Political polarization that spilled into the streets, alongside the public and legal struggle over segregated prayer in Tel Aviv, has challenged existing conventions and raised fundamental questions about the nature of the public sphere and the boundaries between tradition and freedom. This initiative proposes to facilitate local dialogue on the nature of prayer in the public sphere, aiming to clarify red lines, explore areas of compromise, and support local authorities in reaching context-sensitive agreements. The process began in September 2025 with a gathering of dozens of prayer leaders and a discussion on the character of public space. It continued with a public conference bringing together representatives of local authorities, civil society, policymakers, and scholars to address these issues, alongside the development of a proposed process for shaping broad agreements and an action plan within elected authorities, in collaboration with civil society actors and experts in the field.
