As we continue to bring people together to tackle tough conversations, we invite you to join us to learn about, explore, and share thoughts on Israel in small groups. Grounded in Ari Shavit’s book My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Zionism, our facilitated groups will meet over 6 sessions from February – June to discuss specific chapters and key passages.
The series is designed for you to participate in all 6 sessions. Participants are encouraged to come to each session, though attendance at every session is not required.
Participants shall purchase/borrow their books on their own.
Registration for the first two sessions is now open!
Registration for sessions 3-4 and sessions 5-6 will be released separately at a later date.
Note: each session includes a choice between two dates; participants should select only one date per session.
| Session/Topic | Dates | Assigned Reading |
| Session #1: Early Stage of Zionist settlement; Kibbutz Ein Harod | Thursday, February 22 at 7 p.m. OR Sunday, February 25 at 4 p.m. | Introduction; Chapter 2 |
| Session #2: Discovery & Creation of the Zionist Myth | Tuesday, March 12 at 7 p.m. OR Sunday, March 17 at 4 p.m. | Chapter 4 |
| Session #3: 1948 War of Independence; battle at Lydda | Thursday, April 4 at 7 p.m. OR Sunday, April 7 at 2:30 p.m. | Chapter 5 |
| Session #4: Settlement, 1975 | Tuesday, April 30 at 7 p.m. OR Sunday, May 5 at 5 p.m. | Chapter 8 |
| Session #5: Peace, 1993 | Thursday, May 16 at 7 p.m. OR Sunday, May 19 at 4 p.m. | Chapter 10 |
| Session #6: Conclusions | Sunday, June 2 at 4 p.m. OR Thursday, June 6 at 7 p.m. | Chapter 17 |
Ari Shavit was a journalist for Haaretz and his book weaves a journalistic approach with personal narrative in his telling of modern Israeli history, from the late 1880s through recent years. His book presents both the need for safety and security for Jews and calls Israelis to account for certain actions taken.
Note: In selecting this book Ari Shavit’s, My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Zionism, we are aware of the author’s disturbing history of sexual misconduct for which he was forced to leave his position as a columnist for Ha’aretz, Israel’s leading newspaper. This book remains, in our estimation, the single best work for the general reader explaining the multiple complexities of Israel today. In recommending it, we have chosen to separate the artist from the art.