Deep Dive with Simon Greer and Saad Soliman on Hard Conversations
Jan 28, 2025
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Simon Greer, a Jewish organizer, and Saad Soliman, a social justice consultant, share their unique friendship formed amidst the backdrop of the 1967 conflict that shaped their families. They discuss the power of curiosity and openness in bridging cultural divides. Their journey highlights the importance of personal connections, empathy, and resilient dialogues in creating healing amidst strife. As they prepare to travel to Israel, they emphasize that understanding each other can transcend longstanding conflicts, proving that healing has no expiration date.
Simon Greer and Saad Soliman exemplify how curiosity and openness can transcend deep-rooted divisions, fostering healing through friendship.
Their journey emphasizes that personal experiences and the practice of radical kindness can facilitate transformative connections between opposing backgrounds.
Deep dives
The Importance of Expert Support for Learning
When children struggle in academic areas, parents often feel compelled to help but may lack the necessary expertise. Utilizing resources like online learning programs, such as iExcel Learning, allows for personalized support that is essential for mastering subjects like math and language arts. This program provides a fun and engaging learning environment, reinforcing understanding through positive feedback. By incorporating advanced algorithms, it tailors lessons to each child's unique needs and learning styles, making it a widely used resource across many top school districts.
Exploring the Power of Language Learning
As the new year approaches, learning a new language can greatly enhance personal and professional life, allowing for deeper cultural appreciation and connections. Rosetta Stone offers a comprehensive language learning experience by immersing users fully in their target language without relying on English translations, which fosters a natural learning process. Its innovative features, such as real-time pronunciation feedback, are designed to help learners achieve authentic communication skills effectively. By encouraging this journey, individuals not only enrich their lives but also open doors to new opportunities.
Bridging Cultural Divides Through Personal Stories
The podcast delves into an inspiring conversation between Simon Greer and Saad Solomon, who come from opposing backgrounds linked to a decades-long conflict. Their dialogue highlights the importance of openness, curiosity, and the willingness to engage with those differing from oneself. Both men reflect on their early influences and how personal experiences shaped their identities and beliefs, ultimately leading them to challenge stereotypes and build connections. This transformative relationship showcases that meaningful bonds can foster understanding and healing, even amid historical tensions.
The Journey of Forgiveness and Redemption
Saad Solomon shares his life experiences that led to imprisonment and his dedication to practicing radical kindness upon his release. He emphasizes the significance of forgiveness, not only as a means to cope with personal trauma but as a transformative experience that allows for healing and understanding. By discussing the impact of trauma and opportunity in facilitating personal growth, Solomon argues that the journey to redemption is self-directed and requires ongoing introspection. This perspective is reinforced through his partnership with Simon Greer, where both individuals continue to confront their differences while nurturing a friendship built on mutual respect and understanding.
In this third episode of our Hard Conversations series, Simon Greer, a Jewish organizer whose uncles fought for Israel in 1967, and Saad Soliman, a social justice consultant whose uncles died fighting for Egypt in that same war, met at a professional gathering between corrections officers and formerly incarcerated individuals. They made a pivotal choice: create connection rather than perpetuate division. Their remarkable friendship, which deepened even during recent Middle East conflicts, demonstrates how curiosity and openness can bridge seemingly insurmountable divides, leading them to travel together to Israel in 2024 - and proving there's no expiration date on healing.
This episode was made possible by a grant from Templeton Religion Trust. For more information, visit templetonreligiontrust.org.