{"id":9043,"date":"2022-09-15T09:02:07","date_gmt":"2022-09-15T09:02:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chabadoncampus.nl\/be-careful-not-to-politicize\/"},"modified":"2022-09-15T09:02:08","modified_gmt":"2022-09-15T09:02:08","slug":"be-careful-not-to-politicize","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chabadoncampus.nl\/en\/be-careful-not-to-politicize\/","title":{"rendered":"Be Careful Not to Politicize"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
In my first blog for Chabad on Campus, I emphasized the importance of dialogue<\/a>, touching upon why it is necessary for us to discuss and exchange viewpoints with each other. This time, however, I want to dive into the content of these discussions and warn us about politicisation. In my opinion, unnecessary politicisation in an already extremely polarized world, not only harms our small communities but also negatively impacts the content of a discussion.<\/p>\n\n Recently, in a local Jewish student community group chat, a discussion emerged around several boys in Israel refusing to serve in the Israeli military. Although it is perfectly fine, and should even be encouraged, to discuss such a (heated) subject among each other, the discussion quickly took an, in my opinion undesirable, turn. As people complained to not discuss politics in the group chat, one of the participants compared a video of Jews praying at the Kotel to the one about the army refusers. Implying that both videos had similar political connotations.<\/p>\n\n For me, the Kotel is a-political. It is one of our holiest places, and it exists to unite, instead of divide. It is the place where we think of when we think of Jerusalem, where we write down and pass on our messages to God and where we pray towards.<\/p>\n\n So, why is it problematic to politicize the a-political? We live in a very polarised world, where we differ in opinions on almost every possible subject. Protests against Bibi, and scolding everyone to the left of the Likud as ‘smolani’<\/a>. For a two-state solution? Traitor! Against a two-state solution? Idealist, or a religious fanatic! Or look at the political climate in the United States, with the MAGA movement versus \u2018The Squad\u2019.<\/p>\n\n