Sitting in the Fire: Training in Conflict Resolution in the midst of War Zones
Dates and Locations
This seminar is scheduled for May 17-19 at Tantur retreat center, Jerusalem, Israel.
Trainers: Gary Reiss, LCSW, PhD, Certified Process Work Trainer
Dr. Najah Mansara, MSN, PhD in Women’s Mental Health
Everywhere we look we find conflict festering, in our selves, our relationships, our families, our communities, our countries, and between nations This is especially true in areas like Israel and Palestine, and other areas of long-term identity based struggles. There is a continuous, long lasting struggle between Jews and Palestinians; groups of Palestinians who belong to different political parties; and between Jews who hold different religious and political beliefs.
In war zones, every aspect of the life of those in conflict is touched. This includes our bodies, our relationships, our deepest beliefs, and our personal and collective psychology are all touched directly and indirectly by the spirit and daily reality of the national conflict.
We need tools and skills to facilitate resolution of this kind of conflict. One of these tools that is highly effective is Worldwork, which is a part of Process - Oriented Psychology. Dr. Arnold Mindell, the founder of this work, says of Worldwork, ”Going consciously into battle is an intense experience, but one that revitalizes everyone. You are renewed in hope…..You find that a battle does not mean the end of the world, but the beginning of the river called community. “ (Sitting in the Fire, p.223)
Worldwork is especially designed to work with strong conflict and powerful emotions in ways that are safe and effective. The point is to develop awareness skills and to learn to sit in the fire, to keep your centeredness and be able to facilitate in the midst of intense conflict. Its methods address all the different levels of group work, including addressing presenting issues, addressing rank and power differences, bringing in the role of history, as well as addressing the psychology and spirituality of the group. At times Worldwork looks like a political forum, and at other times, it resembles a group therapy that consists of a bunch of people. Participants are trained so that they can immediately put to use what they learn. Worldwork is personal growth, conflict resolutions, group therapy, social action and problem solving, and large group psychological work, all in one unified approach.
Another powerful way to work with conflict in war zones is to bring in art and creativity that gives us a different perspective from which to address and facilitate the issues. Dr. Mansara will be leading the section of the seminar on creativity and conflict facilitation. Art and expressive activities are useful to help people express their opinions and feelings in a less threatening way. Both methods of Worldwork and art and creativity provide two powerful, complementary methods of conflict resolution.
This particular seminar is a training experience for anyone interested in facilitating conflict to create a better world at any level, at home, in your city, in organizations, and especially, conflict facilitation in war zones. This seminar offers us the unique opportunity to train in these methods in safe seminar center where Palestinians, Jews, and others from around the world will come to take this next important step in learning to live together as one planet.
In this seminar, we will focus on training in the following areas:
v Art, creativity, and conflict resolution
v The basics of Worldwork methods of conflict facilitation
v Tools to break cycles of revenge
v Working with trauma in ourselves, our loved ones, our clients, our community
v Working with transforming the effects of living in war zones on our bodies, relationships, and personal and collective psychology
v The role of dreams and dreamlike experiences in working with long term conflicts
v Learning how to live side by side for people in conflict situation
Facilitators
Dr. Najah Mansara, from the Palestinian Authority Territories. She is a facilitator, social activist, and trainer; has presented workshops in many different topics of her expertise, including the effects of the Israeli Palestinian conflict on children and families, and other aspects of working with trauma.
Gary Reiss LCSW, PhD, certified trainer in Process oriented Psychology. He is the author of Beyond War and Peace in the Arab Israeli Conflict, and four other books. Dr. Reiss has led conflict work groups in Israel with Israelis and Palestinians. Dr. Reiss has also worked with conflict between Orthodox and Secular Jews, and between different factions in the Druse community. He has worked in the Middle East for ten years, and teaches Process oriented Psychology worldwide.
Cost:
Seminar fees:
If registration is done before April 1st it is 1200 shekels(300$)
from April 2nd - April 15 fee is 1300 shekels(330$)
Room and board is provided by Tantur Conference Center See the registration form included for costs.
There are limited amounts of scholarships available. Please contact the organizers. Because of current economic conditions, we will need to pay for many people to be able to attend this seminar, including room and board fees. If you can contribute funds beyond your tuition, they would be much appreciated.
To register, and for more information, contact : . E-mail your registration to
Registration Form:
Last Name Middle Initial First Name
Mailing Address: Street: ______
City______
Country ______Zip Code______
Telephone # Fax # Cell phone #
E-mail address
Please register # of people ______for the seminar.
Fees are _____before April 1, ______after April 2
Room and Board At the Tantur conference center yes NO
Please reserve me a booking in a double room for both evenings at Tantur , May 16th and 17th.
Fees for both nights are $42 per day/ per person. ______Yes ______Number of people
2 meals a day will be served at a fee of $28 per day per person. I would like meals _____Yes ______No
I would like standard meals______
I eat vegetarian plus fish______
I would like vegetarian meals ______
I need kosher food______
Total Room and Board per person, double occupancy for 3 days, 2 nights--$168.
To save yourself a space, please send $84 with this application, balance due May 1, 2007. Send to Dr. Gary Reiss, 412 W. 17th, Eugene, Or. 97401. USA
Friends, we are still planning on our workshop there in May. I have a
> few questions as we are preparing our brochure. You sent us double
> occupancy. Are there single rooms available if people want this? VERY
> FEW; THERE WILL BE ANOTHER GROUP HERE AT THE SAME TIME. COST:
> $65/PERSON/NIGHT You say two meals a day, $26, is this lunch and
> dinner? What about breakfast? I DIDN??T SAY TWO MEALS A DAY; I SAID
> TWO EXTRA MEALS. BREAKFAST IS INCLUDED IN PAYMENT FOR THOSE WHO ARE
> STAYING OVERNIGHT: THAT IS, IN A DOUBLE ROOM, PRICE IS $40/PERSON AND
> THIS INCLUDES ONE BREAKFAST, ONE LUNCH AND ONE DINNER PER NIGHT. YOUR PROPOSAL INCLUDES MORE MEALS PER PERSON THAN NIGHTS THEY ARE
> STAYING AND THEREFORE, WE CHARGE EXTRA FOR THOSE EXTRA MEALS. Are there
> special meals for vegetarians? THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF VEGETARIAN
> OPTIONS. People who keep kosher? THEY MAY EAT VEGETARIAN OR YOU MAY
> CHOOSE TO BRING IN SEALED MEALS FOR THEM. Thanks for the info,
>Dear Dr. Reiss,
>See above.
>I note that you have not asked for any breaks, as indicated on our
>proposal and the lack of response from you. Should we presume this?
>We need to have that information. You will be charged for them as
>indicated in the proposal.
>You are welcome at Tantur!