Two pre-eminent global faith leaders will discuss the challenges of conversing across difference today:
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis KBE in conversation with the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby.
At a time of ever-increasing polarisation, when it seems harder than ever to speak to people holding different views and to find common ground, never has conversing effectively been more important, yet more challenging.
Drawing on their own faith and their friendship, learning from their experiences in the Clergy and in leading their communities in the face of historic global challenges, the Chief Rabbi and the Archbishop of Canterbury will, in holding their own conversation, explore what it means to have difficult conversations, to listen to others, to build consensus and to disagree well.
In conjunction with the Yoni Jesner Foundation, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Yoni’s death.
Tuesday 28 February from 7.30pm until 8.45pm.
The Yoni Jesner Foundation
The Yoni Jesner Foundation was set up in memory of Yoni Jesner, 19, of Glasgow Scotland, an inspirational youth leader and role model who was tragically killed in a suicide bombing on a bus in Tel Aviv, Israel, on 19th September 2002. Yoni was due to study medicine at UCL and so his family donated his organs for transplantation, ensuring that in death, if not in life, Yoni was able to save the lives of others. There were five recipients of Yoni’s organs including a seven year old Palestinian girl who received a kidney.
Yoni connected with people of all ages and backgrounds. He counted a diverse range of people amongst his friends. He was mature and emotionally intelligent beyond his nineteen years and was able to get the best out of others, whatever the circumstances. Yoni’s aphorisms include the following relating to our engagement with others:
- “Go to people where they are, not where you want them to be”
- “…approaches to different problems and situations will vary from person to person… a different approach is not necessarily wrong”
- “Always listen when people tell you about themselves”
- “Learn from those around you”
The legacy Yoni left, through a combination of the circumstances of his death and the organ donation to a young Palestinian, together with the inspirational person he was, led his family to establish the Yoni Jesner Conversations. A fitting tribute to a young man who in his life and through his death brought people together.
Little did we realise that 20 years later ‘conversing’ – entering into dialogue with others, speaking to people with different views, perspectives and beliefs, and having difficult conversations – would seem more difficult to achieve, and yet would be more important than ever.
Thank you for joining us for this very special conversation to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Yoni’s death and to celebrate all that has been achieved in his memory.
