Helping feuding couples and warring nations
THE author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Dating, Judy Kuriansky will be at the Jewish Writers Festival in Sydney examininng a relationship that's far from romantic, namely the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
SHE may be known as the author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Dating, but when writer and academic Judy Kuriansky addresses the upcoming Jewish Writers Festival in Sydney, she’ll be examing a relationship that’s far from romantic, namely the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Dr Kuriansky, who is a relationship expert, media commentator and author with a PhD in clinical psychology, is taking part in a discussion on “The Impact of War” on Wednesday, August 25.
The session is just one of countless interviews, workshops and panel discussions held over five days and featuring more than 100 writers from Australia and overseas.
From her apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, Dr Kuriansky spoke to The AJN about the psycho-social side of the ongoing conflict between Palestinians and Israelis.
The 63-year-old author of Beyond Bullets & Bombs strongly believes in overcoming prejudice and animosity by engaging in activities such as sport and cooking together. “Governments can make decrees and peace plans, but it won’t work unless there is a focus on tasks that bring people together … you can’t hate people who you are working cooperatively with,” Dr Kuriansky explains.
“The key is to bring opposing groups together on a project. If you share common ground, you tend to see the person as a person instead of an image of something you hate.”
Dr Kuriansky’s dedication to changing the world doesn’t overshadow her deep understanding of relationships.
In fact, she is quick to draw parallels between creating a healthy relationship and formulating ties between conflicting cultures. “The same issues apply to both these scenarios, with communication, compromise and cooperation being at the source.”
In her counselling of couples and cultures, Dr Kuriansky focuses on teaching the importance of the four Ts — talking, trust, time together and touch — with a deep-seated belief in the significance of contact to create reassurance, closeness and safety in any type of relationship.
Beneath the author’s congenial exterior is a woman who doesn’t believe in playing games, not even when it comes to dating. “Be yourself, be honest about what you want,” she says.
Her belief that self-esteem is the foundation of good dating and sound relationships provoked her most recent book, 31 Things to Raise a Child’s Self Esteem.
The multi-talented author has also worked in the field of disaster risk reduction, aiding the Red Cross during times of major crisis such as 9/11, Hurricane Katrina and bomb attacks in Israel.
In addition, she’s currently working with the humanitarian organisation US Doctors for Africa in the development of an evaluation program for female AIDS orphans in Lesotho.
Indeed, while she’s in Australia, Dr Kuriansky will also serve as a representative at a United Nations health conference. Having experienced a variety of environments, Dr Kuriansky is excited by her realisation that similar principles apply on both micro and macro levels. “The bottom line is, in any given situation, there is the possibility that a ¬≠relationship can work when both people/parties want it to.”
And one relationship she really enjoys is the one with her fans in Sydney and Melbourne.‚ÄàA‚Äàregular visitor to these shores, she says, “I love being around Aussies. “They’re so warm, friendly, funny, bright and kind.”
The third Sydney Jewish Writers Festival is taking place from August 25-29 at Shalom College and other venues. Enquiries: www.sjwf.org.au.
Top line-up for festival
AMONG the local and international writers at the Sydney Jewish Writers Festival are blogger and former magazine editor Mia Freedman, acclaimed novelist Thomas Keneally, prominent Israeli journalist Ron Ben-Yishai, Booker Prize-nominated author Steve Toltz, Peter Manseau and Mark Dapin.
Festival director Michael Misrachi said that more than 100 writers from Australia and overseas will take part in the festival.
The program includes lectures, interviews, workshops and panel discussions, which tackle a wide range of issues, including the media, medical matters, the Holocaust and religion. Special sessions will focus on emerging writers, scriptwriting, poetry and the media.
CASSILEE KAHN
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