Reframing the Problem

In an era of increasing polarization, what tools exist to help journalists, policymakers, and other leaders transcend seemingly intractable problems? In the Talmud, the truly wise man was the one who could articulate his opponent’s opinion as a discerning listener—and even better than his opponent. But in an age of fractured politics, most of us listen primarily to reinforce our preconceptions, encouraged by social media and artificial intelligence technologies that act as “attention merchants.” Bestselling Israeli author Micah Goodman demonstrates how, in the Talmudic tradition, those who taught not only their own community’s tradition but also the opinions and tradition of their disagreeing neighboring community were most honored by God. In this principle there is a contemporary lesson, suggests Philippa Stroud, a member of the House of Lords. Contemporary work on the UK’s welfare programme, she argued, was substantially elevated from listening deeply not only to her political opponents, but also to low-income families, homeless men and women, and triad gangs. And in this sense, ancient wisdom can help us recover the lost art of listening—even in the context of deep public disagreements.

Session Speakers

Bss. Philippa Stroud

Legatum Institute

Philippa Stroud is CEO of the Legatum Institute. Previously, she was Chief Executive of the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), a think tank that she cofounded in 2004. Prior to the CSJ, she was Special Adviser the Rt. Hon. Iain Duncan Smith MP (then Secretary of State for Work and Pensions) from 2010–15, and also to the Prime Minister from 2012. In these roles she was responsible for the development of a national social justice agenda. Her early career included service in Hong Kong and Macau, working with heroin addicts and ex-members of triad gangs undergoing rehabilitation, and on her return to the UK she directed projects serving homeless men and women. Following the 2015 UK General Election, she was ennobled and became Baroness Stroud of Fulham.

Dr. Micah Goodman

Beit Midrash Yisraeli – Ein Prat

Micah Goodman is the author of five Israeli bestsellers and the director of Beit Midrash Yisraeli – Ein Prat, Israel’s leading pluralistic Zionist Beit Midrash for young adults. In 2014, he received the Marc and Henia Liebhaber Prize for Religious Tolerance for his work and writings. Goodman lectures across North America and Europe, as well as at Israel’s leading universities, think tanks, and cultural venues. Goodman has a doctorate in Jewish Thought from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and teaches at his alma mater. He is a member of the Global Forum of the National Library of Israel and a senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem.

Faith Angle Europe 2019 Forum

Reframing the Problem

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Faith Angle Europe 2019 Forum

Reframing the Problem

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