We are living in a moment of unprecedented breakdown in civil discourse. The inability to communicate and engage in constructive discussion has caused significant pain and dysfunction, and it is showing up at work, at schools, on the streets and in our families.
Utilizing Jewish wisdom and social psychology, the Mahloket Matters methodology seeks to foster a renewed discourse that heals divisions and offers our communities – and the world – a path forward.
Integrating Jewish text study with Social-Emotional Learning is vital for equipping students with cognitive, emotional, and interpersonal skills to navigate conflicts.
The Pardes Center for Jewish Educators offers a unique curriculum for high school and upper middle school students, utilizing Mahloket Matters materials. This curriculum comprises three adaptable units, complete with an educator’s guide, editable student workbook, and editable slides.
Mahloket Matters Fellows join exclusive cohorts, studying Jewish texts and social psychology alongside peers to acquire essential skills for navigating challenges and nurturing relationships. Alongside mastering the Mahloket Matters methodology, fellows partake in communal action, applying their knowledge to encourage civil discourse within their own communities.
We often think of disagreements as an unfortunate aspect of life. Yet, in the tradition of the Mishnah and Talmud, mahkloket (debate) is a vital tool to generate discussion, critical thinking, personal growth, and the deepening of relationships.
Mahloket Matters aims to highlight the Jewish value of mahloket. We emphasize that Jewish tradition venerates the notion of constructive disagreement and that it recognizes that engagement with multiple perspectives carries the potential for personal growth and the deepening of interpersonal connections. We aim to help participants cultivate a constructive conflict mindset through a combination of Jewish text study, social psychology, and social-emotional learning.
Ultimately, this “constructive conflict mindset” is not aimed at any one specific situation or issue, rather, it is meant to be a lens through which we view, experience, and engage with the world.