Part A: Perspectives on Supporting Israel in the Election
1. Value Prioritization
In her book I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times, Journalist Monica Guzmán discusses the “Assumption Spiral” that goes something like this:
- I’m voting for X because they support things that feel good and important.
- Voting for Y means voting against things that feel good and important.
- If you vote for Y it means you are against things that feel good and important.
- If you are against things that feel good and important you are a bad person.
Guzmán pushed against the “Assumption Spiral” and argued that often people who vote differently than us aren’t voting against us. They have a different prioritization of values.
Watch this clip [8:15-11:22] where Guzmán explains how assumptions are challenged when people discuss their priorities and ask students:
Questions:
- What are the most important values for you when deciding who to vote for?
- What might be the values of someone who votes differently than you?
- As it relates to Israel: If you were voting in the U.S. presidential election, how important would Israel be to your decision as compared with other issues such as social welfare, climate change, and the economy?
2. Dialectical Thinking
Dialectical thinking refers to the ability to view issues from multiple perspectives and arrive at a conclusion that reconciles seemingly contradictory information.
In pairs, think of three pros, three cons, and one uncertainty that apply to either the issue “voting for Vice President Harris is good for Israel” or “voting for former President Donald Trump is good for Israel.”
A pro supports the argument, a con argues against it, and an uncertainty is something that you are unsure of that doesn’t fit as a pro or a con. You can use this sheet to organize your thoughts.
You can use op-eds to generate some of these points. Some examples:
- Halie Sofer “Not just about defeating Trump: Why Kamala Harris is the next president that Jews need” Forward
- Yuval David “I am a Jewish progressive. Will I vote blue?” The Hill
- Amotz Asael “Will Trump’s return be good for the Jews? – opinion” Jerusalem Post
- Daniel Samet “Kamala Harris is no friend of Israel” JNS
After the dialectical thinking exercise, answer the following questions:
- Describe what it was like coming up with both pros and cons of an issue. What was it like to come up with arguments for the side you disagreed with? Why?
- Did thinking about the different arguments change your thinking about this issue at all? If so, how? Is there a position you are more open to considering than you were before?
- Now that you have completed this exercise and explored the different arguments, where do you stand on this issue?
- How often do you see news on social media, on TV or at school that reflects dialectical thinking, and how often do you see news that reflects all-or-nothing thinking? What practices could you use to apply dialectical thinking to that topic?
3. Two Types of Jews
R. David Cooper of Kehilla Community Synagogue suggested that “there are both ‘prophets’ and ‘guardians’ within the Jewish community. The priority of “prophets” is to hold Israel and the Jewish people accountable for being a light unto the nations, call out oppression against all people, and build a future that is more just and compassionate. The instinct of “guardians” is to ensure the security of Israel and the Jewish people, preserve our lives and traditions, and continue to have autonomy in our ancient homeland.”
Questions:
- In general, do you identify more with the “prophets” or the “guardians”? Are there times when you identify with the other group?
- How does R. Cooper’s categorization of “prophets” and “guardians” apply to the conversation around the 2024 election and support of Israel?
- Why is it important to have groups that disagree with each other be a part of the same conversation?
4. Israeli Agency
One element that is often overlooked in conversations around Israel and the U.S. election is the role of Israel and Israelis. This point is particularly salient when people criticize President Biden and Vice President Harris of delaying arms shipments to Israel or when former President Donald Trump said if Harris wins the presidency, “Israel will not exist within two years from now.”
- Do you think Israel is reliant on the U.S.? Why or why not?
- Should American Jews leave defense of Israel up to Israelis?
- What responsibility do Israelis and Jews living abroad have to each other?
Part B: Views on Disagreement
1. Text Study: Jewish Views on Disagreement
In Judaism, the concept of disagreement or controversy (makhloket) is foundational. Read these sources that discuss the role of makhloket in Judaism and its importance and answer the questions below the texts.
2. Being Wrong
Author Kathryn Schulz is an expert of being wrong and argues that right up until the moment we realize we are wrong we feel like we are right. Schulz expresses that the belief that we are right has profound ramifications for how we treat others who disagree with us. Watch this clip [9:58- 12:07] and then discuss the following questions:
- What are some real-life examples of the three assumptions Schulz discusses?
- How can recognizing our perspectives are limited help us relate to those we disagree with?
- How can we balance intellectual humility with confidence in our positions?
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