Disagreements for the Sake of Heaven and the Story of 9Adar

The 9AdarProject seeks to cultivate a culture of constructive conflict across personal, political, religious and other divides throughout the year. The 9th of the Hebrew month of Adar marks the day that two thousand years ago healthy disagreements “for the sake of Heaven” turned destructive and serves as a powerful reminder of what can happen when these values and skills are neglected.

The Jewish Week of Constructive Conflict, known in Israel as דיבור חדש: השבוע לקידום מחלוקת בונה, is dedicated to increasing public awareness around the values and skills of constructive conflict as well as awareness of organizations that work to promote these values and skills year round. It is commemorated annually the week of the 9th of Adar Aleph when there is leap year, and on all other years the Sunday to Saturday between Tu Bishvat and Rosh Chodesh Adar.

This sourcesheet provides the texts regarding “Disagreements for the Sake of Heaven” & “The Story of the 9th of Adar.”

Handouts

About Daniel Roth

Rabbi Dr. Daniel Roth is the Director Emeritus of the Pardes Center for Judaism and Conflict Resolution and an adjunct faculty member. He taught at Pardes for over twenty years and is now the Director of Mosaica - The Religious Peace Initiative. He also teaches graduate courses on religion and peace building at Bar-Ilan University’s Conflict Resolution, Management and Negotiation Graduate Program, as well as at Tel Aviv University’s International Program in Conflict Resolution and Mediation, and at Hebrew University’s Coexistence in the Middle East summer program. Roth initiated Pardes's Mahloket Matters: How to Disagree Constructively and the 9Adar Project: Jewish Week of Constructive Conflict, known in Israel as DiburHadash: The Israeli Week of Mediation and Dialogue. Roth is a regular lecturer of MEJDI (multi-narrative) Tours and National Geographic. He was a senior research fellow at George Mason University’s Center for World Religions, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution. He holds a Ph.D. from Bar-Ilan University’s Conflict Resolution Program, MA in Talmud from Hebrew University, B.Ed in Jewish Philosophy and Talmud from Herzog Teachers’ College, and studied for eight years in Yeshivat Har-Etzion during which time he received rabbinic ordination. Click here to read more.

Keep Learning