Progressively Speaking: How fragmented is British society?
Rabbi Debbie Young-Somers looks at how we can best unite in the fallout of Brexit and the General Election
We have seen over the past few weeks divisions highlighted between rich and poor, left and right, and a growing sense that minority communities (including our own) are being misrepresented, deepening isolation.
The Scottish Referendum, Brexit, and the last election have reminded us we are not a nation readily able to agree. This division was felt well before the election, and the increase in hate crimes has made many minority communities fear it.
Fierce debate and political discussion has taken on a new nuance, and I’ve been shocked by the inability of many to gracefully disagree.
Online, people feel free to abuse others for supporting the other side.
Emotions run high, and most act out of a desire for good. Yet we seem incapable of disagreeing with respect, or to understand that disagreement can help us reach better decisions.
Our Judaism shows us how to be better than this. The Talmud demonstrates another way of debating; the conversation is sometimes more important than the conclusion, and minority opinion is always recorded.
Generations converse on the same page, and disagree vehemently; they are trying to fathom how to live their Judaism well in their generation.
The conversation continues instead of being shut down.
Arguments are for the sake of heaven, but also for those of us on earth; when we disagree, we must see the humanity of the other.
Events that allow us to enjoy our diversity and celebrate what we have in common are a great starting point.
Having difficult conversations about things we care passionately about is a challenge. But we must learn to disagree better as a community, and as a society, if we are to heal and move forward productively.
Rabbi Debbie Young-Somers is community educator at Reform Judaism
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
