A Roomful of Conversation

If you were planning to host a party with the goal of having as many people as possible talk to each other about as many topics as possible, how would you design the seating? One long table or several small ones?

But think about it - why make them sit at all? What if there are no seats so people can mingle at will? Must it be inside, then? Whoa - stay with me - why can't you give them an outside trail to follow so they find each other on the path!

How would you plan the conversations? Let's go back to the idea of tables: Is there someone at the head of the table you'll assign to lead a discussion or will people naturally find the topics of mutual interest if you just give them the chance to sit near each other? If there will be leaders, how do you decide on the topics? Do you choose topics based on what the leaders would like to talk about? Or do you pick the broadest categories possible, have the leaders start the conversation, and trust that each person in the room will have some life experience to shape what follows?

How many conversations? How many choices? Won't it get overwhelming if there are too many? Will people not bother to come at all if there are too few?

These kinds of questions, and the exciting, (sometimes meandering), trails that creative thinking takes us on, have been the feverish focus behind the scenes at United Synagogue since late last summer as we embarked on planning our Centennial Celebration in October.

It's the Conversation of the Century. That's a whopper of a claim.

So how did we decide to approach this party with the goal of as many conversations as possible?

SEATING: We chose "All of the above." With an expectation of more than 1,000 people coming over a five day period that includes a Shabbaton, we're creating every possible combination of putting people together. There will be one "table," (ok, a huge auditorium), with one speaker to start the conversation, and choices to continue at other "tables," (aka conference rooms). We're setting aside spaces for reuniting with old friends, finding people who share your interest or your challenges, (Calling all synagogue presidents!). Want to walk around and mingle? A Centennial Square will help you find food, services, entertainment and your friends. There will be paths to follow through historic Jewish Baltimore, and service opportunities to leave behind something that will help others.

CONVERSATIONS: We chose eight big topics.

The Spiritual Conversation

The Global Conversation

The Personal Conversation

The Eternal Conversation

The Interfaith Conversation

The Israel Conversation

The Communal Conversation

The Future Conversation

Thought leaders, (some who will surprise you), will start the conversations.

Two examples: Clive Lawton, the founder of Limmud, will start the Global Conversation, based on his 20 years of experience spreading Jewish learning around the world. The Interfaith Conversation will get a start from Dr. Amy Jill Levine, Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies at Vanderbilt University. Her insight into the similarities and differences between Christian and Jewish theology has drawn thousands to her speaking engagements.

A variety of other people will pick up the ball and continue the conversations in what we're calling "Follow the Conversation" workshops. You are invited to be one of those people. This is where we move from one table to many. But here is where we also want to diverge from just hosting a party with lots of conversations to convening a gathering where conversation leads to action.

Our Follow the Conversation workshops are expected to give people information, tools and resources where they can take next steps. Because what's the point of conversation if it doesn't help us to grow?

So come to the party. Stay for the conversation. Go home stronger than before.

See you there!