Taste of Torah
A Bima-Ready D'var Torah 

26 Elul 5782
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Parashat Nitzavim
Offering Ourselves
Torah Portion: Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20[i]

Rosh Hashanah I: Genesis 21:1-34; maftir: Numbers 29:1-6
Haftarah Portion: I Samuel 1:1-2:10

Rosh Hashanah II: Genesis 22:1-24; maftir: Numbers 29:1-6
Haftarah Portion: Jeremiah 31:1-19

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Shalom!

This week’s parashah is Nitzavim. In this portion, we take a deep look at where we have been, and where we are going. Moses summarizes recent Israelite history, and then lays before them a choice: the Israelites may choose to be good, moral, and ethical (“choose life”)… or be bad, immoral, and corrupt (“choose death”). It outlines very clear perceptions of right and wrong in this instance—although in many situations today, the line between good and bad can be all too easily blurred.

It is perhaps no coincidence that this is the last Torah portion we read before beginning the Days of Awe. The Days of Awe are a time of self-reflection and a time to take stock of who we have been, who we are, and who we want to be—not only as individuals but also as a people. These days, conflict abounds. Disagreement is natural but taken to extremes, it can lead to something far worse than dissent: toxic polarization.

To be clear, there is nothing inherently wrong with healthy, normal polarization. Think about how passionately some (perhaps in your own life!) feel about their favorite sports team. Rivalries between different franchises and their fans can lead to game-day ribbing, but it doesn’t affect other aspects of our lives, nor does it negatively impact our relationships with others—which means it isn’t toxic.[ii]

Differences in opinion become dangerous and detrimental, however, when they result in toxic polarization: disagreeing or disliking the other person’s opinion so much that you begin disliking the person as a whole. This leads to the mindset that the people in the other group are bad or even “evil and must be stopped.”[iii] This goes beyond agreement or disagreement—it becomes an issue of right and wrong. If the opposing side is evil, there is no reason to listen to them.

In this way, “toxic polarization creates a dangerous feedback loop. When one side perceives the other to be extreme, collaboration [and discussion become] harder. Without collaboration, extreme voices become louder as people are less willing to speak up or cross divides.”[iv] People cease having discussions. The exchange of ideas is halted. We come to the table having already decided that we are correct, and we will not yield any ground. Indeed, it becomes our moral imperative to defeat the other side—not just their ideas but the people themselves. Winning the argument, or being right about a particular topic, becomes a moral war of good vs evil. This kind of dynamic—whether within a group the size of a classroom or a country—quickly becomes detrimental to our mental health.

The distance caused by toxic polarity has an even more insidious effect. The lack of dialogue or contact with members of the opposing group leads to misconceptions about what individuals in the opposing group actually think or feel. They become a caricature or a stereotype in the eyes of their critics, rather than a nuanced human being. It then becomes justifiable—moral, even—to “stop” them. To limit their rights. To place them in precarious situations if it means keeping “our side” a little bit safer.

This is a very dangerous place to be. If the ends are the only things that matter, just what are we willing to do? Who are we willing to hurt, and what are we willing to destroy, along the way?

The Torah puts it best when God says: “See, I set before you this day life and prosperity, death and adversity” (Deuteronomy 30:15). God is telling us that we always have multiple options, and it is incumbent upon us to make the moral choice. But that doesn’t just mean what is good for us. It means, much more broadly, what is good.

​As Rosh Hashanah swiftly approaches, let’s reflect on this past year. Have we approached conflict with nuance and goodwill? Have we held fast to our values while also acknowledging other opinions? What can we do not to eliminate polarity, but to reduce toxic polarity?

​This sacred time of year provides us with the opportunity to strive for something better in the year ahead. During the High Holidays, let us make a true accounting of ourselves. May we see ourselves with eyes unclouded by self-deception. May we recognize the places where we have begun to go astray. And may we work in the future to make choices that lead us on the path to a good life.

Shabbat shalom and L'shanah tovah!
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Rabbi Caroline Sim
ISJL Director of Rabbinical Services

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[i] During the seven weeks between 9 Av and Rosh Hashanah, we read a different “Haftarah of Consolation” in preparation for the High Holidays. This is the seventh and final Haftarah in that series.
[ii] One America Movement, “An Introduction to Toxic Polarization: OAM/RDP Training for CCAR (Revised for Elul)” (PowerPoint presentation, CCAR, Zoom, August 23, 2022) https://10pzbn347s7w1b9a412ijnxn-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/One-America-Movement-CCAR-Presentation.pdf, slide 9.
[iii] Ibid, slide 11.
[iv] Ibid, slide 12.

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