Photo credit: Jewish Federation of Cincinnati
Submitted by Jewish Federation of Cincinnati
We saw a glimpse of the vision for IsraelLENS earlier this September, when four teenagers from Israel — Jewish and Arab — shared their photographs and stories across Cincinnati. At home, these teens live in many different communities across the country and attend different schools; they often don’t meet one another until later in life at college or work.
But these teens belong to Givat Haviva, one of the longest-running and respected institutes devoted to promoting and building a shared society in Israel. By bringing them together through art and shared experiences, the “Through Others’ Eyes” photography project has transformed how they understand one another — and how they teach others to do the same.
In Cincinnati, they met with local university students and connected with young adults. At ArtWorks and Ombre Gallery, where their exhibit filled the gallery spaces, they found people eager to listen and learn about how to work through differences to achieve mutual respect and friendship.
Seventeen-year-old Shir Shiloh, put it plainly: “We have no choice. We must act for shared society.” Her peer Sammi added, “Why wait for change when you can be the change?” And their teacher, Jenan Halabi, reminded us: “Every friendship proves change is possible.”
Noor, another participant and Palestinian Israeli, described how she poured her voice into her art: “In Israel, it’s kind of hard to speak your mind, so I tried to make the photos talk.”
Why We Created IsraelLENS
Moments like these capture the heart of IsraelLENS, a new framework launched by the Jewish Federation to help our community do something that has become harder than ever: talk about Israel with respect and understanding.
Chief Planning and Engagement Officer Felicia Zakem explains:
“IsraelLENS was created in the spirit of belonging” — one of the core pillars of our Cincinnati 2030 vision. “We wanted multiple entry points where people could talk, learn and discuss Israel in safe spaces that honor different perspectives.”
That need is clear. About 8 out of 10 Cincinnati Jews say they feel emotionally attached to Israel, but only about 6 out of 10 feel comfortable expressing it publicly, according to the Federation’s 2024 Community Pulse Study. Since October 7, communities here and across the country are struggling with how to talk about Israel at all. IsraelLENS is our way of meeting that moment by creating safe, respectful spaces for dialogue.
IsraelLENS is not a single program, but a framework — a set of conversations, learning opportunities and cultural experiences designed to build connection, belonging, and dialogue across differences. From living room conversations to public events, from arts and culture to deep learning, IsraelLENS helps our community explore Israel together.
It is guided by four simple commitments: Curiosity over certainty. Connection over consensus. Dialogue over debate. Context over conclusions.
At its core, IsraelLENS is a space where curiosity leads, listening matters, and connection comes first.
The Lay Leader Lens
For Karen Goodman, who serves as Federation’s Vice President of Israel & Overseas, the vision is both communal and personal.
“I envisioned an initiative that would engage our community in new and creative ways to explore Israel — moving beyond traditional programming and opening the conversation through a fresh lens. I’ve had some difficult conversations with extended family members, and for now, we often avoid the topic altogether.”
For Karen, the goal is not just conversation but transformation:
“By educating myself and sharing that knowledge with others in the community, I hope to help spark a chain of learning that continues to grow.”
Meeting the Hesitation Head-On
For years, most Israel programming here has centered on culture — food, music, celebrations. What is missing were deeper conversations about history, politics, and identity.
Our Senior Community Shaliach, Tzach Shmuely, sees this hesitation often.
“When I talk with people here, I notice they really want to know how Israelis are feeling right now — what the discourse is like in Israel. There’s deep concern and care, but also a sense of not having enough information. That lack of grounding makes people hesitant to voice criticism, even though, between the lines, I hear uncertainty. Through IsraelLENS, we’re creating more intimate gatherings that give space for those complex statements. What people need is the chance for deeper encounters with Israel’s history, politics and reality; and that’s what we’re building together.”
A Civic Lens
For Chandler Waite, Director of our Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), the stakes go beyond the Jewish community.
“Since October 7, Israel has become a topic of passionate debate, and too often those conversations are fueled by misinformation. That makes dialogue harder than ever, not just for the Jewish community but also for our neighbors in the Muslim world. IsraelLENS directly supports JCRC’s mission by educating and showing how central Israel is to Jewish identity. I have no doubt it will succeed. By creating spaces for both the Jewish and wider Cincinnati communities, IsraelLENS will bring people together to face difficult topics and cultivate understanding of the Jewish experience post October 7.”
What It Looks Like in Practice
“Through Others’ Eyes” brought Arab and Jewish Israeli teens to Cincinnati to tell their stories through photography, a powerful example of dialogue across difference and a glimpse of what this framework can mean for our community.
As Felicia noted that evening, programs like this aren’t about grand solutions. They’re about building trust, tolerance and respect—and giving participants the confidence to keep shaping a shared future.
Upcoming and ongoing programs include:
• Remembering Oct 7 (October 5) — a community-wide commemoration of October 7, presented with the JCC. The program honors the life of 12-year-old Noya Dan by carrying forward her nightly ritual of kindness. Families donate dolls and stuffed animals to comfort local children, and the gathering includes the unveiling of Wings of Hope, our Israel Independence Day community art project.
• Israel & the Arab World (begins October 21) — an eight-session course taught by our Senior Community Shaliach, Tzach Shmuely, exploring Israel’s evolving regional relationships, grounding people in the history behind today’s headlines.
• For the Sake of Argument (November 5) — a community-wide event that equips participants with tools to listen with curiosity, speak with courage and turn disagreement into healthy conversation.
• Israel in Your Living Room (Ongoing) — small group conversations hosted in homes. These facilitated gatherings create personal space for curiosity, dialogue and connection in a more personal setting.
Together, these programs show what IsraelLENS makes possible: practical tools, shared learning and spaces for dialogue that build trust across differences.
As Shir said, “We have no choice.” IsraelLENS is how we choose to meet this moment — with courage, connection and community.
