, antisemitism, and colonization, so that everyone in the room could work from a common foundation. From there, the conversation widened: we explored how governments differ from people, how diversity of view exists even within single communities, and why that variability matters when building shared ground. One of the central questions was What does peace actually require? Ideas ranged from recognition and security to leadership and clearly defined borders—but a recurring insight was that when trust falters, extremism fills the space and progress stalls. We also explored how media influences our view of the world—how quickly narratives spread, how funding affects coverage, and how corrections rarely match the reach of first impressions. We also focused on the coming generation—hearing parents express their concerns about how influences in college shape their children. Finally, we asked how we deal with conversations closer to home: how can we discuss policies without labeling entire groups? How can friendships and family ties stay intact when dialogue turns tense?
Moving from Dialogue to Action
Talking is only the start. Here’s how the intention turned toward action—beginning with the individual and expanding outward:
- On your own: Learn one new term, open a credible article, share something meaningful.
- With friends or family: Check in, listen first, model what respectful disagreement looks like.
- In your community: Attend interfaith events, ask schools and workplaces how they are protecting and including all students and staff, help build spaces where trust and belonging matter.
Resources at Your Fingertips
For anyone wanting to continue learning and exploring: a curated collection of books, podcasts, videos and organizations awaits. On the reading list: Israel: A Simple Guide to the Most Misunderstood Country on Earth (Noa Tishby); Conversations with a Jew (Noa Tishby & Emmanuel Acho); People Love Dead Jews (Dara Horn); Ten Things Every Jew Should Know Before College ; The Gates of Gaza ; Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn — Daniel Gordis. Audio-visual resources include The Israel Guys, StandWithUs Video Library, Unpacked Series and They Stand Corrected — Josh Levs. Organizations worth checking out are HonestReporting (for media bias), Bearing Witness Institute at Marist, and the CUFI Israel Course. And for voices to follow: Rudy Rochman. These materials support the conversation that began on September 4—and offer a path forward.
Looking Ahead: Topics We’ll Explore
As this dialogue continues, we’ll tackle new topics that build on our foundation: The history and use of the term Palestine , Two-state scenarios , Campus climate – October 8 film, Refugee definitions, and unpacking The phrase “from the river to the sea”. These subjects are timely, complex, and relevant—inviting exploration, not easy answers.
In our events, we also use the following resources (if interested, contact us to request access or learn more):
💬 BCTC — What We Do
🧭 Take Action Plan
🪧 Defining the Three Terms
📰 Responsible Media Guide
⚖️ Two Truths & Slogans Exercise
🎗 Two Pins
📄 Ms. Rachel Controversy Brief
Want to Attend or Host the Next Event?
If this conversation resonates and you’d like to bring it into your community—whether as an attendee or a host—please let us know.
Let’s keep the momentum going and create spaces where understanding, curiosity, and respect lead the way.
Final Thought
The world is changing, and our shared story is still unfolding. What happened on September 4 matters—not because every question was answered, but because the door was opened. Staying curious, listening with care, and showing up for one another still matters.
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