The season of High Holy Days is upon us, and Jews around the world are preparing for a season of reflection and renewal. This period, spanning Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, invites us to engage in a process of deep self-examination. We are called to confront our motives and actions, repair our relationships, and find a safe path forward.
While there are many classic and contemporary guides that support the process of personal self-examination, far fewer guides address the challenge of confronting the shortcomings of the groups to which we belong. Rather than soul-searching within our own group, we prefer to search the souls of other groups.
We live in concentric circles of identity groups, especially in Israel. Calls for unity are constant in our national discourse, but sadly, action does not always follow. Instead, we often criticize groups to which we do not belong, analyzing their flaws and failures while avoiding the same scrutiny within our own circles.
division and polarization
In today’s politically charged world, where division and polarization dominate public discourse, it is all too easy to scrutinize the shortcomings of others.
We criticize motives and actions that oppose political, social, or ideological groups, question their values and integrity, and often dismiss them as morally wrong. On the one hand, we take comfort in the vindication of our group’s views and rarely subject our own communities to the same level of scrutiny. Protests in Tel Aviv on Saturday, September 21, 2024 (Credit: CHEN SCHIMMEL)
This trend is not new, but the advent of modern technology and media has made it even more difficult to resist. Psychological mechanisms such as confirmation bias, group identity, and loyalty further strengthen this resistance to group reflection.
But achieving unity requires an honest assessment of your own circle.
We need to step back and ask ourselves: What are our hidden agendas? What motivates us to avoid discussion? Which parts of our criticism are justified?
In seeking unity, we must also ask: What is my side willing to give up and sacrifice for unity? Does my party really believe in unity enough to compromise on policy, share power, and change?
Change is difficult, especially when it is for the greater good, but there are already some notable efforts toward collective self-transformation for the sake of national unity.
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One example is Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer’s website Tzarich Yiyun, which features ultra-Orthodox-friendly essays promoting the group’s integration into Israeli society, including the military.
Another example is Q4, a movement aimed at finding common ground and broadening the spectrum of Israeli political culture.
You’re probably aware of similar efforts. This special time of the year combines celebration with opportunities for deep inner work and the potential for change at all levels.
It challenges us to lower our defenses, reconsider our assumptions, and build up the best in ourselves and others.
The author, Ph.D., hosts the biweekly podcast The Van Leer Institute Series on Ideas with Lenny Garfinkel.
