BY Rabbi A. Brian Stoller

As the election approaches, I believe pluralism, listening to differing points of view, and treating everyone with dignity and respect are key to the wellbeing of American society. My hope is that these 10 principles can guide us on this path.

1. A person is more than who they vote for. One of our cardinal sins in recent years has been to deny people their humanity by reducing them to a simple binary: Trump supporter or Trump opponent. Instead, we must regard every person holistically, just as we want them to do for us.
2. Treat every person with dignity and respect. Every human being is unique and needed in the world. The duty to affirm every individual’s value as a beloved creature of God is absolute; it is not conditioned on their political views.
3. Do not make everything political. In recent years, we have committed the folly of making politics the primary lens through which we view other people. But politics is not the totality of life, and it does not underlie every human act or thought.
4. Friendship and family are more important than politics. Do not ever give a politician the power to disrupt your friendships or your family dynamics. You’ll regret it.
5. Assume good intentions. Most people want their families and communities to flourish, even if they think differently than we do about how to get there. If we keep that in mind, we can relate to people with curiosity and interest rather than with suspicion and fear.
6. The synagogue’s mission is bigger than politics. Our temple brings together people who are committed to the core values of Judaism. We do not need to agree on politics; that’s not why we’re here.
7. Do not harangue people. Too often, we feel justified in excoriating people who disagree with us politically, making snide remarks in their presence, or railing against them on social media. But this doesn’t change any minds or foster healthy conversation.
8. All people deserve to have their spiritual needs met. People come to synagogue to make meaningful connections with other people, to learn, to experience God, to do good for others, and to be cared for during hard times. If any person feels judged by their congregation because of who they vote for, how can we comfort them when their loved one dies?
9. The synagogue must be a sanctuary for all people. We exist to be a safe space for everyone who seeks refuge from the acrimony that plagues so many other spheres of life today.
10. We all live under the same sky. By approaching politics with hatred, suspicion, and purity tests, we are actively unraveling our society. If we genuinely want our country to thrive and live together peacefully, we must choose the path of pluralism, curiosity, human dignity, and respectful disagreement.

Brian Stoller is the rabbi of Temple Beth-El in Great Neck