equally challenging for Samia to
hear how I see my Jewish identity
as inseparable from my Zionist
identity. Zionism is part of my core
identity — my historical connection
to the Land of Israel — the connector
to all Jewish people, an expression
of Jewish values, the importance of
life, oneness and justice, a statement
Samia had never heard before.
Samia heard my fears that Hamas,
Hezbollah and Iran want to anni-
hilate all Jews. She learned when I
hear anti-Zionist slurs, I feel they
are not just rejecting my identity
as a Jew, but the collective bond I
feel with all Jews, and that I feel
anti-Zionist remarks are an attempt
to delegitimize our right as Jews
for self-determination, as well as
negating our legitimate right to co-
existence as Jews in our historical
birthplace and homeland, Israel.
Our next hurdle was to role play
the other. It was tough to express
words that were not "our" truth. We
were fearless and committed to deep-
ening our understanding. Reversing
roles, I experienced Samia's anger,
and Samia experienced my fear.
Through the process of being the
other, we both felt truly heard. The
process stretched our boundaries;
we experienced a powerful shift
in perceptions. Paradoxically, we
acknowledged each other's narrative
without giving up our own beliefs.
We were ready for the third step of
the Tectonic process.
The third step is to "lead con-
sciously through the lens of evolu-
tion and not through the lens of
survival:' We were willing to let
go of the footprint of the past and
walk where there are no footprints,
holding each other accountable and
standing with each other in both
communities, especially during
times of crisis.
When Samia and I make a pre-
sentation, I speak about Arab and
Islamophobia and Samia speaks
about anti-Semitism and explains
why Jews feel anti-Zionism is anti-
Semitism. Paired and committed,
we step together into the fault line,
probe below the surface, examine
the tension and use it to connect our
communities.
•dhie
While You're Living Your Life
❑
Craig Is Getting Ready
JN Survey
`"-
President Barack Obama is
proposing a 2014 budget that
includes reductions in the growth of Social Security
and other benefit programs. The plan, if enacted,
would mean a cut in Social Security benefits of
$1,000 for the average 85-year-old and smaller
cuts for younger retirees. What do you think?
❑ The government should keep
its hands off Social Security.
Scan the QR code
with your smart
phone to take our
survey, or logon to
www.jewishnews.
com/survey.
❑ Reductions in Social Security
are needed to tackle the
deficit.
Last Week's Results
Should Israel's ultra-Orthodox yeshivah students
be drafted into military service?
50 0/0: Yes. Everyone should be
treated equally.
50%: No. They should be
exempted from service.
I You Can Count On
The Craig Fahle Show
Weekdays at 10 a.m. & 7 p.m.
WDET is a
service of
WAYNE STATE
UNIVERSITY
JN
April 11 • 2013
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