After the turbulent year we have had, it is time to pull ourselves together and try to calm down. This Shabbat we will bless the month of Elul, and the scent of the approaching High Holy Days will already be in the air. In a short time, multitudes of the House of Israel, from all political spectrums, will gather to recite the Selichot, and then for the High Holy Days prayers.
Suddenly we rediscover the strong glue that binds us together.
Many of the harsh statements that have recently been aired are expressions of anger and frustration, but such negative emotions cannot lead to building and repair. At most, they feed themselves into a relentless competition of radicalization and escalation.
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It is difficult to understand how serious people join a group that is trying to lead a process of 'separation' between parts of the people. Doesn't every sensible person understand that this is a childish thought, devoid of realistic feasibility and also devoid of logic. What have they been saying here for all these years about the Arabs? They are here and will not go anywhere. Even those parts of the people that someone does not like are not preparing to leave. We must learn to live together, with all the difficulties.
The extreme statements and childish 'solutions' stem from one source - the deepening phenomenon of living in a bubble. More and more people are actually living in a bubble, where they hear those who think like them, react like them, and feel like them. This situation creates a distorted picture of the world, in which understanding of other opinions and feelings disappears, and there is also no real acquaintance with other parts of the population.
As a result, decisions are made that do not take into account the public reaction. People living in a certain bubble think that if a certain move is received naturally and with applause within their circle, it will also be received in the same way by the general public. Then they are surprised by a huge wave, which they did not expect, because they are not familiar with the world and feelings of other parts of the public.
Every time, when the election results are announced, we see commentators and experts talking about 'undercurrents' that the pollsters and strategists failed to identify. But these are not hidden undercurrents, but are completely visible, to those who are willing to listen and hear.
Getting out of the 'bubble''
The phenomenon of living in a bubble causes many media outlets to become disconnected from vast segments of the public. The presenters and reporters live within the internal bubble, and do not feel that they have ceased to serve those publics.
They ask questions from only one direction – a certain side is attacked and one side is caressed and presented with questions to guide it. Someone defined this: 'hegemony that is unaware of its hegemony.'.
This situation can only be resolved by getting out of the 'bubble.' Hear other voices, listen to their opinions, feel their pain. This is true for all sides. We will all gain a more accurate assessment of reality if we get to know all parts of the people closely.
We are one people, despite the differences of opinion and the rift that has opened. We have always had different opinions among us, but we have known how to unite around the common denominator. We have no choice but to connect more with each other, to get to know each other better, and to understand each other's needs and sensitivities.
