On principles, passion, and peoplehood

In the coming months, our nation will be in the throes of another election cycle, an election about which those of us who love both our country and our community may feel quite strongly.

As the election heats up, I implore us all to remember that the tone we take with one another matters as much as the tenets we hold dear. Just as Jewish values fuel our passion for the issues, we must ensure that Jewish values shape how we speak to–and about–each other.

JUF’s tagline, “Together for good,” stands as a promise to work together always, and always for a better world. In today’s politically charged reality, “Together for good” also challenges us to accept diverging points of view within our community.

I have said it before, and I will say it again: We must tamp down the toxic tone in our discourse.

As a community, we need to learn how to disagree without disdain, to debate without doubting one another’s intelligence, and to differ without questioning each other’s integrity.

In our tradition, we are commanded to behave with derech eretz –common decency–which has sadly become too uncommon.

As Americans, we can disagree about the best ways to stimulate the economy or safeguard the environment, how to deliver education or healthcare, and what are the appropriate approaches for balancing our rights with our responsibilities.

As Jews, we can differ on the best ways to honor our traditions or teach Torah, how to pursue peace in the Middle East, or engage young people in Jewish life, and whether we most appreciate the world view of Rashi or the Rambam.

As American Jews, what we cannot do is become so sure and self-righteous that our sense of patriotism trumps our sense of peoplehood–or that our dedication to peoplehood overtakes our recognition that we are all made B’tselem Elohim , in God’s image.

If intelligent, good-hearted people cannot disagree and still respect and even like one another, what does that say about the tensile strength of our community?

This division of the world into pro- or con-, liberal or conservative, dove or hawk, us and them is not only heart-breaking: It just may be the greatest threat to Jewish survival today.

We are taught that the Second Temple fell because of baseless hatred among Jews. Now we are living through another time when the Jewish People are vulnerable to threats from without and within. At a time when acts of antisemitism are surging across the nation and the globe, Jews must stand together instead of empowering those who hate us by hating one another.

The unity of the Jewish people doesn’t demand uniformity. It just demands that we love one another irrespective of our differences.

When someone is hungry, it doesn’t matter who they voted for: We feed them.

When a young adult is looking for a sense of belonging, it doesn’t matter how observant they are: We connect them to community.

When Israel is under fire, it doesn’t matter who is Prime Minister: We send aid.

Let’s ensure that JUF continues to be the place where Jews of all backgrounds can feel welcome and find a home, and where we come together to focus on the beautiful thing that unites us: Our core mission of helping the most vulnerable and engaging the Jewish community in new and exciting ways.

Lonnie Nasatir is the President and Chief Executive of the Jewish United Fund of Chicago.