A Flower. A Smile.
A Conversation.
Let's Talk Democracy

Who we are

Let's Talk Democracy is a non-partisan volunteer organization.

Every week since February 2023, our volunteers have been setting up booths in the street across the country, and engaging their fellow-citizens in an ongoing conversation - about our values, about our lives, and about the future of Israel: the home we all share.

Our goal

To create a strong and united base of people who share the belief that democratic values are essential to Israel's future, and who are committed to taking action to protect them.

How we do it

We stand on the street, offering smiles and flowers, and invite everyone we meet to stop, talk and connect.

Come check it out

Help us by donating

"The people we meet are hungry for these conversations - and we need to have them. Otherwise we're leaving the field open for the partisan media and empty slogans."
Roy: Or Akiva stand

Everyone asks:

How does it work?

Click to find out!

Why on the street?

We have 3 reasons...

Does talking help?

Yes! Want to know how?

Everyone asks:

Does talking help?

Yes! Want to know how?

Why on the street?

We have 3 reasons...

How does it work?

Click to find out!

When we say 'democracy', what do we mean?

In order to talk to each other about democracy, we first need to clarify what each of us means when we use that word. To do this, we created the "Democracy Card," which lists the values that we think this word should include.

The postcard often serves as a "springboard" for conversation - people approach the stand, look at the card, and choose from it a topic that concerns them and is important to them to discuss. On one side are principles for living together, because this is what democracy strives to achieve. On the other side are principles for form of government, which delineate the contract between citizens and the state.

Equality

Equal rights to be free and live with dignity.
Equal opportunities and fair allocation of public resources.
We should all be treated equally by the law and be equally obligated to obey it.

Life with dignity

All must have access to education, healthcare, housing, food, and security.

Freedom

Freedom of expression, religion and conscience; freedom of movement and occupation; and the right to privacy.
We must all have freedom to vote and run for public office.

Mutual solidarity, concern and tolerance

Looking out for one another, contributing to the common good, and supporting each other in times of need.
We should allow each other to live as we choose, while treating each other with respect and consideration.

Principles
for living together

How to live together well,
even when there are differences between us

Elections must be fair

They must be free, confidential and open.

Institutions and officials must serve all citizens well

Elected and appointed officials must serve the interests of all citizens, not just of those who voted for them.
The people elected and appointed must act for the public good with professionalism, fairness and integrity.
Governing institutions must uphold the "principles for living together".

Governing institutions must operate only within set boundaries

All actions must be bound by the law.
The law itself must not violate the principles of equality, freedom and life with dignity.

Governing institutions must be independent of each other and supervise one another

This ensures that each institution properly performs its tasks and fulfills its obligations to the public.
This ensures that no institution or official strays beyond the boundaries set by law.
This prevents any single institution or official from holding absolute power.

Maintaining the institutions that make living together possible

Principles for form of Government

How do we know it’s working? Our blog uses real stories to give you a taste of how it works

Why is it important make spaces in the street where people can say anything?

Here's two examples of something volunteers in any of our booths would recognize: 🌷 “I spoke with a woman who told me about her anxieties over the situation, her disappointment with Netanyahu (whom she voted for), his lack of any clear decision-making, and the fact that there don’t seem to be any clear objectives [to the war]. At the end of the conversation, she said she was glad she had someone to share her concerns with, because she is in an environment where she finds it

If facts alone don’t do the job, what does make people change their minds?

🌷 “I wanted to show him the article on my phone, but he said it was definitely a lie.” (Rachel, Modi'in booth) One of the first assumptions that go out the window when you start volunteering at a booth is the idea that “if they only knew what I know, they’d see that I’m right and agree with me.” In that sense, our experiences on the street confirm what researchers of the brain and society have already discovered: presenting countervailing facts, on its own, is not enough to

Why is it important for booths to come back to the same place again and again?

One of the questions we’re often asked is, “What does success look like to you?” “How do you know that you’ve made an impact?” That's a question with multiple answers, but one important answer is: “If that person comes back to talk with us again and again, that’s success.” Why is that a success? The stories in this post illustrate the answer, addressing the question: Why is it important to keep coming back to the same place and talking with the same people? - - - This we

A Flower. A Smile. A Conversation. Let's Talk Democracy