Building Political Bridges Class

Joe Blumberg,
Rabbinic Intern,
Building Political Bridges
Wednesdays 10/25, 11/1, 11/8, 11/15 | 7 pm to 8 pm
Zoom Only
Joe Blumberg will teach a class titled, “Makhloket Matters: Building Political Bridges and Moral Courage in a Fractured World.”
What’s an acceptable opinion, and what’s beyond the pale? When should we trust our enemy’s intentions to make peace, and when should we not? When should get into an argument, and when should we “let it slide?”
At a moment in which political divides seem to be tearing at the fabric of American society, it can feel like our country is spinning further away from consensus and shared values. “Civil discourse” is getting less and less civil, and in many communities political identification has become the chief marker of social networks. Cue the Jewish concept of “makhloket,” or respectful disagreement for the sake of Heaven. This ancient Jewish method of studying sacred texts can be found on every page of classic Jewish literature, and it could provide us with a roadmap for engaging more constructively with opposing opinions and building a more loving, connected, and respectful social landscape in our own communities.
Inspired by a similar class at the Pardes Institute for Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, this four-session course will focus on the productive discomfort of disagreement and help us discover how the radical wisdom of our tradition might help us transform our broken world.