Despite bitter divisions, communities band together for mindful speech

In major cities across North America and amid stark and persistent political divisions, a new movement is catching on, bent on toning down the vitriol that saturates social media, divides communities, disrupts friendships and even upends family get-togethers. The goal: to turn even political disagreements into respectful, constructive interactions.

Launched four years ago by Rabbi Raphael Leban, managing director of the Denver-based Jewish Experience, the campaign known as “Clean Speech” has taken hold in Jewish communities across the nation and abroad.