OCTOBER 26 • 2023 | 33
J
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sentatives from nine other 
countries came together in 
Japan to forge connections 
with an aim of bettering 
understanding of different 
cultures. 
As a high school student 
who has experienced school 
in an age of gun violence, 
COVID restrictions and 
societal divisions, Murphy 
brings the perspective of a 
younger community mem-
ber to the table. 
The final panelist, Rabbi 
Josh Bennett of Temple 

Israel, will bring 
his expertise 
helping his con-
gregants and 
the larger com-
munity navigate 
through con-
flict. 
“Over the 
course of my career, I have 
had the opportunity to 
work with many differ-
ent populations in con-
flict,” Bennett says. “From 
domestic relationships to 
parent-child interactions to 
community affairs, I find 
that respectful dialogue can 
be developed into a peace-
making tool. By honing our 
listening skills, conflict can 
be transformed into rela-
tionship-building. I believe 
that biblical literature and 
Jewish scholarship offer us 
many examples to guide us 
in this process.”

The con-
versation will 
be guided by 
Jeannie Weiner, 
past president of 
the JCRC/AJC, 
the community 
relations arm 
of the Detroit 
Jewish community, past 
board member of NCJW|MI, 
and the current president of 
the JHSM (Jewish Historical 
Society of Michigan).
NCJW|MI’s hope in pre-
senting “Radical Civility” as 

its Fall Focus topic is that 
participants will explore 
the incivility we’ve grown 
accustomed to encountering 
in daily life. The end goal is 
that people will come away 
from the event fortified by 
a new way to understand 
others and that they will use 
this understanding to for-
ward peace and positivity in 
our community.
This event, which takes 
place in Temple Israel’s 
main sanctuary at 5725 
Walnut Lake Road in West 
Bloomfield, is free and open 
to the public. Please note 
that advance registration is 
required and can be done 
by emailing mail@ncjwmi.
org or by calling (248) 355-
3300, ext.0. 
 

Provided by NCJW/MI. Register for 

Fall Focus at https://ncjwmi.org/ 

cal-event/fall-focus.

“BY HONING OUR LISTENING 
SKILLS, CONFLICT CAN 
BE TRANSFORMED INTO 

RELATION-BUILDING.”

— RABBI JOSH BENNETT

Rabbi Josh 
Bennett

BY ELAYNE GROSS

Jeannie 
Weiner

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