In times of war and societal trauma, when we are consumed with fear and news/social media and only glimmers of hope, we can find small rays of healing and peace by being in community with others. A little bit of light in the tight spaces of our minds and hearts can create openings and possibility. This practice is meant to create openings: time to reflect on your situation, be held by others, and access collective wisdom. It is also meant to create “practices” to keep opening the heart, resisting the pull from “right” and “wrong.” We do this within the context of community while knowing there will be a diversity of perspectives shared. The main thing is that the group can and wants to hold each other’s grief together.

The Circle relies on deep listening. In the words of Roots founders Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger and Ali Abu Awwad: “Listen until it hurts. And then listen more.” What does this mean? Listen for information that challenges your own assumptions. Listen with your wide-open heart, putting yourself in the shoes of the other. Listen from the future and from the whole. What’s wanting to come through this circle of ours? How are we a small vessel of the highest potential future for Israelis/Palestinians?

If any of that sounds like the kind of space you are committed to building within our community, please join us on Wednesday, May 7 at 7:00pm. We are grateful that Rabbi Susan Leider will facilitate this opportunity where we will engage in Listening Circles to share and hear various perspectives. This program was originally scheduled for November but had to be postponed due to illness. 

Attendance for this in-person-only event is limited to CBH Partners and up to 60 people – sign up now!  If we are not able to offer you a space we will add you to our waitlist. RSVP required. As a courtesy, we ask that if you register for this event and are unable to attend to please let us know by email at office@bethaverim.org so that we can release your spot to someone else.

Special note: This is not a practice in advice-giving or problem solving. Just the act of deep listening, mirroring and tuning in to collective insight creates the conditions for healing and, possibly, for something new to emerge. Clarifying questions (not leading) are fine to help a person deepen their understanding.