Keep an open mind.
Get out of your comfort zone.
Let the rule of “two feet” guide you.
… oh, and no quoting anyone directly.
I just spent 48 hours with 50 of the country’s top 50 Jewish “do-ers” discussing everything from art, poetry, and travel to the day school tuition crisis, funding the next generation of Jewish for-profit innovations and the current middle east crisis. I am indebted to Gary Rosenblatt, Editor in Chief of the New York Jewish Week, who convened “The Conversation“, for inviting me to take part in this seventh annual gathering of giants.
For 48 hours I felt like I was the bat boy at the world series of Jewish thought leaders. Nowhere else have I encountered such a diverse group of people, all accomplished, successful and outspoken. Everyone I met was able to challenge each others’ assumptions and debate on various topics… civilly.
I walked in with certain assumptions which were summary critiqued, explored and reformatted.  In particular as a parent of two young children the issue of day school affordability was in the forefront of my mind as a topic I wanted to engage others in.  In meetings over the course of The Conversation, two camps divided this issue down the line into sustainability vs. affordability.  My initial viewpoint, coming from a middle class orthodox community, was that sustainability is a non-issue; my kids are going to day school no matter what (I realize that is a choice we are making too), help us afford it!  The other side, those feeling we need to shore up our schools to compete with prep schools, were of equal concern.  How can we begin to think about this topic on a national level when our organizations, foundations, philanthropist and leaders are not on the same page?  It seems apparent that while money is out there to explore solutions and research opportunities within this issue, it is pointed in so many directions and without regard for the need of the community as a whole (which I’m note sure even exists) it may be a wasted moment.  If this is a core issue, lets make time to explore our combined effort together before we shoot aimlessly into the dark.
It will be through further discussion and events, like The Conversation, where we can hopefully come together to learn, plan and organize around our core issues and viable solutions.
