As part of the sixth grade Rodef Shalom Judaic studies curriculum, the sixth graders spent the week engaged in conversations with lower school students about constructive conflict, as this week is the Jewish Week of Constructive Conflict. To prepare, the class first learned about the history of the 9th of Adar—a day approximately 2,000 years ago when the usually peaceful and constructive conflict between Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai turned violent. “The class discussed how Hillel and Shammai are good historic examples,” explains teacher Jody Bloom, “of how to engage in constructive conflict or how to have disagreements for the sake of Heaven, ‘Machloket l’shem shemayim.” After explaining the four ways to engage in constructive conflict—maintain good relationships, check your motivations, be open to the fact you may be wrong, and consider you both may be right—“sixth graders shared their thoughts on applying these lessons to ourselves today.” They then paired up with lower school students to share a time they had engaged in a non-constructive argument and how they could have changed what happened.

 

Adds Ms. Bloom, “Our sixth graders were fabulous role models of how to engage in constructive conflict.” MORE PHOTOS