For approximately six years, I've participated in the ICJS Congregational Project. Since beginning the first program, appropriately named Genesis, I have found this mode of study to be quite unlike anything I've ever done before. Although Bible study always fascinated me and I engaged in it for many year, without exception, my early study was always done in a totally Jewish environment.

What a surprise and delight it was to become involved in reading, interpreting, and discussing biblical writings and issues with Christians. The surprise was that our commonalities far outweighed our differences. The delight was that I made many new and dear friends.

Last spring I looked forward to the program because the topic, Israel, the Land and the People, was so very close to my heart. As an ardent Zionist for all my adult life, I never before contemplated in any great detail what the land of Israel would or could mean to Christians. Listening to my colleagues speak of its meaning to them, and understanding why Christians considered themselves the people of Israel, which I had never known before, opened my eyes and my heart once more to how much we, Jews and Christians, have in common.

As in previous years, one of the most important factors of the Congregational Project was the leadership given to us by the ICJS. The staff is astute at clarifying issues, answering ques-tions, and most important of all, setting a comfortable atmosphere in which to study. We could not help but have an outstanding series.

This year we approached issues that made us uncomfortable, but as we continued and our comfort level rose, I was again thankful for the privilege of being "at the table." I am a firm believer that we must remain at the table if we are to coexist in harmony in the future.