For the Sake of Argument is a non-partisan educational initiative founded and directed by Abi Dauber Sterne and Robbie Gringras, with generous support from the Jim Joseph Foundation.
In a deeply divided world, we’re committed to advancing healthy arguments as a game-changer in the field of education.
We develop tools and techniques to help you engage in healthy arguments in your home, school, campus, workplace, or community.
In the first phase of our work, we’re using Israel education as our core focus area. As we research and understand more about the impact of our work, we plan to develop new resources encompassing other issues.
We believe that healthy argument is first and foremost a learning tool. It is a pedagogy that empowers educators and leaders to lean into controversy and learn from it.
Participants emerge knowing more and become more curious about the topic at hand, even in a short, one-off session. (See research in attached document.)
Our research has shown that we reach significant results extremely quickly. One 90-minute session positively shifts participants' attitudes to argument and to each other.
Our pedagogy is easily grasped and easily transmitted. Our corresponding educational collateral (slide decks, posters, book, etc.) is being applied and used across the United States.
For the Sake of Argument sessions can take place anywhere, for any size group, and can be led by locals. Our approach is that, while having a trained educator is a definite plus, a lot can be done and learned without trained facilitators.
"Argument Circles" can take place in small self-facilitated groups, using our free online content, including stories, animations, and training videos.
For the Sake of Argument techniques blend Israeli and American cultural norms, emphasizing both listening carefully and talking honestly and courageously. As such, our approach is proving to be an excellent tool to enable Israeli-Diaspora dialogue.
We do not shy away from the real and tough topics. Our stories introduce and encourage arguments that ask such questions as:
A. Is force a legitimate way of settling a land?
B. To what extent should Israel's public spaces represent Jewish tradition, and if so, by what standard?
C. Should an anti-Zionist Jew be more or less welcomed into a Jewish family than a Zionist non-Jew?
Karina Chocron is an award winning designer and creative director with over 15 years of experience and the owner of VerticalLoop, a creative agency for social good in Tel Aviv.
She has worked with entrepreneurs and organizations of all sizes to amplify their work and impact through design thinking and creative direction.
Karina has a BA in Graphic Design from the IDC in Caracas, Venezuela and expertise in user experience (UX), marketing, and branding through ongoing courses at the School of Visual Arts in New York.
Karina lives in Tel Aviv where she throws pottery after work and goes camping with her husband and two kids on weekends.
Hila is currently the Operations Manager at “For the Sake of Argument,” where she oversees various operational tasks. She previously worked as a PMO at a consulting firm for executives, where she developed project management systems.
Hila holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Tel Aviv University, where she discovered her passion for community work and large-scale social change. She is now pursuing an MA in Organizational Development at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
A few years ago, Hila worked with refugees in South Tel Aviv, gaining hands-on experience in community support and social advocacy.
Living in Tel Aviv, Hila enjoys dancing in her free time. From a young age, she has made a conscious effort to surround herself with diverse people, fostering enriching conversations and deepening her understanding of the complex Israeli social fabric. She hopes for more productive and meaningful arguments in Israel, rather than the stressful arguments that often characterize arguments today.
Let’s take take a moment to reflect (and to kvell a bit) on what we’ve achieved so far:
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