Rabbi Moshe Grussgott’s second book club will meet at K.I. on Sunday, Feb. 27, at 10 a.m. The club is open to everyone.
The book to be discussed is the bestseller “The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion” by Jonathan Haidt.
Haidt’s book examines how morality is shaped by emotion and intuition more than by reasoning and why differing political groups have different notions of right and wrong.
When asked why he chose this book, Rabbi Grussgott said, “The book delves into why conservatives and liberals not only disagree, but don't even seem to understand each other. In our highly politicized time, it's important to see why those on the other side are not evil or stupid or insane; they might just think differently. This applies not only to politics, but to the religious divide as well, such as between Orthodox and more liberal Jews. It's all quite timely.”
Jonathan Haidt is a social psychologist. His main areas of study are the psychology of morality and moral emotions. He is considered to be one of the top 25 most influential living psychologists, and he is one of the most cited researchers in political and moral psychology. He is a professor of ethical leadership at the New York University Stern School of Business and author of several books.
The book is available for checkout in various platforms at local libraries and can be purchased from online book sellers. To join the Rabbi’s Book Club, please email and include your name and phone number. Alternatively, call the synagogue at (913) 642-1880.
