And they saw the God of Israel: Under His feet there was the likeness of a pavement of sapphire, like the very sky for purity.
—Exodus 24:10
Guide to Hosting a Sapir Salon
We know you love a great conversation. We do, too.
That’s why we’re inviting you to host your own SAPIR Salon and join a like-minded community of different-minded thinkers.
How? It’s easy. After the release of each issue, gather a few friends for thought-provoking and meaningful conversations around the essays featured in the journal. You can host one in your living room, at a nearby park, or anywhere where you feel most comfortable having a rich discussion. We invite you to join SAPIR Salons Facebook Group to create or join a community near you.
Use the guide below and let the good conversations roll!
Be sure to email us at salons@sapirjournal.org with 1) a photo of your SAPIR Salon in-action and 2) an insightful takeaway from the conversation. We will feature a select number of submissions in one of our newsletters soon after the issue’s launch. And if you’re one of the first 15 to submit a photo and takeaway, we will send you a SAPIR mug or SAPIR water bottle.
Recommended articles to get your conversation started
- To what extent do you agree or disagree with Hazony’s assessment that the idea of allyship that animated Jewish public life for a century has failed and requires a reassessment?
- Did you have a view on “allyship” prior to October 7, 2023, and if so, how has your own conception of a need for allies changed, or remained the same since then?
- What might be the intended and unintended consequences of Hazony’s recommendation that Jews should no longer keep some distance from those who don’t share our values and that we should stop imposing broader litmus tests on allyship?
- The essay cites the approach of the Druze as a model that Jews in the Diaspora should explore and possibly emulate. Do you see that as an apt comparison in your community?
- Shaw references the contradictions in young activists’ stances—such as supporting free speech but also calling to restrict certain types of expression. Why do you think these inconsistencies exist, and how should society navigate them?
- Shaw argues that some people, especially those with a strong need for belonging or unresolved trauma, are more susceptible to radical movements. Do you think group belonging is always dangerous—or can it be healthy? What about when it relates to religious practice?
- The essay explores how Jewish students can feel silenced or cornered in activist spaces. How should Jewish institutions support young people navigating these environments?
- Shaw calls for psychological education and critical thinking tools within Jewish communities to address the psychological roots of ideological extremism. How well-equipped do you think Jewish communal institutions (synagogues, day schools, and other Jewish organizations) are to address the matter?
- To what extent do you find the movement-building framework a compelling explanation for Palestinian activism’s success? Are there other factors that might contribute to the ascent of the Palestinian movement and, if so, what might they be?
- In what ways could pro-Israel activists adopt similar ideas, tactics, and strategies to further mainstream the movement? Do you think success is possible?
- What opportunities or challenges for Israel activism does the movement-building framework leave out?
- Can you think of any activist movements that have achieved success without following this framework? Or any that followed the playbook but still did not succeed? What can we learn from such examples?
