Roots has been invited by dozens of institutions to give virtual presentations. Most last about 90 minutes, and feature our Palestinian and Israeli activists sharing their stories of transformation and Roots’ incredible grassroots work. Other presentations focus on seeing the conflict through the lens of Islam or Judaism, or give an opportunity to hear from our youngest activists!

Please note that we are also happy to work with you
to devise a session plan that suits your particular audience.

For any questions – email us

Here are some of the different sessions we deliver for all kinds of institutions – churches, mosques, synagogues, universities, high schools, community groups, and others.

  1. Understanding Roots: A pair of Roots leaders – one Israeli and one Palestinian – tell their personal stories, offering inspiring accounts of inner transformation as a result of face-to-face contact with the other side. This presentation addresses the narratives, identities and pathos of daily life within the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, outlines the philosophy and the work of Roots itself, and always leaves time for Q & A. 

  2. Palestinian Perspectives on the Holocaust: The memory of the Holocaust plays a significant role in the fraught relationship between Israeli Jews and Palestinians, and it is undoubtedly a factor in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. So it is part of the 'painful hope' of Roots/Shorashim/Judur to delve into what the Holocaust means not only for Jews but for Palestinians as well. In this program, one Palestinian activist connected to Roots talks about some Palestinian perspectives on the Holocaust. They discuss their own and their community’s relationship to the Holocaust, and the role that they see the Holocaust playing in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

  3. Peace Building From Within National Identities: One of the core intentions of our initiative, “Roots,” is that peace building must embrace the roots of our respective national identities. While there is certainly a Western humanistic-based approach to peace that demands putting our nationalist affinities aside for the sake of peace, Roots believes that only by honoring and working from within our nationalisms can we forge meaningful reconciliation. Our Israeli and Palestinian activists will share their own understandings of Muslim Palestinianism and Religious Zionism, and how Roots navigates these competing movements. 

  4. Hassidic Texts of Passionate Pluralism: Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger, Roots cofounder and director of international relations will explore and explicate Hassidic texts about pluralism and what may be called ‘the humility of the journey’ that give us a wonderful theoretical framework for holding the stick from both ends at the same time – to be passionately dedicated to what you believe in and at the same time to listen to, respect, learn from and even accept opposing truths. These are texts that provide some of the Jewish theological foundations for the work of Roots that tries to find room in our hearts for both the Jewish and the Palestinian narratives and experiences.

  5. Jews and Judaism in the Quran and in Islam: Presented by Khaled Abu Awwad, Palestinian co-director of Roots. Khaled will outline the story of the Jews as told in the Quran and share interpretations that open a path for reconciliation between the religions today.

  6. The Holy Land in the Quran and in Islam: Presented by Khaled Abu Awwad, Palestinian co-director of Roots.

  7. The Religious-Secular Divide in Palestinian Muslim Society and its Ramifications for Palestinian-Israeli Reconciliation: Presented by Roots activist Noor Awad.

Please note:

  • We recommend that the presentations be allotted 90 minutes, but if requested, we can limit any given presentation to one hour.

  • We are happy to work with you to tailor a presentation to your audience

Prices

1-4 presentations
$600 per session

5+ presentations
$500 per session

*for smaller groups, we may be able to reduce the price slightly