Rabbi Arnold D. Samlan emphasizes the importance of using social media responsibly in the wake of the U.S. elections, highlighting the Jewish values of truth, respectful dialogue, and peace. He stresses the need for fact-checking as a religious obligation and encourages managing emotions before posting. Samlan advocates for a constructive use of social media to address societal challenges while promoting respect for all individuals, regardless of differing opinions.

1. Jewish Values for Social Media in the
Post-U.S. Election World
Rabbi Arnold D. Samlan

2. “Avtalion said: Wise people, be
careful with your words”.
Words are not “just words”(Mishnah Avot).
They are actions, once you say them, and even
more so once you write them. Use caution.

3. Distance yourself from false
words”(Exodus 23:7).
In the election’s aftermath, people are making
up stories and posting them on social media
as fact

4. ” Truth and peace we love” (Prayer of
the Hazan on High Holidays).
Truth is a primary value. This is not simply
about avoiding falsehood, but
about pursuing truth. That’s right, I consider
fact-checking to be the performance of a
religious obligation. Educators know how to
do this. We don’t teach something unless we
are certain that it is true. We need to use the
same standard on social media.

5. Lashon Naki (Clean speech)
The Talmud mentions instances in which the
Torah went out of its way to use wording that
was “pure” and not insulting or inappropriate.
My immediate assumption, when someone
curses while stating an opinion is that either
a.they aren’t sure enough of their point to
make it with objective language, or b. they are
posting while enraged. Which leads me to…

6. “One who becomes angry is as
though that person had worshipped
idols.” - Maimonides
No, we can’t control our feelings, but we’d
better be able to manage them. If you’re
enraged, social media isn’t the best place to
respond. Run a mile, do kickboxing,
meditate, or whatever works for you. Then,
decide if you want to post something.

7. “Judaism is a religion of listening”
(Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks)
“While his statement refers to humans listening
to God, I expand it to apply to humans
listening to each other (since, after all, we are
all in the image of God). If you just spew your
ideas, you’re not growing. But the dialogue
that social media gives us allows us to
broaden our horizons. If we listen.

8. Seek peace and pursue it”(Psalms
34:14)
This is a great time for peacemaking. Our
country and our world face problems that go
beyond a particular philosophy or even a
particular country’s borders. Time to create
the peace and the coalitions that are going to
address environmental issues, poverty and
human rights. Want to troll for a fight? Do it
elsewhere. Not on my social media space.

9. Tzelem Elohim – The Image of God
• Everyone is created in God’s image, or, if you
prefer, with a spark of divinity. Everyone
deserves respect: President Obama, Secretary
Clinton, President-elect Trump, the protesters
in the streets and the folks who are exuberant
about the election results. I police my social
media territory to make sure that all who are
my guests there treat each other respectfully
and refrain from insulting others.

10. Tikkun Olam
The mystics taught that our job is to repair a world
that somehow went off track from the time of
creation. In recent years, we’ve adopted it to mean
anything we do to make the physical world a
better place. Adding positive energy and action via
social media? Great. Adding negatives? Find
someone else’s space

11. Lashon Hara
Gossip, even when true, is still gossip. If it’s the
need to call someone or something out
because it will endanger others, different
story. But simply to accuse or to spread
rumors? Off limits.

12. When it goes bad
• http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/tr
ump-nazi-germany-tweet-doesn-article-
1.2943473
• http://www.alternet.org/election-
2016/donald-trump-serial-anti-semite
• https://heatst.com/politics/hillary-clinton-
creepy-smile/
• http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/
Article.aspx/18828