Dr. Eldad Shidlovsky: Critical Brotherhood – A Sense of Belonging Toward Those Who Voted Differently

Dr. Eldad Shidlovsky proposes in an opinion piece the concept of 'critical brotherhood' – responsibility toward the other that is not conditional on agreement with them. He relies on Avishai Margalit and Eran Halperin, and distinguishes between unity as propaganda and brotherhood that recognizes the humanity of the political opponent, even when the disagreement is deep.

Dr. Eldad Shidlovsky proposes in this opinion piece the concept of 'critical brotherhood' as an alternative to the empty calls for unity in Israeli public discourse. He describes how the political opponent becomes an enemy and how criticism is perceived as betrayal. Shidlovsky relies on philosopher Avishai Margalit, who argues that the call for unity sometimes smells of propagandistic kitsch covering up discrimination, and on psychologist Eran Halperin, who describes mechanisms of hatred between groups. Critical brotherhood, according to Shidlovsky, does not require agreement or love, but recognition of the other's humanity and refusal of generalizations. He emphasizes that responsibility toward the other precedes belonging, and quotes Emmanuel Levinas and Albert Camus's 'The Plague'. Shidlovsky applies the idea to the events of October 7 and the duty to return the hostages, stating that the real test is translating the sense of partnership into institutions and budgets.