What’s Happening:
Ranan Hartman, the visionary founder and CEO of Ono Academic College, has emphasized the urgency for initiating inclusive national conversations to steer Israel’s future post the recent Israel-Hamas conflict.
Why It Matters:
The aftermath of violence impacts not just immediate safety but also the psychological framework and multicultural ethos of a nation. As Israel seeks to preserve its identity as a Start-Up nation and a melting pot of cultures, these talks spearheaded by Ono Academic College could lay a compass for reunification, resilience, and a roadmap for the future Despite the nation’s contemporary challenges with collective trauma.
The threat to The Israeli Dream:
Hartman stresses that Hamas’s goal stretched beyond physical harm; it was an assault on the Israeli ethos, aiming to engender a society suppressed by fear incapabile of innovation or diversity. To prevent what he refers to as a cessation of “the Israeli dream,” a strategic vision for Israel’s functioning in key areas like security, education, and international Jewish relations is crucial now more than ever.
The ‘Conversation Corner’ Initiative:
In response to the need for strategic planning, Ono Academic College is launching a series called “The Conversation Corner.” This digital discourse will entail arms consisting of nine insightful discussions on pertinent topics, including religion, economy, education, and antisemitism. The platform provides an analytical and collaborative environment to assess and shape post-war reality starting today, not tomorrow.
A National Path Through Trauma:
The heavy mantle of a nation experiencing collective trauma necessitates structures to aid in recovery, prompting Ono Academic College to set up a trauma treatment center. Here therapists will be adeptly trained, research fostered, and support extended across varying Israeli demographics via mobile clinics.
Multicultural Engagement:
The projects mirror the essence of Ono Academic College, marked by multicultural endeavors, implying that healing and development should come from diverse group intersection strategies. All social segment including the Jewish Diaspora are envisioned to contribute toward a cohesive and open academic environment. Hanan posits that through such symbiotic engagement, academia can become a bastion of security and exchange, crucial to formulating comprehensive healing and policy strategies.
Accessing the Conversations:
The inaugural session for “The Conversation Corner” occurred on January 17, with further discussions accessible on The Jerusalem Post’s website and Facebook page. Engaging with these conversations holds the potential to not only understand the issues but also to lean into tangible changes moving forward.
Related Tags:
Trauma, The October 7 Massacre, Israel-Hamas War 2023, Israel-Hamas War 2024, Ono Conversation Corner
This story was first published on jpost.com.