Just as our individual health is profoundly impacted by many small, routine choices that add up, so too is community wellbeing. Cincinnati Jewish Experience (CJX) has launched a new program with a lofty goal – fostering Jewish unity – achieved one conversation at a time.
The Chai Conversation Project will match interested Jewish community members into pairs with one sole expectation: that the two meet for at least a single, respectful thirty-minute conversation.
“The only commitment is to show up at least once and be kind,” said Lisa Cook, CJX’s Director of Operations and a co-founder.
In order to build new bridges in the community through these individual interactions, organizers will pair people with someone they don’t know yet and who is in a similar stage of life. The goal is to increase understanding between different parts of the community, one interaction at a time.
The registration form, open now, takes into account scheduling availability. “Let’s face it,” Cook said, “we’re all really busy. Many people start something and it just fizzles because we’re pulled in so many directions. I wanted to create a project that makes participation easy and welcoming. It’s free, has no ongoing obligation, and is not tied to a particular congregation or movement.”
After matching, participants will select their preferred meeting spot – the Mayerson JCC, Orange Spot, or a walk in French Park or Summit Park.
The Chai Conversation Project will provide optional conversation prompts, recognizing that sometimes a challenge of making a new connection is just getting started.
When Times Are Low, Go Chai
“What inspired the project is that one of the biggest problems facing the Jewish world is disunity,” Cook said.
The program fits the CJX mission to build connections among the broader Cincy Jewish community and provide a non-judgmental space for anyone seeking to explore their Jewish heritage and pursue the knowledge and guidance needed to make informed decisions about their Jewish future.
Cook believes in increasing understanding and connection between denominations and communities through the power of friendship – or even a one-time conversation.
“I have found that a lot of ignorance and dislike and fear is caused by the unknown,” she said. “It’s the lack of familiarity and a fear of judgment from both sides. And if we just talk to someone for literally five minutes it can make a huge difference. Once you get two people together, so much can change.”
Cook chose the name for the program carefully.
“Chai means ‘life’ in Hebrew, and a feeling of Jewish unity is the lifeblood of the Jewish people, of Jewish life. Chai is sacred and empowering.”
“Acquire for yourself a friend.” Pirkei Avot 1:6
Our tradition is replete with guidance about the importance of not going it alone. One reason Moses is recognized as a great leader is his willingness to accept advice and help in times of need as well as his commitment to his people.
How are we supposed to make friends? Sarah and Abraham teach us the importance of generosity and hospitality. Welcoming strangers into their tent brought them laughter and happiness in return.
Modern life offers many conveniences, but also tradeoffs. In 2023, the US Surgeon General issued an Advisory On the Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation. A Surgeon General Advisory is a public statement reserved for significant public health challenges that require the nation’s immediate awareness and action.
“Loneliness is far more than just a bad feeling—it harms both individual and societal health,” Dr. Vivek H. Murthy stated in the Advisory. “It is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and premature death. The mortality impact of being socially disconnected is similar to that caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, and even greater than that associated with obesity and physical inactivity.”
According to rabbinic tradition, Abraham and Sarah kept their tent open on all sides to welcome guests coming from all directions. What is a modern Jew to do?
Cook has founded the Chai Conversation Project to help people make new connections. This has the potential to benefit our community as a whole but also make a profound individual impact.
Dr. Murthy’s Advisory defines “belonging” as “the feeling of deep connection with social groups, physical places, and individual and collective experiences,” and identifies it as a fundamental human need.
Jewish unity is a vital source of belonging.
“It’s everyone’s responsibility to help solve this problem,” Cook said. “This Chai Conversation Project is not one person’s or organization’s. It’s a grassroots movement. It’s on all of us to take part.”
There is evidence that even social acquaintanceships, not just deep friendships, offer important health and social benefits.
So whether a new connection made from the program is a one-off experience or leads to deeper friendship, CJX warmly invites you to register here for the Chai Conversation Project and be open to possibility.
