This week, we are in the midst of the nine days of diminished joy leading up to Tisha B’av, the day which commemorates the destruction of the Temple and the exile of the Jewish people from the land of Israel. The Talmud writes (Yoma 9b):

“Due to what reason was the First Temple destroyed? It was destroyed due to the fact that there were three matters that existed in the First Temple: Idol worship, forbidden sexual relations, and bloodshed….However, considering that the people during the Second Temple period were engaged in Torah study, observance of mitzvot, and acts of kindness, and that they did not perform the sinful acts that were performed in the First Temple, why was the Second Temple destroyed? It was destroyed due to the fact that there was wanton hatred during that period. This comes to teach you that the sin of wanton hatred is equivalent to the three severe transgressions: Idol worship, forbidden sexual relations and bloodshed.”

We live in an era in which disagreement often seems to result in hatred, in which the other side, especially in the political realm, is seen not as mistaken or ill-informed, but as evil and deserving of hatred. Is it possible to disagree about fundamental issues which face us as a people and as a world in a way that does not result in denouncement and excoriation? 

I am often asked if political divisions are more pronounced at Kesher Israel than in other synagogues. People assume that because we are in downtown Washington and politics loom large, that the wedge politics often drives between people will be more pronounced. My answer is that the opposite is the case. While at some synagogues people might not speak to each other over differing views on Israel, or presidential candidates, or hot issues such as abortion or immigration, at Kesher this is not so. Since our members are more intimately involved in politics and many work in policy, they are actually more familiar with the beliefs of those who are on the other side, and therefore, more nuanced in their political views and more tolerant of those who hold opposite opinions. Kesher Israel congregants are able to daven together, eat shabbat meals together and be friends, even though they may hold opposite political opinions, have divergent party identities and may even be political leaders on opposite sides of the aisle.   

Rabbi Tzadok Hakohen of Lublin asks how it is possible that the Jewish people can be “as one person with one heart,” given that when it comes to Torah we have so many disagreements. He answers that the secret to disagreement not leading to hatred or separation is the characteristic of seeking truth. The Talmud says that when Hillel and Shamai disagreed (which they did on thousands of halachic issues), they disagreed like combatants, but when the argument was over, they loved each other. This was so because their aim was purely truth and they knew that the other also was motivated by the search for truth.  

When people or parties are motivated by power, ego or political gain, then disagreement results in hatred, but when both sides are motivated by finding the truth, disagreements will still allow for, and perhaps result in, connection and love. Though opinions may be deeply held, when motivated by the search for truth we are united in our larger goal and if one’s attitude is not winning, but finding the truth, then they will be able to understand more nuance and hear the arguments of the other side. 

This is in fact a very powerful position. The Talmud says that the law is like Hillel in part because he stated the opinion of Shamai before his own. Understanding the argument of the other side renders one’s own argument stronger and at the same time minimizes hate. If your disagreements do not lead to hatred and not all of your opinions fall into a partisan box, then the odds are your motivation is in line with Rav Tzadok’s recommendation and motivated by the search for truth.