At Friday’s JOI session, fellows revisited the art of the 1:1, paying special attention to the role agitation plays in these intentional meetings. Together with Rabbi Stephanie Kolin, the group discussed what makes a good agitation, including respectful pushing, trust and the ability to tie action to a developing leader’s self-interest. We also read from the Book of Esther, in which Mordecai agitates his cousin Esther to act in her own self-interest and that . . . → Read More: JOI Session | Nov. 6, 2009

At this session, Fellows workshopped “stories of self” that they had a week to prepare. Prior to the session, Fellows were asked to reflect on a story that would help its listener to understand why the Fellow was organizing now. At the session, each fellow was given 5 minutes to tell her story to the group, and then the group had a short period of time to respond each story with positive feedback, constructive . . . → Read More: JOI Session | Oct. 30, 2009

This week we started our discussion on how to use stories to articulate values and build relationships. Telling our stories lets us explain why we’re doing this work. Stories can be especially important when coming into a community as an outsider. We shouldn’t be ashamed of our privilege, but we should be able to answer honestly why we’re there. We’re not selfless people, so what’s in it for us? It can also be helpful . . . → Read More: JOI Session | Oct. 23, 2009

In the first hour we worked with the two values that we are focusing on as a group right now: patience and calmness. Eliza led the group in some breathing and meditation exercises that can hopefully be used to maintain focus in our work when we are tempted to distraction and/or feeling overwhelmed or frustrated. The majority of the session was spent reading and discussing the second chapter of Exodus, (which describes Moses’ birth, . . . → Read More: JOI Session | Oct. 9, 2009

Relationship, Leadership, and Action in Exodus

Following an interactive reflection of the first week, the fellows met with Rabbi Jonah Pesner to discuss two excerpts from the Tanach (Old Testament). Isaiah 58, read every year during the High Holy Days, highlights Isaiah bursting into the congregation beseeching the repenting Israelites to “fast” from oppressing their laborers and other oppressive actions- not just from food for one day. The congregates ignored him. He was . . . → Read More: JOI Session | Sep. 11, 2009