Kadimah 2026

Israel’s political arguments aren’t just about laws — they’re about identity, fear, and the sense that different groups are living in different countries. What happens when democracy becomes the place where we fight instead of the place where we meet? Drawing on my work as co-director of Siach Shalom — an organization that works closely with the President of Israel and has convened confidential, behind-the-scenes conversations with senior political, religious, and civil-society leaders from every part of Israeli society — I’ll share what I’ve seen from inside the rooms where people try to rebuild understanding. Along the way, we’ll look at how Jewish sources imagine disagreement (machloket) not as a threat, but as something that can strengthen a community when handled well. Together we’ll explore what it might take for Israel to create a shared civic language strong enough to hold real differences.