The Jewish Community Conversation will hopefully be a transformational event aimed at beginning a process of re-setting and shifting the behaviors, attitudes and culture of the Jewish community of Greater Phoenix.  The Jewish Community Conversation will be the ultimate “big tent” event that will welcome as many of the community’s 100,000+ Jews who wish to participate. The event will be highly participatory and interactive and will hopefully change the paradigm and the narrative for the way in which the Jewish community responds to communal needs by re-formulating our collective vision and aspirations for the future.

The Jewish Community Conversation is intended to address the pent up need and desire in our community to convene and dialogue with one another in a open and inclusive setting where the free exchange of ideas, opinions and suggestions can be shared in a healthy and positive environment aimed at constructive solutions and community building.

For 40 years the Jewish Community Foundation has been dedicated to financing the long-term financial future of the Jewish community through endowment building, philanthropic asset management, strategic grant making, and other capacity building and community building initiatives. The JCF began the planning of the Jewish Community Conversation more than a year ago when the early indicators showed storm clouds developing over our network of Jewish communal organizations, agencies, synagogues and programs. The JCF has long been seen as one of the most trusted and independent communal organizations in the region with a unique and objective view of the community.

As an authentic honest broker of ideas and issues, the JCF is particularly well positioned and capable of being the convener for the Jewish Community Conversation. Like many other private and community foundations - large and small, secular or faith-based - the JCF is committed to using its resources and independent thinking to address community challenges and assist in seeking solutions which will result in a stronger, more cohesive Jewish community that reflects the diversity and unique characteristics of this emerging community.

The Jewish Community Conversation will be held from 1pm – 5pm Sunday, September 11, 2011 in the Second Floor Conference Center of the Memorial Union at Arizona State University.

No. The Jewish Community Conversation will be FREE to all participants. There will be no solicitation of funds at the Jewish Community Conversation nor will any attendee be asked for money during or after the program as a result of their participation in the event. The Jewish Community Conversation is NOT about money…it is about providing an opportunity for Jews in the Valley to share their ideas, aspirations and even dreams for ways to strengthen the local Jewish community.

Online registration is available by going to the following link:
jcf.wufoo.com/forms/the-jewish-community-conversation/

If you receive this document electronically you can click on the link. If you have a hard copy of these Frequently Asked Questions then type this link into your web browser and hit ENTER. You will be taken to the registration form. A separate form must be completed for each individual registering to attend.

Information will be available through the JEWISH NEWS, the Jewish Community Foundation and most Jewish communal organizations in the Valley and the special website set up for this event:

www.communityconversationaz.org

No. Complimentary beverages and snacks will be available but no meals will be served. Dietary laws will be observed.

No. The Jewish Community Conversation will be open to anyone and everyone who cares about the welfare and betterment of the Jewish community. The event will be open to Jewish communal professionals, board members of Jewish organizations, volunteers and supporters of every local Jewish agency, synagogue and program together with those Jews throughout the community who may not now or ever been involved in local Jewish life. It is open to those who would like their voice and their heart to be heard about the Jewish community they would like to see in our Valley and beyond.

The Jewish Community Conversation will begin with an opening plenary session that all participants will attend. The plenary speaker and visiting scholar will be Prof. Steven Cohen, research Professor of Jewish Social Policy at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of religion and Director of the Berman Jewish Policy Archive at NYU Wagner. Prof. Cohen is one of the most admired and distinguished social scientists, policy analysts, researchers, writers and scholars on the topic of American Jewry. There perhaps is no one better able to lead a conversation about the changing dynamics of Jewish life in America than Steven Cohen. Prof. Cohen’s opening remarks will help set the framework for a richer and fuller understanding of the state of American Jewry today. Following his presentation about where we are and where we may be heading as a Jewish people in this country, attendees will be encouraged to participate by commenting and sharing their own points of view, ideas, suggestions and comments about Prof. Cohen’s opening remarks.

There will be two sessions of breakout conversations. The first will divide attendees into smaller groups where conversation leaders will start the small group discussions by presenting a series of questions which individuals will be able to react to and discuss together.

After a refreshment break, the second set of breakout conversations will take place with participants going to the session of their choice based on pre-determined themes or topics. These will be small group discussions which will also be moderated by a discussion leader. In addition to designated themed breakouts, there will also be an opportunity for participants to take advantage of the Open Space Model where groups can form to talk about the subjects they want to explore together which has bearing on the current or future condition of our community.

This is not intended to be a strategic planning process for the Jewish community. It is instead intended to help re-frame the way in which the community comes together to dialogue with one another and share ideas and opinions. Some experts believe that there are times when the very process is the product or outcome. The Jewish Community Foundation, working with Prof. Cohen, will carefully analyze and study the way this event turns out and consider what it can do to continue the energy and enthusiasm around constructive dialogue regarding the current and future state of our Jewish community. One outcome that we hope will be achieved will be the beginning of an era of respectful listening to disparate and divergent viewpoints and the end of a time when dissenting points of view are not given fair hearing. This initial convening may well become the first of other forums where different, new or innovative ideas can be exchanged.

Yes. Volunteers will be needed to help with the logistics of the day and to assist in the preparations leading up to the event itself. If you are interested in volunteering please call the Jewish Community Foundation 480.699.1717

You can also help by getting the word out about the Jewish Community Conversation. The JCF is happy to provide you with promotional information for you to use when communicating with your friends and family. We are hoping for hundreds of participants on September 11,2011, so you can help by distributing messages electronically and in other ways. If you would like to help in the promotional aspects of this event please call the JCF office.

Yes. The JCF would like every Jewish communal organization, agency, synagogue or program in the Valley to be a Jewish Community Conversation Partner. As a partner, local Jewish organizations will NOT be asked for any financial support or commitment. Partners will be asked to actively and enthusiastically encourage their board members, volunteers, staff and supporters to attend the Jewish Community Conversation. You can help by asking the leader of a Jewish organization that you are involved with (i.e. Executive Director, Board Chair/President, Rabbi) to commit the organization to become involved with this program by promoting it to those who care about strengthening Jewish life in our region. Organization leaders wishing to become Jewish Community Conversation Partners should call Stu Turgel, President of the Jewish Community Foundation at 480.699.1717