Selichot 5785
A Conversation with Robert Fersh and Rabbi Borodin

On His Co-Authored Book, “From Conflict to Convergence: Coming Together to Solve Tough Problems”

Evening Schedule
• 8:30pm Havdalah (sanctuary)
• 8:45pm Conversation with Robert Fersh
• 9:45pm Dessert (social hall)
• 10:15pm Selichot service

Join Congregation Beth Shalom, Kavana Cooperative, and Jconnect to prepare for the High Holidays with Selichot, exploring themes of reflection, growth, and repair.

Our guest speaker, Robert (Rob) Fersh, co-author of From Conflict to Convergence, will share lessons on
how to work more effectively across differences in both public and private life, including in the realms of
politics and policy.

As Elul and Selichot invite us to examine how we live and connect with others, we’ll learn principles for
fostering collaboration, trust, and meaningful change in the year ahead.

Rob Fersh is the founder and served as the first CEO of Convergence Center for Policy Resolution in the years 2009-2020. For sixteen years, Convergence has convened key stakeholders to find answers to multiple critical issues where differences stand in
the way of progress at the national and state levels. The major issues Convergence has addressed include economic mobility, incarceration, health care, US-Pakistan relations, nutrition and wellness, K-12 education, digital discourse, supports for
working families, and many more.
The collaborative problem-solving methodology employed by Convergence is at the heart of "From Conflict to Convergence: Coming Together to Solve Tough Problems”, a book published by Wiley in 2024 that Rob co-authored with Mariah
Levison, current CEO of Convergence. Prior to founding Convergence, Rob served as the US country director of the international conflict transformation organization Search for Common Ground. His career also includes working for three Congressional Committees, an appointment to the federal executive branch, and serving for twelve years as president of the Food Research and Action Center, a leading organization working to end domestic hunger.