Judaism's Guide to solving Polarization in Politics by Alexis Shoss https://padlet.com/ashoss/8rem26tss9sj6cc Hi!! I'm glad you are here! en-us 2021-05-03 19:15:58 UTC 2025-09-30 07:15:17 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/2728.png The Polarization in Politics in America From 1994-2015 ashoss https://padlet.com/ashoss/8rem26tss9sj6cc/wish/1486925947 Over time polarization gets more and more bad. Just look at the drastic change between 1994 and 2015.]]> 2021-05-03 19:18:14 UTC https://padlet.com/ashoss/8rem26tss9sj6cc/wish/1486925947 Listen to their opinion without arguing ashoss https://padlet.com/ashoss/8rem26tss9sj6cc/wish/1506868626 you shall love him as yourself (Leviticus 19:33-34)

It might be really easy to argue with people who do not have the same opinion as you. But, the Torah explains how you should love the stranger as yourself, which means you should love everyone, even people with different opinions with you as yourself. It also explains how you should listen to others and allow them to express their opinions even if you do not agree with them. A big part of polarization is both sides not wanting to agree with each other and choosing not to listen to one another.

]]> 2021-05-09 19:35:04 UTC https://padlet.com/ashoss/8rem26tss9sj6cc/wish/1506868626 Love One Another ashoss https://padlet.com/ashoss/8rem26tss9sj6cc/wish/1506872217 This is what the Holy One said to Israel: My children, I have lacked for you nothing - what do I seek from you? I seek no more than that you love one another and honor one another and fear one another and that there should not be any sin, thievery, or harmful actions among you so that you do not come to invalidate the world.

(Eliyahu Rabbah11 26)
God explains to the Israeli people to love each other and to not commit any sin towards one another in The Torah. If everyone would have followed God's words, then both sides of polarization would not have been so divided as they are today.

]]> 2021-05-09 19:37:55 UTC https://padlet.com/ashoss/8rem26tss9sj6cc/wish/1506872217 Act Towards Others as you Would Want to be Acted Towards ashoss https://padlet.com/ashoss/8rem26tss9sj6cc/wish/1506872444 Therefore, it says here, that you need to love him like yourself, and act toward him just as you would want. You should act towards him as you would want other people to act toward you if you were a foreigner.
(Shadal3 on Leviticus 19:34 - Love him as yourself)
This text describes how that we should treat others how we would want to be treated, as act towards others as if we were being acted towards. So, the seperate sides in politics should treat each other like they would want to be treated, and then polarization would be better than before. ]]> 2021-05-09 19:38:04 UTC https://padlet.com/ashoss/8rem26tss9sj6cc/wish/1506872444 You Should Not Hate Anyone ashoss https://padlet.com/ashoss/8rem26tss9sj6cc/wish/1506873097 Why should you not hate the stranger? – asks the Torah. Because you once stood where he stands now.
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Mishpatim: Loving the Stranger (2008)
People on the other sides of the spectrum in politics tend to hate each other, and not allowing each other to express their opinions, causing more polarization in politics. This text explains how one should not hate the stranger, because you once were in their shoes. If both sides were more allowing of the other ones to express their opinions, and if they did not hate each other, polarization would decrease dramatically. ]]> 2021-05-09 19:38:33 UTC https://padlet.com/ashoss/8rem26tss9sj6cc/wish/1506873097 All opinions are valid and have reasoning behind them ashoss https://padlet.com/ashoss/8rem26tss9sj6cc/wish/1506873345 In short, we need to view those with whom we disagree as having honorable intentions and legitimate reasons for believing as they do. We may regard them as mistaken, but we should not think of them as evil.

("Appealing to Empathy to Overcome Polarization"

By Arnold Kling Jul 6 2020 The Library of Economics and Liberty)

]]> 2021-05-09 19:38:42 UTC https://padlet.com/ashoss/8rem26tss9sj6cc/wish/1506873345 Empathise With One Another ashoss https://padlet.com/ashoss/8rem26tss9sj6cc/wish/1506873755 Even if we can get out of our echo chambers and only, you know - and we can hear more points of view, people will still tend to reject the view that does not fit with their pre-existing beliefs. So we've got to find ways to bring people together and tap into their shared humanity. That is, to give them experiences where they can begin to empathize again with the other person.
("Political Science Professor Warns Of Dangers Of Polarized Politics" April 5, 2017)

]]> 2021-05-09 19:39:01 UTC https://padlet.com/ashoss/8rem26tss9sj6cc/wish/1506873755 Anything can change ashoss https://padlet.com/ashoss/8rem26tss9sj6cc/wish/1506875923 Along came the Jews with a very different message: “The world can be fundamentally changed. Every system of oppression, no matter how powerful it appears to be, can be overthrown… We know it, because we did it ourselves.” (Rabbi Michael Lerner22, Jewish Renewal: A Path to Healing and Transformation, p.129)

The Jews believe that any government or system of oppression can be overthrown, so this system of polarization can be overthrown over time.

]]> 2021-05-09 19:40:46 UTC https://padlet.com/ashoss/8rem26tss9sj6cc/wish/1506875923 Do not turn your hand away from others ashoss https://padlet.com/ashoss/8rem26tss9sj6cc/wish/1506876046 It is a positive commandment to give tzedakah ...And there is a negative commandment in one who turns his eyes away, as it is said: “You shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand” (Devarim 15:7).
(Shulchan Arukh20, Yoreh De'ah 247:1)
Because of polarization, many people see the people on their other side of the political system as mean and bad people and do not want to help them. But, this text explains how you should not turn your eyes away from those in need unless you want to commit a negative commandment. So, you should not help others even if they are on the other side of the political spectrum than you, which is one of the causes of polarization.]]> 2021-05-09 19:40:51 UTC https://padlet.com/ashoss/8rem26tss9sj6cc/wish/1506876046 Polarization in Politics in America ashoss https://padlet.com/ashoss/8rem26tss9sj6cc/wish/1506876318 Politics has divided America into many sides, which has caused polarization in politics. Polarization is the big gap between Republicans and Democrats, which has gotten bigger and bigger over time. The two separate sides most of the time do not want to work together to fix this problem, and many Americans have different opinions on how to solve it. Judaism believes that to solve this problem, both sides must work together and listen to each other. Also, Judaism believes that both sides are equal, and both have the right to express their opinion. Judaism believes that if both sides compromise and listen without arguing with each other we can find a way to solve polarization.]]> 2021-05-09 19:41:02 UTC https://padlet.com/ashoss/8rem26tss9sj6cc/wish/1506876318