{"id":1516,"date":"2010-02-28T21:38:00","date_gmt":"2010-02-28T21:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jcpa.wpengine.com\/?p=1516"},"modified":"2025-04-11T15:46:11","modified_gmt":"2025-04-11T15:46:11","slug":"civility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jewishpublicaffairs.org\/press-release\/civility\/","title":{"rendered":"Civility"},"content":{"rendered":"

Adopted by 2010 Plenum<\/em><\/p>\n

Robust, vigorous debate about the pressing issues of the day is vital and essential in a pluralistic society, including within our diverse Jewish community.<\/p>\n

Deep divisions are to be expected over\u00a0how to address many\u00a0issues including but not limited to the domestic economy,\u00a0the environment,\u00a0health care, American military involvement abroad,\u00a0the Arab-Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the existential threats posed to Israel by terror and Iranian nuclear ambition.\u00a0A frank and civil exchange of ideas helps to inform and distill\u00a0consensus. \u00a0 In recent years, however, we have been witness to an increasing challenge in general society and in our own community.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 There is greater political and socio-economic polarization, the deterioration of civil interaction, decreased sense of common ground among individuals with divergent perspectives, greater tension around global issues and their impact on American society.\u00a0 At times divisions spill over into racism, anti-Semitism, and other forms of prejudice and bias.\u00a0 It is cause for great concern.<\/p>\n

As\u00a0differences devolve into uncivil acrimony, dignity is diminished and people holding diverse viewpoints cease listening to each other, it becomes more difficult if not impossible to find common ground.\u00a0 We are experiencing a level of incivility, particularly over issues pertaining to Israel, that has not been witnessed in recent memory. Where such polarization occurs within the Jewish community, it tears at the fabric of Klal Yisrael<\/em> \u2013 our very sense of peoplehood \u2013 and is a cause for profound concern.<\/p>\n

Civility is neither the lack of difference nor the squelching of debate. \u00a0It is the application of care for the dignity of every human being, even those with whom we may sharply disagree. It is listening carefully when others speak, not just to understand what they are saying and thinking, but to open ourselves to the possibility that they may have something to teach.\u00a0It is the guarding of tongue and the rejection of false witness.<\/p>\n

As Jews, our shared past, present, and future require that we find ways to work for a common good, toward Klal Yisrael.<\/em> \u00a0Each of us has a sacred obligation to heal our broken world. This repair requires that we recognize\u00a0that the divine is in every one of us.<\/p>\n

The Jewish Council for Public Affairs believes that:<\/p>\n