News from Sarona, Tel Aviv, Israel
Yesterday, despite the war going on in our country, I led our bi-weekly philosophy meetup. A year and a half ago I co-founded with Yonatan Daon this meetup group in the Ayn Rand Center in Israel - every two weeks we meet to have a 90-minute discussion on a philosophic essay that we all read beforehand and afterward we keep hanging out together for a few more hours. For the last 6 months it feels more like a community.
We met on Friday the 6th, a day before the horrible attack by Hamas; this was our last “normal” meeting… The attack on Israel was traumatic for everyone in Israel, and I knew that our meetups are going to be more important than ever - we must keep holding them and support each other as a community.
I intended yesterday’s meetup to be different than our usual discussions. Instead of focusing on understanding a complex philosophical essay, I wanted us to offer each other a space for personal sharing and support. We all watched beforehand a lecture called “Deeper Connection Through Mutual Selfishness” by the psychologist Dr Gena Gorlin… But instead of starting the meetup by discussing it, we began with a circle of sharing.
Each one of us talked, some for a minute and some for 5. Some of us shared about days full of tears, and some about not being able to shed any tears because it was just too much. Some talked about what they think about Israel’s options and what they believe might happen… But I offered them to put those thoughts aside for an hour and try focusing on what they feel and have felt during these traumatic 13 days since the attack. It’s very easy, too easy during traumatic times, to keep emotions bottled inside; there is great potential in sharing them with others.
I don’t know what the next months will hold for us in Israel, but I know that this meetup can help us deal with it. Deep thinkers who are passionate about philosophy and its implementation combined with the willingness to share personal experiences and support each other; this is exactly the kind of people I want around me. And you’re welcome to message me if you’re curious about trying our meetup:)
We met on Friday the 6th, a day before the horrible attack by Hamas; this was our last “normal” meeting… The attack on Israel was traumatic for everyone in Israel, and I knew that our meetups are going to be more important than ever - we must keep holding them and support each other as a community.
I intended yesterday’s meetup to be different than our usual discussions. Instead of focusing on understanding a complex philosophical essay, I wanted us to offer each other a space for personal sharing and support. We all watched beforehand a lecture called “Deeper Connection Through Mutual Selfishness” by the psychologist Dr Gena Gorlin… But instead of starting the meetup by discussing it, we began with a circle of sharing.
Each one of us talked, some for a minute and some for 5. Some of us shared about days full of tears, and some about not being able to shed any tears because it was just too much. Some talked about what they think about Israel’s options and what they believe might happen… But I offered them to put those thoughts aside for an hour and try focusing on what they feel and have felt during these traumatic 13 days since the attack. It’s very easy, too easy during traumatic times, to keep emotions bottled inside; there is great potential in sharing them with others.
I don’t know what the next months will hold for us in Israel, but I know that this meetup can help us deal with it. Deep thinkers who are passionate about philosophy and its implementation combined with the willingness to share personal experiences and support each other; this is exactly the kind of people I want around me. And you’re welcome to message me if you’re curious about trying our meetup:)
Yes I do Know Q is REAL. To thinQ Israeli intelligence was fooled is to be a fool.