In response to popular demand, we reprint here the original text of "Running a Discussion" with minor stuctural adaptations for web-based use, together with other content updates.

The Discussion is a classic mode of education in the world of youth organizations, together with that of student and adult encounters. This long-awaited Hadracha Digest online invites you to review the skills and scope of discussion as a tool, a skill, and a springboard for group work.

We are constantly engaging in discussions with the people around us and, in particular, with our group members, the chanichim. Whether formal or informal, planned or spontaneous, we use the discussion to help young people reflect on the important issues of the day and to formulate their own ideas.

This unit treats both theory and practice: Like car driving, you, the discussion leader, need to have both the specific skills to run the discussion, as well as having a good idea of where you and the group are going…

In the actual training situation, it is often useful to select particular exercises that will help people to grasp the theory inductively. Your task, as the trainer, is to integrate the skills in a micro-teaching fashion until the trainee is able to handle a complete discussion, and to help engaged moderators enhance the style, quality and content of their sessions.

The first section of "Running a Discussion" contains structural elements and guidance for your discussions - ideas you can apply directly in group work as well as discuss in training sessions.

This second section is is an extrapolation of theory to practice, with exercises to analyse communication and improve skills. It is primarily designed for use by trainers in hands-on communications workshops, or for private reflection before preparing discussion. We suggest reading this part - not necessarily in one sitting - and selecting from the exercises as appropriate for the level of your trainees; if you are already working with groups, you may wish to see which of these can help you enhance the communication in a group.