Civil Dialogue During Difficult Times

On December 19, 2023, during a time of mounting tension, violence and polarization around the war in Gaza, peace activist Moneer Rifai and Rabbi Jill Avrin held a community discussion in Hopkins, MN in an attempt to promote empathy and humanity.

The Event

The discussion was held at a community center and sponsored by the City of Hopkins (a suburb of Minneapolis, MN), the Hopkins School District, the Hopkins Police Department, and Gethsemane Lutheran Church. The turnout was high, and some people had to stand. Police and media were present.

The hosts were introduced by pastor Amy Courts Koopman, then they each introduced themselves and gave their corresponding backgrounds and how they got to be on this stage. 

After the introductions, Rabbi Jill and Moneer went through a very high-level history of the conflict, sharing some key dates, maps, and facts. They acknowledged the impossible task of being able to fully cover every aspect in a short amount of time and also acknowledged, with respect, certain aspects of history that they viewed differently.

After the historical background presentation, each gave a statement on the current events and tried to bring the focus back to what is happening today. Rabbi Jill talked about the horrific events of October 7, and how it has affected her and her young children and the local Jewish community. Moneer talked about his empathy to the Jewish trauma and anxiety but highlighted the horrifying loss of life and destruction being carried out by the Israeli military. 

The remainder of the event was spent taking questions and offering members of the community a chance to speak out. Many of the questions and comments were constructive to dialogue and understanding. Some were an expression of frustration and anger, which is understandable, given the current events.

The event was a huge success. While it was a difficult conversation, bonds were forged and friendships were formed as a result of this discussion. 

Media Coverage

Tom Crann, from All Things Considered, interviewed Rabbi Jill and Moneer prior to the event. You can read the transcript of the interview here:
https://www.mprnews.org/episode/2023/12/20/palestinian-minnesotan-and-twin-cities-rabbi-call-for-civil-dialogue

Event poster:
https://www.hopkinsmn.com/CivicSend/ViewMessage/message/219253