What is Middle Meets and who is participating?

Middle Meets is a series of facilitated proactive dialogues between college-aged students, developed in response to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. Initiated by a group of university students in response to the current situation in the Middle East, the dialogues include Jewish and Palestinian Israeli students from various universities & academic backgrounds in Israel, as well as American students.

 

Why Middle Meets?

 

 

On many campuses, discussions about the Israeli / Palestinian conflict often devolve into rigid binaries, reducing complex issues to simplistic narratives of "us vs. them" or "absolute good vs. absolute evil." Free speech opportunities and the polarization / lack of nuanced dialogue stifles critical thinking, silences alternative viewpoints, and fosters division that may lead to a lack of any dialogue at all.

Middle Meets' GOAL is for students to share their unique perspectives, in order to help develop sustainable principles for navigating complex discourse and dialogue, to embrace contradictions, and to honor diverse perspectives with honesty.

 

 

Who is leading Middle Meets?  

 

Professor Elitzur Bar-Asher Siegal is spearheading Middle Meets with a student leadership team that includes Jewish and Palestinian students from Hebrew University and Tel Aviv University under the auspices of the Faculty of Humanities at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

 

What are Middle Meets primary objectives?

 

Middle Meets is committed to promoting a richer, more inclusive student-led discourse that encourages understanding and intellectual growth in order to address hate speech across the political spectrum; promote informed, compassionate, and multifaceted discourse; and create a sustainable platform for dialogue. Discussions are encouraged on sensitive topics stemming from numerous perspectives including anti-semitism, anti-islamism, judeo-centrism, and palestinian- centrism so that independent dialogue can be inspired and that students are able to develop guidelines for future discourse online, in person, and on social media.

 

How are the Dialogues Structured?

 

Middle Meets sessions begin with virtual dialog and then move to in-person 1-on-1 meetings & small group discussions. Content includes diverse reading materials and facilitated dialogue. Separate Israeli and American dialogue groups of 15-20 students each meet with a facilitator (Israeli groups are composed of both Arab and Jewish students) where they prioritize active listening and are encouraged to reflect on difficult situations.

 

What are the Session Guidelines?

 

Group Composition: Diverse groups reflect a wide range of perspectives and consist of groups of 15-20 students from Israel (Arab and Jewish) and from the U.S. 

* Most of the Arabic speaking students in Middle Meets identify as Palestinian who reside in Israel, while the Hebrew speaking students identify as Jewish-Israelis. However, we are attentive to the way each member of the group wants to be identified and adapt ourselves accordingly. 

• Diverse Reading Materials: Academic texts representing multiple viewpoints and themes such as colonialism, genocide, academic politicization, violence, conflict, identity politics, hate speech, and solidarity are carefully selected to indirectly touch on aspects of the conflict to provoke rich, insightful discussions. We begin by discussing broad topics that have universal relevance, allowing participants to explore these issues in general terms. As the dialogue progresses, we then gradually narrow the focus to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, building on the insights gained from the earlier, more abstract discussions. 

• Facilitated Dialogue: Experienced facilitators guide the rich, insightful discussions to deepen the dialogue, fostering a more interconnected and empathetic discourse across national and cultural lines. ○ The initial focus is on deep listening, with dialogue being gradually introduced and expanded as familiarity and trust among participants grows. 

• In the next phase, the goal is for students from Israel and the U.S. to come together to engage in discussions that build on the trust and understanding developed in their initial virtual group sessions to deepen the dialogue, fostering a more interconnected and empathetic discourse across national and cultural lines.

 

 

What are Our Expected Outcomes?

 

• Facilitate Meaningful Discussions: Enable diverse groups to engage in thoughtful discussions on sensitive topics stemming from numerous perspectives including those focused on anti-Semitism, anti-Islamism, Judeo-centrism, and Palestinian-centrism. 

• Encourage Independent Dialogue: Inspire participants to continue the discussions independently, fostering an appreciation for the value of nuanced and informed dialogue. 

• Develop Guidelines for Future Discourse: Collaboratively create a document that outlines guidelines for future discussions, while also refining and improving the program's format.

• Launch a Social Media Presence: Establish a dedicated social media channel to document the project's progress and achievements, to share and elicit broader audience interaction and impact.

 

 

What’s Next for Us?

 

In the 2024-2025 academic year, our goal is to establish five groups in universities across Israel and the U.S. These groups will engage in both virtual and in-person meetings, with a focus on organizing at least one in-person gathering where students from both countries can connect.

 

How Can You Support Middle Meets? 

 

 

Your support will help to promote a more thoughtful, empathetic, and informed dialogue on complex issues, fostering understanding and collaboration among future leaders. All donations will directly fund critical components for the success of this transformative dialogue initiative including personnel, venue expenses, guest speaker honorariums, and essential resources. 

Middle Meets is a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. To speak with our team and review our 2024-2025 budget, please contact Robyn Stein at stein.robyn@gmail.com or What's App 917.763.0484.

 

 

 

What Media Attention has Middle Meets Received?

 

Our media clips capture the enthusiasm and commitment of our participants, vividly demonstrating the transformative potential of this program.

Please check out these links of articles, photos, and media clips from Israel, Italy , and Argentina