Come Curious. Leave Wiser.
JCCPGH Israel Engagement Series
This new series, developed by the JCC of Greater Pittsburgh, invites participants to go beyond the headlines through dialogue and multiple perspectives featuring leading voices and meaningful community discussion. The series is grounded in the belief that the antidote to polarization is not disengagement, but deeper, more informed engagement. Participants will be encouraged to challenge one another, remain open to perspectives that differ from or directly oppose their own and practice respectful, curious conversation. Through a dynamic mix of live panel discussions, documentary and feature film screenings, interactive workshops and facilitated dialogue, participants will move beyond headlines toward a more nuanced understanding of Israel and the questions it raises today.
We encourage you to come all the sessions if possible
U.S.–Israel Relations • March 25
Israel’s Geopolitical Outlook • Tuesday, June 16
Rescheduled from April 15 due to rapidly evolving conditions in Israel that prevented our panelists from traveling to Pittsburgh.
Understanding Israeli Politics • Monday, May 18
COMING THIS FALL
• October 7—The Day that Changed Everything
• Minority Voices—Arab Citizens of Israel After October 7
• Is Israeli Democracy in Jeopardy?
Featured in the Jewish Chronicle:
New JCCPGH Israel Engagement Series aims for people to ‘come curious, leave wiser’
The JCC of Greater Pittsburgh is committed to a brave, welcoming space for hard conversations about Israel and related issues. This series is educational and nonpartisan; no speaker or program implies endorsement of any political party, candidate, policy, or single viewpoint.
Over the course of the 6-part series, participants will be presented with a wide range of perspectives, some of which they may agree with, and some they may strongly disagree with. That tension is part of the intended learning and ideally will strengthen our communal muscle for constructive dialogue across differences.
If your goal is simply to have your current views reaffirmed, this series may not be for you. If you are willing to engage with new ideas, sit with discomfort, and leave with deeper understanding – and perhaps more questions than answers – we invite you to join us: come curious, engage respectfully, and be open to complexity.
The series will “cover everything under the sun related to Israel, including politics, culture and history,” says Yisrael Klitsner, the moderator of the series. He is a fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI) who
has deep connections to our community. He and his family lived in Squirrel Hill but returned to Israel after
October 7 so he could rejoin his IDF unit. Klitsner, who has served as Diaspora Affairs Advisor to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, and worked for AIPAC in Israel, is passionate about educating and building community around the state of Israel and its relationship with the United States.
The JCC’s Israel engagement series, Come Curious. Leave Wiser., is made possible through generous philanthropic support. To learn more about supporting the series or underwriting a future session, please email Fara Marcus, Chief Development and Marketing Officer,
or call 412-339-5413.
Understanding Israeli Politics
Monday, May 18 • 7 pm
JCC Squirrel Hill • Katz Theater
$36/person
For more info: Fara Marcus • [email protected]
Gain insight into the complexities of Israel’s political landscape in this timely conversation featuring leading journalists Tal Shalev and Mohammad Majadli, along with noted journalist and commentator Nadav Eyal. From coalition dynamics and government leadership to Arab affairs and global influences, this panel will unpack the forces shaping Israeli politics today.
Tal Shalev is a Senior Reporter based in CNN’s Jerusalem bureau, where she performs a key role in CNN’s coverage of Israel and the wider region, with a particular focus on Israeli politics and national affairs.
Mohammad Majadli is Israel’s leading Arab affairs political analyst. He frequently provides insights and analysis on Israel’s leading Channel 12 News, and is host to radio shows in Arabic and Hebrew.
Nadav Asher Eyal is one of Israel’s most prominent journalists and a winner of the Sokolov Award—Israel’s equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize. He writes for Yediot Ahronot and Ynet, Israel’s most widely circulated newspaper and news website, respectively, and a Contributor at the Call Me Back podcast. He is now a Senior Research Scholar with Institue of Global Politics and is teaching as an adjunct Professor in the SIPA, Columbia University.
Israel’s Geopolitical Outlook
A Bird’s Eye View of Israel’s Rapidly Evolving Geostrategic Concerns
Rescheduled to Tuesday, June 16 • 7 pm • JCC Squirrel Hill Katz Theater • $36/person
WITH:
Brig. Gen. (Res.) Nitzan Nuriel, former Director of the Counter-Terrorism Bureau at Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office (2007–2012). He served in the IDF for over 30 years, primarily in the Golani Brigade, holding senior positions including Deputy Division Commander in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Dr. Shira Efron is the distinguished chair for Israel Policy at RAND. A leading expert in Israeli and Middle Eastern affairs, she brings two decades of experience in policy analysis and research, and regularly publishes and is quoted in outlets such as The New York Times and
Foreign Affairs.
From Gaza to Iran and Lebanon to Yemen, this session will provide a comprehensive analysis of Israel’s regional security landscape.
Participants will gain valuable insights into the strategic dilemmas that Israeli decision-makers encounter, as well as the prospects for regional normalization and renewed peace efforts, alongside the challenges they face in achieving these goals.
With varying assessments and analyses, Nuriel and Efron will illuminate this critical topic, offering a deep and nuanced understanding of Israel’s most pressing concern: security.
Archives
First Session: U.S.–Israel Relations
March 25, 2026
Join us for a conversation with Bret Stephens, opinion columnist for The New York Times and Jeremy Ben-Ami, President of J Street.
This opening panel of the Israel Engagement Series will delve into the foundational pillars of bipartisan support for the U.S.–Israel relationship, while addressing the emerging threats it faces from both American and Israeli political landscapes.
The discussion will also explore strategies to preserve this vital alliance in an increasingly polarized environment. Ben-Ami and Stephens, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience along with their differing ideological perspectives, will contribute to what promises to be a dynamic and enlightening conversation.
For more info: Email Fara Marcus
Thank You
Marstine Family Foundation
S&B USA
