With Toronto’s university campuses marred by hostile discourse, “Bridging the Gap,” a group of York University and University of Toronto students and recent graduates, hopes to facilitate authentic and respectful dialogue. Made up of Palestinian/Arab/Muslim students who discuss the events in Israel and Palestine with Jewish/Israeli students, Bridging the Gap wants to “change the way that the conversation about Israel/Palestine is happening on campus.” The group acknowledges the significant power imbalance but believes that fellow students deserve human dignity and honest conversation.
Founded in 2019 by students Noam Sibony, Leena Muti, and Hilly Adler, the group was reestablished in the fall of 2023 by York University professor Randal Schnoor. A sociologist who has taught on campus for over 20 years, Schnoor teaches several Jewish studies courses, including a course on antisemitism and Islamophobia in Canada. The group’s purpose is to share multiple perspectives respectfully.
For Professor Schnoor, Bridging the Gap has been very successful overall. He does note that, as there has been some difficulty in attracting Palestinian and Arab students, striking an equal balance can be hard at times. There were also concerns of potential disruptions, though this fortunately has not occurred. Bridging the Gap often hosts events on campus, but also in synagogues, which have seen a heightened sense of security following the events of Oct. 7, 2023.
An example of an average meeting may look like a group of 15 students in a room on campus, where they introduce themselves and what brought them to the meeting. After being broken up into smaller groups, they may discuss what Zionism means to them. Here, different perspectives are given the space to coexist, and students can work to find common ground and expose themselves to different viewpoints. Anyone can attend regardless of their origins, and attendees may not always agree, with Professor Schnoor emphasizing that “agreement is not necessary for respectful conversation.”
He notes that the events of the conflict have been horrific, with many deaths on both sides witnessed during the ongoing destruction of Gaza. According to Schnoor, there has been a “lot of yelling and a lot of chanting but not a lot of listening.” This is where Bridging the Gap becomes an alternative space on campus for those interested in having respectful discussions about Israel and Palestine with others. It is not a space for debate and argument winning, he explains, but rather a space for “honest, curious conversation to learn more about different perspectives” regardless of personal views.
These sentiments are echoed by student leaders William Greenspoon and Saleem Kara.
Kara was introduced to Bridging the Gap by Professor Schnoor while attending his class on Antisemitism and Islamophobia in Canada. At first, he wasn’t so sure of the idea, but he overcame his doubts and attended several sessions. He grew more involved and later became a member of the executive board. For Kara, he joined to help those struggling in the Middle East, hoping to be a good representative on a platform as a Muslim. He also adds that being a part of Bridging the Gap means “understanding those around you” who may “agree to disagree”… because “two truths can be true at the same time.”
He also added that many people protest but do not engage in dialogue, and noted that it has been a struggle to bring some Islamic organizations into the conversation due to division. Many involved in the discourse also see the issue through a black-and-white lens, which makes things difficult.
For Greenspoon, he also recently became involved through Professor Schnoor’s course on Antisemitism and Islamophobia in Canada, after discussing his interests in peace-work and dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians. Alongside Kara, he spoke at a synagogue known as Beth Tzedec, and has facilitated dialogue between peace activists Maytal Kowalski and Ali Abu Awwad. Being a part of Bridging the Gap “means the world” to Greenspoon, as it allows him the opportunity to manifest his passion for peacebuilding, where “the end of a session feels like a rush of satisfaction and optimism — the feeling that things might just end up okay.”
Though Greenspoon has a good support system, he has tried to get more conservative peers to join the cause. One of these attempts has involved introducing nuance on the conflict in the Jewish summer camp he works at, though Greenspoon doesn’t mean to change anyone’s mind or “foster anti-Israel sentiment.” Additionally, calling himself a Zionist and also criticizing Israeli policy, while not downplaying its significance to Jewish people, has been a tight rope to walk on. He emphasizes that Zionism — broadly defined by him as the right to self-determination for Jewish people — does not inherently contradict Palestinian self-determination, though it does branch off into multiple ideologies, some more oppressive, which he does not subscribe to. To him, peace is possible, and the “future of Israelis and Palestinians is intertwined, as neither are going anywhere.”
Above all, Bridging the Gap is a place for understanding others and sharing opinions on Israel and Palestine in a respectful, humanizing manner. In a world where dehumanization seems to be rising, and hostilities among people are increasingly common, Bridging the Gap provides a refreshing outlook on discussions surrounding conflict and identity.
The group will be hosting an event on March 25, with mandatory registration required. Those interested in attending and/or learning more about Bridging the Gap can reach out to Professor Schnoor at rschnoor@yorku.ca.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to include the names of the students who founded the organization.
