The Raoul Wallenberg Institute at the University of Michigan presents The Samantha Woll Dialogues, a series of public conversations on contemporary issues of consequence.
The Samantha Woll Dialogues was established in memory of Samantha Woll, who was tragically murdered in October 2023 at the age of 40. Samantha was deeply committed to Judaism and was serving as the President of the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue in Detroit at the time of her death. Her influence, however, extended far beyond her own faith. She had a remarkable ability to unite individuals with diverse backgrounds and beliefs, which resulted in her spearheading multiple interfaith and cross-cultural initiatives. Samantha was truly an inspirational force, passionately advocating for inclusivity, always looking for the good in everyone and providing an unwavering voice for the most vulnerable and marginalized in society. Our hope is that the Samantha Woll Dialogues will carry forward her legacy by championing her values of tolerance, compassion and humility. All dialogues are recordered and incoporated in the flagship course.
2026 Samantha Woll Dialogues
September 22, 2026- Why is Reproduction a Religious Issue?
Speakers: Lisa Harris, Terri Laws, Rabea Benhalim
More information to come.
October 6, 2026- Can Israelis and Palestinians Talk Through Poetry?
Speakers: Stephanie Kraver, Almog Behar, Ayat Abou Shmeiss
More information to come.
October 27, 2026- Should Universities Strive to Bridge Division?
Speakers: Mary Sue Coleman, Brian Rosenberg, Terri Sullivan
More information to come.
November 17, 2026- Should Hate Speech be Protected?
Speakers: James Loeffler, Suzanne Nossel, Richard Primus
More information to come.
Dialogue Archive
"Is There a Path Forward? Two Views from the Gaza Border." (April 14, 2026)
Part of the Samantha Woll Dialogues, Raoul Wallenberg Institute Director Jeffrey Veidlinger moderated an exchange between Professor Jonathan Dekel-Chen, whose son, Sagui, was taken hostage from his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz near the Gaza border on October 7, 2023, and Professor Mkhaimar Abusada, who was evacuated from his home in Gaza during the ensuing war. They discussed their own experiences during war and explored how neighbors across borders ravaged by conflict can seek a better future.
"Is American Antisemitism Exceptional?" (March 10, 2026)
Part of the Samantha Woll Dialogues, Deborah Dash Moore (Jonathan Freedman Distinguished University Professor of History and Judaic Studies at the University of Michigan) and Pamela Nadell (author of Antisemitism, an American Tradition; Chair in Women's and Gender History and director of the Jewish Studies Program at the American University) discussed the uniqueness of American Antisemitism and its history, as it relates to other minority groups and their experiences in the United States.
"Why do Monuments Matter?" (February 3, 2026)
Part of the Samantha Woll Dialogues, Raoul Wallenberg Institute Director Jeffrey Veidlinger will moderate an exchange between Erin Thompson (author of Smashing Statues: The Rise and Fall of America’s Public Monuments) and Anoush Tamar Suni (sociocultural anthropologist and Raoul Wallenberg Institute Fellow), examining the provocative and, at times, controversial, role monuments play in the history and memory of a nation.
"How to Move from October 7 and the War in Gaza to Peacemaking?" (January 27, 2026)
Part of the Samantha Woll Dialogues, Raoul Wallenberg Institute Director Jeffrey Veidlinger moderated an exchange between Shai Feldman (Raymond Frankel Professor of Israeli Politics and Society at Brandeis University) and Khalil Shikaki (Director of the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research) as they explored the feasibility and potential outcomes of peacemaking in the Middle East.
"Should Religion Play a Role in the Law?" (November 11, 2025)
Part of the Samantha Woll Dialogues, the Raoul Wallenberg Institute will host an exchange between Terrence McDonald, Winnifred Fallers Sullivan, author of The Impossibility of Religious Freedom, and Benjamin Berger, author of Law’s Religion, on how legal systems engage with religious beliefs and practices in pluralistic societies and how recent supreme court decisions and executive actions affect the relationship between church and state.
