Seattle Z3: Relating to Israel@75

Let’s talk Israel. It can be a tough topic for many—and we invite you to explore it with us as a community at Seattle Z3.

We welcome community members with different opinions, understanding of the complexities, and ideals to join us for workshop learning, facilitated conversations, and award-winning speakers as we delve into the relationship between Israel and North American Jewry. This event seeks to provide our community with a path, tools, and the opportunity to drive curious, caring, and constructive conversations about these two centers of thriving Jewish life.

Join us to learn and practice skills on civil discourse designed to lead us to better understanding and gain knowledge to build confidence entering the discussion. There are several ways to participate throughout the day, both virtually and in person. Choose in-person or virtual workshop options then join us for the afternoon lunch conversations. See the full event descriptions below.

Presented in partnership with Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle and made possible in part by a grant from The Z3 Project | Oshman Family JCC. Z3 is a registered trademark of the Oshman Family JCC. Learn about the Z3 Project at Z3Project.org.

Registration:

• All-Day Pass: $36 (includes virtual workshop and tickets to rescheduled keynote conversation with Eric Alterman, postponed until fall)
• Add Book Purchase: Eric Alterman’s “We Are Not One”: $25 advance; $35 at the door

MORNING: WORKSHOP

Workshop Track 2: “Israel Masterclass 101: Visions in Tension”
Facilitated by Lauren Fisher Cohen, Colby College
10:30 am-noon | Virtual
Many of us are uncomfortable speaking about Israel as American Jews or Jews living in America, feeling that we are not proficient in the facts, history, nuances, or current events. This inquiry-based participatory course offers a balanced, foundational introduction. In two Zoom sessions, “Visions in Tension: Israel’s Declaration of Independence Then and Now” uses a value-based pedagogical approach to explore how some of the major tensions in Israeli society today can be traced back the visions of its founding. Through a close reading of the Israeli Declaration of Independence, we will understand this primary source document as a collection of aspirational visions—some of which function in harmony and some of which function in tension—for the enactment of political Zionism. By the end of this session, participants will have a foundational knowledge of the complexities sitting at the forefront of Israel today, its relationship to North American Jewry, and a new framing for navigating charged conversations. Max 40 registrants. Requires purchase of an All-Day Pass.

BONUS: VIRTUAL FILM SCREENING

THE NEW JEW (TV series episode)
Virtual screening access for all participants
After this day-long, immersive experience, all attendees are invited to laugh and watch the groundbreaking Israeli TV show THE NEW JEW. This comedic bridge to understanding between Israelis and North American Jews was written by Moshe Samuels (Resetting the Table) and stars Israeli comedian/TV personality Guri Alfi. Virtual ticket emailed (72-hour streaming window)

POSTPONED UNTIL FALL

Due to a personal emergency, Workshop I with Michele Freed of Resetting the Table has been postponed until fall. The afternoon keynote conversation with Eric Alterman and the in-person lunchtime conversation have been postponed as well.

Workshop Track 1: “Courageous Communications Across Differences” – POSTPONED
Facilitated by Michele Freed, Resetting the Table
9:30 am-12:30 pm | In Person
This workshop offers communication skill-building for charged conversations in general, leading up to framing and reflecting on Israel as a forum for dialogue across disagreement. Participants will exchange views and experiences around political and social differences and around Israel, explore surface differences and commonalities, and practice communication skills for engaging differences directly and constructively. The workshop builds community capacity to explore disagreements while strengthening relationships, trust, learning, and collaboration. Max 40 registrants. Requires purchase of an All-Day Pass.

Lunchtime Conversation: Z3 Table Topics + Resetting the Table Prompts – POSTPONED
1 pm | In Person
In the morning sessions, participants will learn frameworks and tools for engaging in constructive conversations across differences and building the capacity to explore disagreements while strengthening relationships, trust, learning, and collaboration. All registrants are invited to join together for new and continued table-talk conversations, structured and supported by prompts provided by Z3 and Resetting the Table. Lunch included with All-Day Pass + optional with purchase of Keynote Conversation tickets.

Keynote Conversation – POSTPONED
Eric Alterman: “We Are Not One: A History of America’s Fight Over Israel”
All-Day Pass includes access to this rescheduled event. Registrants will be notified and issued tickets for the new fall date.
Seattle Z3 concludes with a keynote conversation with bestselling author, professor, and award-winning historian Eric Alterman. He’ll discuss his latest book, “We Are Not One: A History of America’s Fight Over Israel,” which uncovers the surprising roots of America’s long alliance with Israel, the Zionist movement that gave birth to it, and its effect on American Jewish collective identity. For those not participating in the morning workshops, an optional lunch starts at 1:30 pm. Book sales + signing after the event.

Eric Alterman is a CUNY Distinguished Professor of English and Journalism. He was the “The Liberal Media” columnist for “The Nation” for 25 years and is now a columnist for “The American Prospect.” He is the author of 12 books, most recently, “We Are Not One: A History of America’s Fight Over Israel” (2022). Alterman has been a columnist for “The Guardian,” “The Forward,” “Moment,” MSNBC, and “Rolling Stone,” and a contributor to “The New Yorker” and “The Atlantic.” He is a former senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and the World Policy Institute, a media fellow at the Hoover Institute, and a fellow of the Schusterman Foundation and the Society of American Historians. Alterman’s many awards include the George Orwell Prize, the Stephen Crane Literary Award, and he is a two-time winner of the Mirror Award for media criticism. He is a graduate of Cornell (BA), Yale (MA), and Stanford (Ph.D.).

About The Z3 Project

The Z3 Project is an initiative of the Oshman Family JCC in Palo Alto, California, with the aim of modeling how Zionism can evolve and promoting a stronger relationship between Diaspora Jewry and Israel through meaningful discussions.

Seattle Z3 is a pilot project based on the Z3 Conference by the Palo Alto JCC, presented in partnership with Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle and The Z3 Project. Seattle Z3 seeks to provide our community with a path, tools, and the opportunity to drive curious, caring, constructive, and community-building conversations around complex often tense relationship between Israel and North American Jewry.

Event Details + Box Office Policies

• ALL SALES FINAL | NO REFUNDS | NO EXCHANGES | NO CREDITS
• General admission | Doors open 30 min. before showtime
• Patrons will receive a reminder email with event details and livestream links one (1) hour before showtime.
• Concessions, including wine/beer for sale before the show in the J Café. Presale purchases require proof of purchase and valid ID. No outside food allowed.
• Facility and processing fees apply at checkout
• Please view our Welcome Backpage for current venue policies, including vaccination and mask policies.
• Patrons agree to all SJCC terms and conditions above and at SJCC Box Office + Venue PoliciesPage.

Need Help?
Contact BoxOffice@sjcc.org | 206-388-0833 (email is best for a quick response!)
(response time: 24 hrs weekdays-48 hrs weekends)

Visit SJCC Arts + Ideas Box Office for full list of policies.