Your community/class is invited to join us as we try to strengthen the culture of constructive disagreement, or mahloket l’shem shamayim. We hope you will use these resources to study some of the primary texts about constructive mahloket and its roots in the ancient Sanhedrin, the Jewish court or parliament. In addition, our materials will help you lead your community/class in a mock-Sanhedrin constructive controversy dilemma. Our hope is that synagogues, campuses, schools, federations and others will all participate in this same exercise and post their proposals and rationale to this dilemma on a special Facebook Group Page. This way, different communities from diverse ideological, geographical, political and denominational backgrounds can learn from one another.
Get started by using the Rabbi’s/Adult Educator’s Guide or the Teacher’s Guide (for middle and high school classes) below.
Materials Provided:
If you have comments or questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at MahloketMatters@pardes.org.il.
*Note for Hillel participants: This fictitious exercise helps put into practice the guidelines set forth by the Sanhedrin. Campus Hillels who are contemplating inviting a specific speaker, should consult Hillel’s Navigating Speakers and Public Programs document.
Other Mahloket Matters Materials:
Mahloket Matters: How to Disagree Constructively – the Sanhedrin Way is generously supported by Ronald Guttman.