The social justice agenda and the Israel agenda overlap awkwardly. They are kept separate in our activism, our communities and often in our own thoughts. When they do, we are left with conflicted thoughts, bruised feelings, and shortcomings of priority, loyalty, knowledge. Rightly so, they’re described as two separate “worlds” of Jewish life.
Do they need to be separate? How do they impact our communities? Are the two issues incompatible? Do we end up choosing one over the other, when and why? And can we envision a future Jewish community which integrates social justice with Israel, Israel with social justice, together and elsewhere?
This is why Jewschool is co-sponsoring Love, Hate, and the Jewish State: A Conversation on Social Justice and Israel on Thursday, June 18th at 7 pm. This evening dialogue is brought to you by the folks you trust: social justice leaders who have grown frustrated at being unable to discuss this conflict openly. This is this first attempt at creating an open space where we can hear each other, air our personal qualms, celebrate our similarities, and perhaps think anew about what to do.
This agenda-free, apolitical, open and non-persuasive conversation has one goal: to hear you, to hear each other. Come and leave your mark — full sponsors list below the fold.

Social justice. Israel.
Two issues that deeply engage and spark action in the Jewish community, yet are kept apart in our institutions and, for many of us, in our own lives and activism.
Why is it so hard to talk about Jewish social justice and Israel? Are the two issues incompatible? Does separating them from each other impact our communities and our own identities?
This open, non-political, facilitated dialogue will enable you to meet and wrestle with this subject with a wide variety of other young social and Israel activists.
Leave your mark.
Thursday, June 18, 7 pm – 9:30 pm followed by a reception with JDub Records
The JCC in Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam at 76th Street
This is a 21+ event.
Register now.
This event is brought to you by Makom and New Israel Fund, in partnership with the following co-sponsors: AVODAH: The Jewish Service Corps, Bnai Jeshurun’s Tze’irim, Brooklyn Jews, Encounter, Foundation for Jewish Culture, The JCC in Manhattan, JDub Records, Jewcy.com, Jewschool.com, Just Vision, Kehillat Hadar, Kol Zimrah, Romemu, The Skirball Center for Adult Jewish Learning, The Union of Progressive Zionists and Zeek.