חדש באתר: NotebookLM עם כל תכני הרב מיכאל אברהם

Q&A: Good Advice

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This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.

Good Advice

Question

Hello Rabbi, I browse in a few Facebook groups that are supposed to include people from all ends of Israeli society. The groups themselves are fascinating and have lots of content in a variety of areas. The problem is that whenever something related to Judaism/Jewish law/tradition comes up, the responses to the post get flooded with hatred, contempt, and alienation toward religion. Many of the comments there obviously stem from lack of knowledge, and so I, who know the answer to the “problems” they present, feel obligated to respond. But then, every single time, pointless and exhausting arguments start up, because no one is really looking for answers and no one is interested in changing his mind, only in provoking. I tried to stop responding to those people, but it’s too tempting. When I see comments like that drawing dozens of likes after them, and I know the answer to them, it’s hard to stand by and do nothing. Do you have any good advice about this? Should I continue? Stop? Is it even worth leaving the groups altogether, despite the enriching content in them? And if I should continue, maybe a few tips on how to do it properly?   Thank you in advance, and have a kosher and happy holiday.

Answer

Hello Dan.
The problem is familiar. In my experience, the most fanatical and least willing-to-listen group is the church of atheists. If you were to raise heretical arguments in the study hall of Satmar Hasidim, and certainly in the Ponevezh yeshiva, they would listen to you much more. Someone who doesn’t listen will not listen to what you say, and so it seems you will fail with him.
Still, there is value in responding substantively in such a place, because on every such site there are also many passive readers, and if you present arguments there is a chance they will read them too. One has to know that in most cases the passive readers are far more numerous than those who comment, and therefore the impression created by the comments does not in any way represent the value and benefit of what you say. But it is worth examining carefully whether you are in fact responding correctly, at least with respect to those sites. You need to know the arguments and the language, and you need to be careful about stock slogans common in the religious world. That is not the right way to address people there, and it will only arouse more contempt and mockery.
Beyond that, it seems to me that it is important to write this itself on the site, again for the benefit of the passive readers. Explain that people there mock instead of engaging substantively, and that it is hard to conduct a discussion that way (incidentally, that is why many people do not join in, and the discussion is lacking. They can go on delighting in themselves when no one else expresses different views, but that is not really a discussion, only blowing off steam). You can also add that in many cases the mockery comes to cover up the lack of ability to answer and engage substantively. The participants themselves probably will not listen to you, but others may benefit from it.

Discussion on Answer

A. (2017-04-10)

What does the honored Rabbi think about our arranging for the Rabbi to be hosted on a youth atheism forum? I see great benefit in spreading his wellsprings outward.
The guys there feel incredibly intelligent (which is pretty understandable when your opponent is one of those outreach-to-the-religious-preachers).

Michi (2017-04-10)

Usually that is pointless. Especially when it is defined as a hosted forum event, because then everyone will pounce there and there will be no substantive discussion.

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