We need outliers, and we need their ideas. We need the involvement in our lives, especially in the big projects on which we work, of those who see the world differently and think about things in ways which will surprise, if not discomfort us.
For those who will quickly say that they already embrace diversity and discomfort, let them appreciate that those are their comfort zones, and they need the input of others, others who privilege uniformity and comfort. Whatever our default position is, be it political, social, spiritual or psychological, we need at least some regular input from those whose default setting is different from or own.
The temptation in almost every field, from politics to parenting, is that shared beliefs, focus and clarity are the most important tools for creating success. It turns out though, that we also need the perspective and input of those who walk different paths and see the world radically different from ourselves, if we hope to truly succeed.
It may sound obvious, but how often do we really include the participation and perspective of outliers? How often instead do we surround ourselves with, or expect others to be, an “amen chorus” mirroring back to us whatever we already believe?
Of course, shared values, common beliefs and an agreed upon goal are all key components when building anything, be it a family, a community or a nation. That said, when the need for commonality translates into a single perspective or vision for how to achieve or define success, we lose perspective, choke off creativity, and typically burn out along the way. That is where the interested outlier comes into play.
The value of the outlier lies not in their becoming more like us, or us like them. Their value lies in the fact of their difference, the insight which can only emerge from that place of difference, and our own willingness to learn from it even though they, the outliers, will remain genuinely different.
None of us, and no one ideology, could possibly have a monopoly on wisdom. In fact, real wisdom is the composite of multiple approaches that come from a range of people and places.
When we open ourselves to that larger understanding of wisdom and apply it to whatever specific tasks and goals define our lives, it is like a breath of fresh air which revitalizes us and brings new life to whatever we do.
Listed for many years in Newsweek as one of America’s “50 Most Influential Rabbis” and recognized as one of our nation’s leading “Preachers and Teachers,” by Beliefnet.com, Rabbi Brad Hirschfield serves as the President of Clal–The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, a training institute, think tank, and resource center nurturing religious and intellectual pluralism within the Jewish community, and the wider world, preparing people to meet the biggest challenges we face in our increasingly polarized world.
An ordained Orthodox rabbi who studied for his PhD and taught at The Jewish Theological Seminary, he has also taught the University of Pennsylvania, where he directs an ongoing seminar, and American Jewish University. Rabbi Brad regularly teaches and consults for the US Army and United States Department of Defense, religious organizations — Jewish and Christian — including United Seminary (Methodist), Yeshivat Chovevei Torah (Modern Orthodox) Luther Seminary (Lutheran), and The Jewish Theological Seminary (Conservative) — civic organizations including No Labels, Odyssey Impact, and The Aspen Institute, numerous Jewish Federations, and a variety of communal and family foundations.
Hirschfield is the author and editor of numerous books, including You Don’t Have To Be Wrong For Me To Be Right: Finding Faith Without Fanaticism, writes a column for Religion News Service, and appears regularly on TV and radio in outlets ranging from The Washington Post to Fox News Channel. He is also the founder of the Stand and See Fellowship, which brings hundreds of Christian religious leaders to Israel, preparing them to address the increasing polarization around Middle East issues — and really all currently polarizing issues at home and abroad — with six words, “It’s more complicated than we know.”