"Should Hate Speech be Regulated on Social Media?" (Ocotber 21, 2025)
Part of the Samantha Woll Dialogues, Raoul Wallenberg Institute Managing Director Miriam Mora will moderate an exchange with University of Michigan Professor of Information Paul Resnick and Roy Austin, Former Vice-President of Civil Rights and Deputy General Counsel of Meta. They will discuss the tensions between free expression and digital harm, and the ways that social media platforms, policymakers, and communities are navigating this evolving landscape.
"Is Tolerance Enough?" (September 30, 2025)
Raoul Wallenberg Institute Executive Committee member Karla Goldman (Sol Drachler Professor of Social Work and Professor of Judaic Studies at the University of Michigan) moderated an exchange between Andrew Murphy (professor and chair of political science at the University of Michigan and author of Toleration: A Very Short Introduction) and Amir Hussain (Professor of Theological Studies at Loyola Marymount University) as they examined the challenges of religious tolerance and interfaith engagement in today’s world and discussed ways to foster deeper understanding, inclusion, and mutual respect within our pluralistic society.
"Should Universities Adopt a Definition of Antisemitism?" (September 9, 2025)
Part of the Samantha Woll Dialogues, Raoul Wallenberg Institute Director Jeffrey Veidlinger moderated an exchange between Rabbi Eli Mayerfeld (CEO of the Zekelman Holocaust Memorial Center) and Kenneth Stern (director of the Bard Center for the Study of Hate and former director of the division on antisemitism and extremism at the American Jewish Committee), exploring the implications of adopting formal definitions of antisemitism in academic settings and the differences between various definitions.
"What Is Genocide and Should We Name It?" (March 18, 2025)
This expert panel delved into the concept of genocide, exploring its historical origins, legal implications, and the profound impact of its terminology. Panelists examined the value of the term for recognizing and addressing atrocities, the potential damage caused by its misuse or overuse, and the term’s conversation-halting nature. This panel included Steven Ratner (Director, Donia Human Rights Center; Bruno Simma Collegiate Professor of Law), Linda Kinstler (Journalist and Junior Fellow, at the Harvard Society of Fellows), and Yurii Kaparulin (Research Fellow, Raoul Wallenberg Institute).
"What are the driving forces behind hatred?" (March 11, 2025)
This panel discussion highlighted the connecting threads between forms of ethno-religious hatreds, like anti-Black racism, Islamophobia, and antisemitism. Panelists examined the prospects for overcoming differences in pursuit of inclusive, multiracial democracy. The panel featured Eric K. Ward (Executive Vice President of Race Forward) and Amy Spitalnick (CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs).
"Why is it so difficult to talk about the conflict in Israel and Palestine?" (February 18, 2025)
This panel unpacked the contemporary implications of the conflict in our own campus community, fostering a nuanced dialogue that acknowledges diverse perspectives and seeks pathways for understanding and continued dialogue across ideologies. Exploring the complexities and differing narratives surrounding the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, panelists discussed the ways in which various interpretations and representations shape public perception and policy, and how they make emotions and communications around the topic difficult to navigate. This panel included Mostafa Hussein (Assistant Professor, Jean & Samuel Frankel Center for Judaic Studies), Aaron Rock-Singer (Research Fellow, Raoul Wallenberg Institute; Lecturer, Judaic and Middle East Studies), and Karla Goldman (Sol Drachler Professor of Social Work; Director, Jewish Communal Leadership Program; Professor, Jean & Samuel Frankel Center for Judaic Studies).
"Can one person make a difference, and if so, how?" (January 21, 2025)
Inspired by the historical figures of Raoul Wallenberg and Martin Luther King Jr., the Raoul Wallenberg Institute hosted an interdisciplinary and intergenerational conversation about the role of the individual in making change. Expert and activist panelists examined various instances of individual and group influence to enact change, discussing the merit of trying and failing, the different ways that individuals have sought to influence the world around them, and how to measure and evaluate “making a difference.” This panel included Irene Butter (Professor Emerita of Public Health, Holocaust survivor, and peace activist), Matthew J. Countryman (Associate Professor of Afroamerican & African Studies, and History), Sooyun Christina Kim (Undergraduate LSA - Student), and Elliot Ratzman, Research Fellow, Raoul Wallenberg Institute.
