57 Summer 2025 his book by Daniel Taub, a graduate of Oxford and Harvard, an international lawyer, a former Israeli Ambassador to the United Kingdom and a representative of the Rothschild Foundation in Israel, an observant Talmudic scholar and a successful playwright, is extremely thought provoking. Beyond Dispute: Rediscovering the Jewish Art of Constructive Disagreement is a timely exploration of how we can reframe the way we argue and engage with differing viewpoints. Taub, drawing on his experience as a diplomat and legal advisor, as well as his deep knowledge of Jewish tradition, presents a compelling case for embracing disagreement – not as conflict to be avoided or won, but as a pathway to deeper understanding and the pursuit of truth. The book is filled with insights from the Talmud and Jewish texts, as well as real-life diplomatic anecdotes, which bring the ideas to life in a relatable and engaging way. On the need for positive disagreement, Taub writes that “the rise of social media has ramped up these levels of toxicity,” and when dialogue does actually happen, it “seems to actually decrease empathy and understanding” (p. 9). Taub argues that “Broyges-emotive arguing with a heavy dose of grievance and umbrage-sometimes seems to be a Jewish national sport… The Jewish tradition sees argument not as a combat zone, but as a joint enterprise to search for the truth” (pp. 12-13). The Rabbis categorize it as an argument for the sake of heaven. “Vocal disputes can see whether new ways of thinking and talking could lead to deeper understanding and help preserve and even deepen relationship between disputants” (p. 14). Talmudiclike arguments can “encourage us to develop a perspective in which differing truths can coexist” (p. 17). “In Jewish tradition, we may not win the argument, but argument, it seems, always wins” (p. 84). “An argument is not a problem to be solved but an engine of creative thought, a means to generate new ideas and sparks of truth” (p. 64). “Our highest aspiration is not to resolve our arguments but to have meaningful ones, which bring us closer not only to the truth but to each other” (p. 238). “In Jewish thinking, relentless questioning is the font or source from which understanding flows.” Taub brings an example from the Passover Seder, which points out that “The Mishnah instructs that if there are no children at the Seder (to ask Ma Nishtana) the adults should each ask questions of each other, even if they are renowned scholars themselves” (p. 142). According to Taub, “Talmudic questions are less like the barbs that lawyers throw in cross-examination and more like the questions that a careful doctor would ask in order to reach a diagnosis” (p. 144). Taub explains that in the Talmud, “No longer was the truth to be received as a divine dictate; rather it was to be carefully derived through a process of human debate” (p. 25). However, Taub’s thesis is based on a premise that both sides want to reach a positive conclusion. He writes, “Whatever their position, the rabbis believed they shared a common purpose that made their collective inquiry worth pursuing” (p. 32). In the absence of a common purpose, an argument is unlikely to be constructive or to be for the sake of heaven. Taub comments that as a result of technological advances such as AI, “we seem to have unlearned the core skills of talking effectively and productively about the things that matter most” (p. 31). I especially appreciated how Taub offers practical tools for navigating difficult conversations, encouraging respect, empathy, and curiosity. In today’s polarized world, this message feels not only refreshing but essential. Taub’s book contains practical advice for modern negotiators. Negotiators are urged to “separate our own identities from the opinions we hold, we would do well to do the same in thinking about those against whom we are arguing” (p. 90). Perhaps surprisingly, negotiators are Reviewed by Robbie Sabel T BOOK REVIEWS Beyond Dispute: Rediscovering the Jewish Art of Constructive Disagreement By Daniel Taub London: Hodder & Stoughton (2025, 263 pp.)
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