Statement on Ending Engagement on X/Twitter

In Jewish tradition, the prohibition on "lashon hara," or "evil speech," reminds us of words' power to harm. The great sage Maimonides taught that even when true, speaking disparagingly of others is "the evil tongue." (Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Deot 7:2.) Speech, whether spoken or written, can cause pain, shame, and instigate action to devastating effect. Words can also uplift and heal. They must always be chosen with care, designed to call in rather than call out, to lift up rather than tear down. 

That is why, after careful consideration, we are choosing to stop actively posting on X, formerly known as Twitter, which has become rife with toxic speech. We will transition away from active engagement on X in the first quarter of 2025. 

As Jewish groups committed to healing what is broken in our world, we aim to do our work through means that similarly foster repair. In study after study, as well as our lived experiences, X has become a platform that promotes hate, antisemitism, and societal division. Under the leadership of Elon Musk, X has reduced content moderation, promoted white supremacists, and re-platformed purveyors of conspiracy theories. Musk himself has re-posted content that is antisemitic and xenophobic, promoting it to his millions of followers.

The hateful posts on X are harmful to Jews and people of all faiths and no faiths. In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, elected officials and disaster response officials who happen to be Jewish were attacked in posts on X that used virulent antisemitic terms and tropes, undermining efforts to help all individuals impacted by the hurricane and diminishing trust in civic institutions. In addition, X has become the largest purveyor of antisemitic content among the major social media platforms post-October 7.

No social media site is free of challenges, and social media's impact on individuals and society overall requires greater study and effective responses. Some of us may maintain accounts on X to ensure our handles are not assumed by other entities with values contrary to our own. But rather than contribute to the coarsening of discourse that is so pervasive on X, going forward, we will post content elsewhere.

Sincerely,

Union for Reform Judaism
ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal
American Conference of Cantors
Association of Reform Zionists of American (ARZA)
Avodah
Central Conference of American Rabbis
Early Childhood Educators of Reform Judaism (ECE-RJ)
Jewish Women's Archive
Keshet
MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger
Men of Reform Judaism
National Association for Temple Administration (NATA)
Programming and Engagement Professionals of Reform Judaism (PEP-RJ)
Reconstructing Judaism
Reform Jewish Community of Canada
Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
The Shalom Center
The Workers Circle
Women of Reform Judaism
Women’s Rabbinic Network (WRN)