Session 6: Truth and Values in Social Media

Our most recent edition of OOH3 was a text-based conversation facilitated by our colleague Rabbi Ed Harwitz. We looked at the following text:

“How does one dance before the bride? Beth Shammai say: The bride as she is. [One does not exaggerate in praising the bride. If she is not beautiful one does not say that she is.]  And Beth Hillel say: ‘Beautiful and graceful bride’! Beth Shammai said to Beth Hillel: If she was lame or blind, does one say of her: ‘Beautiful and graceful bride’? Whereas the Torah said, ‘Keep thee far from a false matter.’ (Exodus 23, 1) Said Beth Hillel to Beth Shammai: According to your words, if one has made a bad purchase in the market, should one praise it in his eyes or depreciate it? Surely, one should praise it in his  eyes. Therefore, the Sages said: Always should the disposition of man be pleasant with people.” Talmud, Kethuboth 16b

What does the above example teach us about how we treat other people - including how we treat them in social media spaces?

The ensuing conversation covered everything from the nature of truth and journalistic integrity to the evolving role(s) of women in Jewish thought.

Click here to listen in on the entire conversation.

The practical take-away involved writing a social media policy. A policy is a great way of ensuring thoughtful, authentic sharing in social media. Darim Online and Idealware worked together to create the Nonprofit Social Media Policy Workbook, which guides organizations through the conversation to developing a policy. Click here to view the guide.