When Disagreement Turns Violent: Discussing Pluralism with Rabbi Ben Berger

Pluralism, Conflict, and Jewish Community: A Conversation with Rabbi Ben BergerRabbi Ben Berger, Senior Vice President for Education, Community, and Culture at Hillel International, joins the podcast for a deep dive into Jewish texts, pluralism, disagreement, and the challenges of building community in times of conflict. From the fiery debates of Hillel and Shammai to the complexities of pluralism on today’s campuses, we explore what it means to hold conviction and humility at the same time.This episode touches on Talmudic stories, the nature of disagreement, the risks of polarization, and the boundaries of pluralism in relation to Jewish life, weddings, education, Zionism, and community leadership.📌 Timestamps0:12 – Introduction to Rabbi Ben Berger0:24 – The story of Hillel and Shammai: when disagreement goes too far1:13 – Why this story resonates in times of conflict2:04 – The day Shammai won: purity laws and tension in the Beit Midrash3:09 – The sword at the entrance: conflict, violence, and boundaries5:24 – From threat to violence: when students of Hillel and Shammai clashed6:04 – Sectarianism in the Second Temple era: Josephus and Yavneh7:34 – The tragedy of Reish Lakish and Rabbi Yohanan: why we need disagreement9:15 – The necessity of challenge vs. constant agreement10:14 – Leaders’ role in keeping the “sword” sheathed12:10 – Pluralism as practice, not neutrality13:10 – The risks of polarization in Jewish and American life15:01 – Pluralism as action, not ideology17:14 – “These and these are the words of the living God”: behavioral pluralism19:36 – Boundaries of pluralism: behavior vs. belief20:19 – Do we include non-pluralists in pluralism?21:02 – The Oven of Aknai: Torah is not in heaven & the limits of dissent23:08 – Lessons from Spinoza’s excommunication25:57 – When ideas attack identity and dignity27:44 – Pluralism and strong identity: is it sustainable?30:07 – Rabbi Berger’s personal journey: pluralism as a pathway to tradition36:08 – Choice paralysis: weddings, Jewish practice, and pluralism in action41:56 – Educator’s role: pastoral care, constraints, and tradition47:16 – Constraints of tradition as a framework for pluralism52:02 – Boundaries on platforming: inclusion vs. pluralism53:57 – Challenges from both right and left58:33 – Inclusion at Shabbat dinner vs. who gets the microphone1:02:00 – Avoiding polarization and resisting hatred1:06:53 – Closing reflections✨ If you enjoyed this conversation, please like, share, and subscribe for more episodes on Jewish life, thought, and contemporary challenges.#hillel #campus #talmud #debate #jewishidentity Jewish History, Politics, Israel, Antisemitism, and Zionism - I cover it all!Politics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6QupJZ1HLY&list=PLQ3aQmFcYiCqqL-GSNw6NhSZWOvzaDdIKJewish History: https://youtu.be/1u4jHoZ8stM?si=0jZP4uhXlVEg2NOTAntisemitism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCgnEZ1d24Q&list=PLQ3aQmFcYiCqkU_aPIJGbE1xTKEbkh8euFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/daniel.levine.31/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rabbidaniellevine/#Israel #Rabbi #Jewish #WhatisZionism #DoJews?