Resetting the Table

Community Speaking Across Conflict Workshop: connecting across difference within + beyond our Jewish community

Resetting the Table (RTT)—a nationally-renowned organization that “equips and activates leaders from all corners of American life to transform toxic political divides and build a shared future”—is coming to Birmingham.

The Birmingham Jewish Federation and Jewish Community Relations Council are hosting, and would love for YOU to apply for a seat at the table.

Who it’s for: We’re seeking an ideologically and politically diverse group of participants who are passionate about gaining, practicing, and sharing relationship- and community-building skills.

Whether you’re wanting to connect with your children, parents, coworkers, friends or fellow Jews around Israel, US politics or something else, this workshop is for you.

When it’s happening: On Tuesday, April 1, from 5:30-9PM (dinner included), we’ll host RTT’s signature training, led by a skilled RTT facilitator, for up to 40 participants at the N.E. Miles Jewish Day School.

[On Wednesday, April 2, we’re convening local Jewish community professionals who are also committed to developing these same skills.]

Why are we doing this? We see this as an investment in our community and in community relations. With the ongoing conflict in Israel and US political tensions on the rise, we’ve heard from many of you that you are struggling, and want to address this important need.

What’s the commitment? We are offering this program free of charge. In return, we ask  participants to consider finding ways to share what they’ve learned. 

In the application you’ll see a few suggestions for how to do this, whether with your own family or the broader Jewish community. We ask for the chance to engage with you after the program, and for you to attend the workshop on April 1 from 5:30-9PM. All workshop participants will additionally be offered $118 to host an optional small-group Shabbat dinner in order to practice and share these skills.

Applications are due by February 24—final decisions will be announced by March 3rd.

Resetting the Table’s celebrated workshop offers communication skill-building for charged conversations and a forum for dialogue across disagreement. Participants will exchange views and experiences, surface differences and commonalities, and practice engaging differences directly and constructively. The workshop builds community capacity to explore disagreements while strengthening relationships, trust, learning, and collaboration.

While this workshop’s conversations will focus on Israel, the skills gained translate to other political issues or divisions. All views in the workshop will come from participants themselves.

All application answers will be kept confidential to the selection committee and we ask that workshop participants treat this opportunity as a confidential space for safe sharing and open dialogue.

What is Resetting the Table?


Resetting the Table (RTT) works with Jewish organizations and communities across the country; from Hillel to summer camps, Federations and JCRCs. As of July 2024, more than 4,000 members of the Jewish community had engaged in RTT training (in that year alone!).

The Jim Joseph Foundation reports that 95% of RTT alumni report continuing to use RTT skills post-program, with majorities in 2024 reporting that they used RTT tools to “navigate differences on Israel; to address tensions post-Oct 7; to combat antisemitism; to support their constituents to speak and listen to each other better; to engage new, skeptical, and resistant audiences; and to foster an environment of communal cohesion and resilience.”

Critically, Jewish leaders report a better ability to connect with their own constituents, while also strengthening relationships with other communities.

 

For questions, email JCRC Director, Margaret Norman, at margaretn@bjf.org.

Birmingham Jewish Federation Mission:

To ensure a vibrant, inclusive Jewish community in Birmingham connected to Jews in Israel and around the world.

Jewish Community Relations Council Mission:

The Jewish Community Relations Council builds bridges of understanding within our Jewish community and to our broader community, combats antisemitism, and advocates for public policy and social justice issues important to the Birmingham Jewish community.