Engage in conversation with these powerful speakers whose expertise focuses on compassion, forgiveness, religious studies, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding.
Rabbi Dr. Marc Gopin
Marc Gopin is the Director of the Center for World Religions, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution, and James H. Laue Professor at George Mason University. Gopin’s studies focus primarily on the role of religion and culture in not only instigating conflict, but as necessary to reaching resolution between conflicting parties. Gopin in recognized globally for his lectures and training on peacemaking strategies. His TED talk from February 2015 features his Seven Incremental Steps for Nonviolent Global Change.
He is the author of Holy War, Holy Peace: How Religion can Bring Peace to the Middle East, To Make the Earth Whole: the Art of Citizen Diplomacy in an Age of Religious Militancy, Between Eden and Armageddon: The Future of World Religions, Violence and Peacemaking, Healing the Heart of Conflict and most recently, Bridges Across an Impossible Divide: the Inner Lives of Arab and Jewish Peacemakers.
Aziz Abu Sarah
Aziz Abu Sarah is a Palestinian peace activist. He won the Intercultural Innovation award from the UN Alliance of Civilizations and was also named a National Geographic Explorer in 2011 and a TED Fellow in 2014. In 2009, he co-founded Middle East Justice and Development Initiative (MEJDI Tours) to use as a bridge between conflict resolution and business.
Aziz is a lecturer and has spoken in hundreds of churches, synagogues and mosques on the subjects of peace, reconciliation, and interfaith dialogue. He is also an expert on Middle East conflict dynamics, Islamic conflict resolution, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Afghanistan, and the Arab Spring.
Robi Damelin
In 2002, while serving in the Israeli army, Robi Damelin’s son David was shot and killed by a sniper. He was 28 and working on his master’s degree at Tel Aviv University when he was called to service. Robi was filled with grief from the loss of her son, but was catapulted into the spotlight due to her position within a PR firm. She was interviewed by journalists and surprised herself with her outspoken nature, telling Israelis the needed to get out of occupied areas. She became involved in the Parent’s Circle and the Forgiveness Project, pain being her catalyst for change.
Robi travels throughout the Holy Land and internationally, spreading the idea of peace, reconciliation and forgiveness.
Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon
Mae Cannon is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Covenant Church and a doctor of American History with a minor in Middle Eastern studies. She has worked as a consultant for child advocacy for Compassion International while living in East Jerusalem and is the author of Social Justice Handbook: Small Steps for a Better World (IVP, 2009) and Just Spirituality: How Faith Practices Fuel Social Action (IVP, 2013) and co-author of Forgive Us: Confessions of a Compromised Faith (Zondervan, 2014). Mae currently serves as the Senior Director of Advocacy & Outreach – Middle East for World Vision USA. She is an advocate for peace in the Middle East and has spoken at universities and prominent news stations internationally.
Prof. Elie Rekhess
Elie Rekhess is the foremost expert on the Arab minority in Israel, Palestinian politics, Jewish-Arab relations and Islamic resurgence in Israeli and Palestinian territories. In his capacity at Tel Aviv University, Rekhess served as a Professor of History and the Associate Director for Israel Studies. He has also served as a Senior Research Fellow in the Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies and lead the Program on Jewish-Arab Cooperation in Israel. He has organized several conferences to examine the historical perspective in the Middle East and is the author, editor or co-editor of several books including; Muslim Minorities in non-Muslim Majority Countries: The Islamic Movement in Israel as a Test Case (2011), The Arab Society in Israel: A Compendium (2009), Arab Youth in Israel: Caught between Prospects and Risk (2008), The Arab Minority in Israel: An Analysis of the ‘Future Vision’ Documents (2008), The Arab Minority in Israel and the 17th Knesset Elections (2007), Together but Apart: Mixed Cities in Israel (2007), The Evolvement of an Arab-Palestinian National Minority in Israel (2007), The Municipal Elections in the Arab and Druze Sector: Clans, Sectarianism and Political Parties (2005), and The Arabs in Israel: A National Minority in a Jewish Nation State (2005).
Swami Parthasarathy
Swami Parthasarathy Avula is one of the most sought-after speakers and philosophers in the world. He is a powerful proponent of Vedanta, the ancient philosophy of India which examines the eternal principals living a life of action and peace. Swami Parthasarathy recently spoke at the World Economic Forum, Aspen Ideas Festival, NASA, the World Bank, Harvard, Wharton, Kellogg, etc., and is also one of the most highly ranked speakers of all time at the Young President’s Organization (YPO) and the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO).
