Regretfully, im all too familiar with it. In the Chasidic community I grew up in--cough, cough, chabad, cough, cough--i was told that empathy was a sign of arrogance and lack of faith. And if your reaction is WTF, exactly.
Well, I've been recovering from religious trauma over the past 30 years. It's why when I read your writings, I cry and want to yell from the rooftops, "Read this! This is what being Jewish really is about!"
Wonderful piece Rabbi. I have an essay on empathy I just published. I encourage readers interested in the conversation on empathy to check out the latest post on my Substack, Words over Swords. It's the newest article, "Empathy is Kryptonite to our Oligarchic Overlords." I won't cross post the article here because that seems rude. But I encourage folks to visit Words over Swords and check it out.
I loved this reading and your gentle words. In the Torah, God shows compassion constantly throughout. Our two traditions are so closely linked. The teaching about slavery is chilling. Yes, one has to do all sorts of avoidance and mental gymnastics to justify enslaving other humans. We are seeing this in real time today with the treatment of people who are not like society wants them to be.
Beautifully stated. Thank you, Rabbi
The fact that they are not just lacking in empathy but are actually ANTI-empathy is so disturbing and so wrong.
OMG This is powerful!
Thank you. This anti-empathy theology is nuts and it’s all about power and dominance
Regretfully, im all too familiar with it. In the Chasidic community I grew up in--cough, cough, chabad, cough, cough--i was told that empathy was a sign of arrogance and lack of faith. And if your reaction is WTF, exactly.
Oh wow! I had no idea that Hasidic communities were like that.
Well, I've been recovering from religious trauma over the past 30 years. It's why when I read your writings, I cry and want to yell from the rooftops, "Read this! This is what being Jewish really is about!"
Very moving. Very deep. Very true. Thank you Rabbi!
Wonderful piece Rabbi. I have an essay on empathy I just published. I encourage readers interested in the conversation on empathy to check out the latest post on my Substack, Words over Swords. It's the newest article, "Empathy is Kryptonite to our Oligarchic Overlords." I won't cross post the article here because that seems rude. But I encourage folks to visit Words over Swords and check it out.
Thanks. I will check it out
So well stated. Empathy is a gift. And a lack of empathy makes every horror imaginable.
There is a term for humans without empathy: sociopath.
I loved this reading and your gentle words. In the Torah, God shows compassion constantly throughout. Our two traditions are so closely linked. The teaching about slavery is chilling. Yes, one has to do all sorts of avoidance and mental gymnastics to justify enslaving other humans. We are seeing this in real time today with the treatment of people who are not like society wants them to be.