Cancel Culture

Cancel culture didn’t begin online. From ancient inquisitions to modern outrage, societies that silence dissent have always collapsed under the weight of their own fears.

Rooted in ancient law and echoed in modern times, Jewish wisdom offers timeless insight into why the freedom to think, speak, and repent matters. Because in a world quick to condemn, Judaism’s tradition of debate and redemption might just hold the key to saving conversation—and conscience—itself.

Big Ideas

1. Cancel culture stifles freedom of speech and judges people based on their worst moments.
2. Jewish wisdom provides guidelines for avoiding engagement in cancel culture.
3. Those debating for the sake of heaven engage in argument in order to seek truth.

Essential Questions

1. How should individuals engage with ideas with which they don’t agree?
2. How can people take part in disagreement for the sake of heaven? 
3. How can we combat cancel culture?