GATHER THE PEOPLE (GTP) Organizing Guide: Challenging

GTP Organizing Guide

CHALLENGING

Congregational community organizing ordinarily begins with a series of two to four workshops. The overall strategic objective of the workshops is to form and commission a khevra (group) of 15 to 30 members within the synaogogue that will carry out a campaign of visiting to most of the congregation. The khevra's visiting is designed to deepen relationships among the members of the congregation—to learn more about one another's hopes and pressures—and to challenge members to participate in strengthening congregational life.

Challenging is a part of a Jewish relationship between members of a congregational community.

Our relationships as Jews and fellow members of a congregation require that we support the person we're challenging.

Supporting the person means that we are available to help them think through how to meet the challenge.

Challenging in this process uses particular language that is respectful of the person we are challenging: "Would you be willing to do _______________ (whatever it is)?"

Challenging also means that we are prepared to respond respectfully when someone says no, even when we believe that they are morally obligated—which does not mean that we stop challenging them.

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