This was written after reading Hen Mazzig’s Facebook post about a fourth synagogue in London bombed within the space of one month. He pleased for readers to see and understand how making and excusing hateful speech directly connects to the acts of hate we are seeing. I agree with his call – but am also asking every one of us to understand the ramifications of hate for us all and to begin to treat everyone we meet differently.

Being hated hurts. Anyone can tell you that.

Hate also hurts society, that is, people who see it being normalized, do nothing, say nothing, think nothing of it…or are persuaded by it to think or act differently – they are harmed too.

And those who do act on hate, who foment hate, who hold hate in their hearts – they too are actually hurting themselves too, denying themselves the opportunity to build bridges and to see the world differently.

My fix? Start by always speaking to and treating others as you would want yourself and those you love to be spoken to and treated. It is not all that difficult. Just think before you speak…and especially before you type online, where you expose others to venom.

The bottom line, though, is that we each need to spend time looking inwards – and this is true no matter where you are on any political spectrum – and begin to address our own absence of compassion. What does it benefit someone to spending time and energy on spreading animosity and hatred?

We each need to create and live in spaces large enough and welcome enough to hold us all and to show us all how things could be, ought to be. Don’t just, as Hen requests, admit that hate speech encourages hateful acts. It does, but please don’t stop there.

Don’t add to that kind of speech and to the hurt it produces. Don’t tolerate hateful speech or acts in spaces where you witness it. Call it out and instead, model the kind behavior we all need to see.

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)