Episode 80: About navigating conflict, with Danielle Faitelson

Today’s episode continues to document my journey to understand the Israel-Palestine conflict. I’m so lucky to be talking with my best friend Dani, who lives in Israel, and with whom I had a disagreement last month. You may remember hearing me mention that I re-posted a meme about the Israel-Palestine conflict on Instagram and that a friend texted me saying she wanted to explain the implications of my post. That friend was Dani, and that experience was hard for us both.

In this episode, you’ll hear us share how we worked through the conflict together and how we’re now supporting each other in deepening our relationship to our Jewish identities. ❤️

Listen here on Apple Podcasts.

Listen here on Spotify.

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Show Notes:   

Recap

• 0:00 - Welcome Dani Faitelson to the podcast
• 4:45 - Elissa and Dani recap what was going on in Israel from Dani’s perspective, reflecting on both what was happening and the reactions from people experiencing the conflict. 
• 10:00 - Reflection on what was being seen on social media and not knowing what to believe, leading to Elissa and Dani’s conversation. Elissa shares her response from the moment.
• 12:15 - Our Voice Body Connection process in relation to Dani seeing Elissa’s post, and Elissa seeing Dani’s message. Revisiting and speaking the truth around that moment. Both Elissa and Dani feel sadness. Dani also explains her initial feelings from the moment.
• 19:50 - Elissa shares that she felt very tight, a feeling of anger, and that her desire was to protect herself. She also dives into the experiences that may have inspired these feelings. 
• 24:55 - Dani shares the background and upbringing that has brought her to her current relationship with Judaism and Israel. She also shares her experience being a Jewish American who moved to Israel, especially in regards to religion and customs. 
• 32:00 - Elissa shares how she both doesn’t relate at all, but also completely relates to everything Dani has shared.
• 40:00 - Dani reflects on the idea of being a “Self-Hating Jew”. 
• 47:30 - Ancestry, culture, identity, and being a “Self-Loving Jew”. In the complexity and messiness of it all, how do we turn to ourselves, and each other, and express compassion? 
• 53:40 - Dani asks Elissa about Jewish privilege. 
• 58:35 - The phraseology of sides, or being on a side. Both sides vs. ALL sides. 
• 1:03:05 - The truth is a paradox, and it is a prism with many sides.

Resources

Plays that Dani mentioned: The Last Night at Ballyhoo by Alfred Uhry and There Will Come A Time For Vengeance by Eric Connor Marlin. The latter of which was inspired by William Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice.

Check out The Jewish Plays Project.

The film “Oslo” is available on-demand on HBO.

You can follow Dani on her Instagram.

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Production Credits:

Our Editor is Sean Brennan

Our Photographer and Graphic Designer is Laura Sills

Our Videographer is Miguel Garzón Martínez

And our theme song is “Waters of Body” by Strange Weather

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