In more than 5 decades of service and sacrifice, his contribution as a translator of Vedanta has given others the tools to reduce stress and increase productivity in their daily lives. He is the author and editor of several books including The Holocaust of Attachment (2014), The Fall of the Human Intellect (2007), Governing Business and Relationships (2010), Select English Poems (2012), Vedanta Treatise: The Eternities (2006), Bhaja Govindam (2006), Atmabodha (2012), Bhagavad Gita, Choice Upanishads (2001), and The Symbolism of Hindu Gods and Rituals (2001).
RUSS ROSENZWEIG
GTD 2.0: An updated workshop on "Getting Things Done" that incorporates e-mail mastery, time management, energy management, and attention management.
Traditional time management suggests that by working harder, smarter, and faster, you will gain control over your life and be more successful. But for entrepreneurs, the struggle for ever-increasing demands on their time and the feelings of "information overload" make traditional techniques inadequate. Entrepreneurs have achieved business success, yet they sometimes struggle with stress, anxiety, and the constant feeling of trying to catch up caused by their leadership role. The purpose of this primer is to summarize the literature on attention, the attention economy, and the new phenomenon of "continuous partial attention." We will present 7 highly practical techniques for achieving stress-free productivity. Presented by Russ.
Peace at Home: This is a closed-door, forum confidential, men-only session on tools and techniques for achieving "peace at home." As entrepreneurs, achieving marital peace is an elusive, but essential element to success. After numerous personal failures in this area, I embarked on a 10 year study of the literature, including careful study of marital/peace at home techniques from all the religious faiths in the world. This workshop will present 5 powerful techniques drawn largely from the Talmud, or ancient Hebrew texts. This material would be presented by Russ and possibly co-presented by a Rabbi/expert/author.
From Success to Significance: This unique program features EO Chicago/Orange County member Russ W. Rosenzweig and his special guests, Michael Hunter Ochs and Alaa Alshaham, who have formed a rare friendship and creative collaboration between a Jewish American and a Palestinian Muslim. This memorable workshop will include a "lesson from the edge" from Russ about his journey from Success to Significance in which he connects "enemies" from across conflict zones through entrepreneurship and music; an inspiring musical performance from Michael and Alaa; and tremendous insights into improving communication, teamwork, and ethics in resolving conflict from the world's most intractable conflict zone.
The Program will begin with a brief LESSON FROM THE EDGE in which Rosenzweig will demonstrate how a particular customer acquisition technique grew his sales from $1m to $15m and led to his company's eight-figure acquisition by Thomson Reuters. Rosenzweig will share the technique with the group, which alone should provide enormous take-home value for the evening! Rosenzweig will then describe his journey, revealing how ENTREPRENEURIAL SUCCESS actually brought stress and conflict to his life and how EO tools gave him solutions. He decided to dedicate himself to the EO core value of MAKING A MARK, and this led to a highly unique approach to conflict resolution: engaging talented musicians and entrepreneurs to help one another across one of the most difficult divides in the world - the Arab/Israeli conflict. The profound and exceptional lessons from this greater collaboration can be applied to every aspect of your business and life.
The audience will then be introduced to a musical treat at the highest levels of mastery: two renowned singer-songwriters, a Jew and an Arab who have united together in an unusual friendship to demonstrate to the world that it is indeed possible to turn an enemy into a friend - to superlative results. Through their musical endeavor, The Pursuit of Harmony, they realized that one by one, song by song, they could start to create a shift in the dynamic between their respective communities and cultures. It starts with empathy and building trust until stone by stone, the foundation is strong.
The remaining portion of the workshop will be led by The Pursuit of Harmony. As songwriters, Ochs and Alshaham have effectively utilized the tools of negotiation, collaboration, mediation, and compromise. Through music, video, and discussion, they will demonstrate cutting edge techniques related to team building and conflict resolution that can be applied at each of your companies. Examples include:
-The importance of SENDING SIGNALS and breaking the negative cycle.
-Taking personal risk to change perception which in turn changes reality.
-The musical collaboration as a way of ICE BREAKING.
-Ripple Effect – changing a culture one by one as the circles of hope keep growing and expanding.
-Compassion, Courage and Commitment – Leave leaders with a challenge.
The presentation will also include an open discussion about the current state of affairs of the Arab/Israeli conflict and a fresh presentation of the conflict through the eyes of Alshaham — a moderate Muslim Palestinian from Gaza. With slides of political satire cartoons rarely seen in the West, and through fascinating stories and humorous music videos, (including Alshaham’s famous Obama video enjoyed by the President himself,) you will see the conflict through a different lens. Ochs will also share his touching and funny journey as a Jew visiting the West Bank, and all the many preconceptions that were altered along the way. Together, Ochs and Alshaham will leave a lasting impression and inspire you to join them and Rosenzweig on The Pursuit of Harmony.
How to get involved
To book one of these captivating speakers for your organization or congregation contact Lucy at lucy@worldventuresgroup.com