As a northern observer, it’s difficult these days to gaze south of the border at the raging debate over the Iran nuclear agreement and not feel some sense of sadness. The deal, and the continuing battle over it, seem to bring together so many of the flashpoints at the core of the American Jewish psyche – Barack Obama, Benjamin Netanyahu, Mideast security, homegrown anti-Semitism –in one perfect storm. The U.S. Jewish community appears stretched to its collective limit, and the tension is virtually guaranteed to increase significantly in the short term. We can only hope American Jewry will survive this great test of achdut (unity).

For Canadian Jews, the travails of our closest neighbours offer an important lesson. Serious and impassioned debate about important issues is more than fine – it’s encouraged. But respect for one another is mandatory. Just because someone doesn’t agree with your position, that doesn’t make them inherently evil, stupid, uninformed, or somehow less Jewish. There’s no need to make things personal. 

But judging by what so many of us are witnessing – in the news, on social media threads and endless emails blasts – that’s exactly what is happening among American Jews. The increasingly edgy tone of voice suggests this is no longer an earnest dialogue, it’s a messy fight. And that is truly unfortunate.

Let it be a cautionary tale for Canadian Jews as we embark on an election campaign of our own, one that promises to be hotly contested and fiercely debated. Let us learn from the personal attacks that have become all too frequent next door, and hold ourselves to a high standard when it comes to our political discourse.

In truth, I offer this humble proposal having already witnessed its antithesis. Since last week, an email exchange of political nature has been circulating among the Canadian Jewish community in which the language borders on the profane and certainly goes beyond the realm of decency. 

Perhaps you’ve seen it, but if you haven’t you might imagine what it looks like: a supporter of one political party haranguing enthusiasts of an opposing party, accusing them of being misinformed, even suggesting their devotion to a particular candidate amounts to a betrayal of the victims of the Holocaust. Ultimately, the writer of the email expresses deep disappointment in his subjects, based solely on their conflicting political positions. 

The parties and associated policies served up by the email-writer for praise and disdain don’t really matter. The words, however, do. Frankly, I’ve heard the same sort of sour rhetoric from all sides. You probably have, too.

So, how do we stop ourselves from descending into the depths? It’s simple, really. All we have to do is show each other the respect we expect to be shown ourselves, and honour the inherent right we all have to have an opinion. That’s what we admire about Canada – that’s also what we appreciate about Israel – and we owe it to each other to represent our ideas with class and dignity. 

As Rosh Hashanah approaches, I know I’ll be resolving to hold myself to a higher standard when it comes to political rhetoric. I hope you will consider doing the same.  — YONI