This summer, we’ve been thinking a lot about persuasion. At a time when our national politics feel very polarized, the Jewish community often finds itself in the uncomfortable position of straddling a divide that threatens to turn into a chasm. Debate, persuasion and civil discourse are the means of bridging that divide -- radical acts in our day and age. But they are also central tenets of Judaism, and reminders of the importance of our heritage to our current moment.
We asked thought leaders to consider what persuasion means to them. What works in terms of persuading people? What is the Jewish value of persuasion? Should we be opening our minds to other points of view, or closing them to dangerous ideas? Is persuasion moot in 2020?
Here are a few of the essays in our ongoing series.
We didn't cancel Shammai Jodi Rudoren Forward editor-in-chief Jodi Rudoren uses the example of Hillel and Shammai to explore the Jewish tradition of preserving the voice of dissent, even in an argument the dissenter has lost.
Debate is a Jewish sacrament Rabbi David Wolpe Rabbi David Wolpe argues that it is both tragic and un-Jewish to ban debate and points of view we disagree with; arguing is deeply ingrained in Jewish history, culture and theology.
Propagandists inside the Israeli/Palestinian conflict erased the possibility of persuasion Muhammed Shehada Forward contributing columnist Muhammed Shehada explores the difference between propaganda and persuasion from the point of view of someone who grew up in Gaza.
I spent 20 years in a white church. I'm done trying to persuade people Issac J. Bailey Harvard Nieman Fellow and journalist Issac Bailey explains how he finally came to realize he has no power to change people's minds if they don't want them changed.
In the Talmud, God admits He's wrong. There's a lesson there about free speech Joel Swanson Forward contributing columnist Joel Swanson explores a story from the Talmud in which God admits he is wrong in order to argue for humility in our debates.
These are divided times. 4 tips for civil debate on difficult topics Zaid Jilani Zaid Jilani hosted a debate podcast. In this essay, he shares the lessons about how to stretch the limits of political debate in America.
Donald Trump's deadly game of persuasion Aviya Kushner In this piece, Forward language columnist Aviya Kushner warns that Donald trump is trying to get us to accept mass death as a new norm so that he can hold onto power.
What we lose when we turn our backs on persuasion Pamela Paresky and Shadi Bartsch The writers break down the difference between argument, "a zero-sum game," and persuasion, which the ancient Greeks personified as a goddess.
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