DISTINGUISHED SPEAKERS FOSTER DIALOGUE

Currently the senior rabbi at Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom, Lisa Grushcow received her BA from McGill in 1996. After being named a Rhodes Scholar she spent three years at Oxford University, where she earned a master’s, and then a doctocrate. She then went on to be ordained a rabbi in 2003. Beginning with the Jewish-Christian-Muslim conference in Bendorf, Germany, Rabbi Grushcow has a long history of interfaith bridge building, and is actively engaged in Jewish pluralism and intra-denominational dialogue.

Dr. Amal Elsana Alh’jooj grew up in the unrecognized Bedouin village of Tel Arad, in the northern Negev. Her journey as an activist took her from a life as a shepherd and daughter in a culture ruled by sons and fathers, to her work as a respected activist in Israel, to McGill University as one of the first class of ICAN (International Community Action Network) Fellows. She has a BA from Ben-Gurion University, and an MA and PhD from McGill. After years spent organizing for rights and recognition of Israel’s Bedouin population, she returned to Montréal as the Executive Director at ICAN.

Both guests spoke at length about their very special friendship, personal journeys, their own struggles to build bridges, open dialogue about painful subjects, and commit themselves to peace and justice despite witnessing or knowing about grave injustices. Both stressed the importance of being open to new ideas, and critically examining information that comes one’s way. As Amal said, “I encourage you to live in the gray—not to run to the extremes of black and white. The gray area is the best place to develop your thinking.”

Many thanks to her, Rabbi Grushkow, moderator (and Traf Board Chair) Dr. Alissa Sklar, Ms. Nikidis, and everyone who participated as an active listener in this thought-provoking presentation.