The first meeting of the Polish/Israeli Leadership Initiative was held on May 24-29. This new program, the very first program of its kind, aims to create a platform for cooperation and ideas exchange for a community of Polish and Israeli public opinion leaders. It was designed to address the tensions that had arose between the two countries after the controversy related to the passing of an amended Remembrance Law in Poland. The program is addressed to two groups: Israeli alumni of Forum for Dialogue study visits and Polish Friends of the Forum, who have similar professions, interests and levels of social or political engagement. Forum considers these individuals crucial for the future of public debate and opinion making in both Israel and Poland.

The theme of the 2018 reunion reflects our shared concern about the shape of both our countries and societies: “Facing Challenges: What is Our Role in a Modern Democracy.” Though we focused on these issues in the Polish context and with Polish experts, during the workshops and discussions both Poles and Israelis shared their experience and perspectives on the situation in both countries.

The first day of the program was focused on an overview of the current situation in Poland in relation to the social and political situation in Israel. The participants met with Piotr Buras, Head of the European Council on Foreign Relations Warsaw Office, as well as journalists writing for Poland’s biggest national daily to discover the parallels and analogies between the two countries’ situations. In the following days, the group moved from the busy Warsaw to the picturesque Podlasie, where they had a series of workshops on national grand narratives. Later they met with Henryk and Ludwika Wujec, legendary leaders of Solidarity movement who shared their story of civil disobedience. Back in Warsaw, the participants learned about civic engagement in Poland. Finally, we said goodbye to the Israeli visitors at home hospitality dinners hosted by Polish Friends of the Forum.

photo: J.Szkarłat

During the four days of intense program Polish and Israeli Friends of the Forum discovered a shared passion for learning and personal growth by addressing challenging questions. In the process, however, they reached deep into their emotions and were able to address them in a safe and friendly environment. This was a moving lesson of empathy and learning to listen to the other to learn about oneself. One of the Israeli participants observed that the conversations he had with the Polish Friends of the Forum enabled him to see much more as the mutual trust allowed him to let his defenses go. Polish and Israeli Friends of the Forum came to the program as Forum’s supporters and allies, and they emerged from it also as real friends.

It brought us an incredible opportunity to learn about others and ourselves. It was a lesson in mutual understanding. We are indebted to all the participants for their openness and candor combined with incredible emapthy. But the conversations begun in Poland this year are far from over! We hope to continue this dialogue in the upcoming years by bringing more people together.

I was sincerely impressed by the intensity and frankness of the conversations we had. They were sometimes funny, sometimes painful, but they most definitely have brought us closer together. They proved that in fact we are very similar to one other – like different branches of the same tree.

Ewa Rutkowska, Warsaw