SPIRITUAL GLEANINGS
*** Spring-1999 ***
~~~taken from Judaism~~~
"Religion is not so much knowledge
but Godly-living.
Theories of reality are vital to it
only to the degree to
which they transform the lives of men
and affect their conduct.
Unless Religion affects
Human Life and Conduct
it is of Little Worth."
Quote from Samuel S. Cohen
in "Judaism: A Way of Life"
Quote from Samuel S. Cohen
in "Judaism: A Way of Life"
[ K'VOD B'RIOT ]
A fundamental priciple in Judaism
is the concept that
every human being is created
in the Divine Image of God
and therefore is entitled
to be treated with Dignity and Respect.
is the concept that
every human being is created
in the Divine Image of God
and therefore is entitled
to be treated with Dignity and Respect.
JUSTICE IS AKIN TO HOLINESS
"JUSTICE, JUSTICE, SHALT THOU FOLLOW"
[ B'Midbar(Deuteronomy)16:20 ]
[ B'Midbar(Deuteronomy)16:20 ]
These words may be taken
as a "keynote"
of the "humane legislation"
of the Torah,
and of its demAnd for "social righteousness"
by Israel's Prophets, Psalmists and Sages.
as a "keynote"
of the "humane legislation"
of the Torah,
and of its demAnd for "social righteousness"
by Israel's Prophets, Psalmists and Sages.
"LET JUSTICE ROLL DOWN
AS WATERS,
AND RIGHTEOUSNESS
AS A MIGHTY STREAM",
is the cry of Amos.
Justice is not the only
ethical quality in God or man,
nor is it the highest quality
but it is the basis
for all the others.
"RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE
ARE THE FOUNDATIONS
OF THY THRONE"
...says the Psalmist...
The whole idea of the Divine
rests on them. The idea of Justice in Hebrew thought
stands for something other,
than that in the Greek.
In the Greek , it stands for
a harmonious arrangement of society-
by which every human peg
is in its appropriate hole-
so that those who perform humble functions
shall be content
to perform them
in due subservience
to their superiors. It stresses the
"Inequalities" of human nature.
In contrast,
in the the Hebrew conception of justice,
"Equality is stressed".
To understand the idea of Justice in Israel, we must bear in mind
the Biblical teaching that
man is created in the Image of God.
That in every human being
there is a Divine Spark:
and that each human life is sacred
and of infinite worth.
the Biblical teaching that
man is created in the Image of God.
That in every human being
there is a Divine Spark:
and that each human life is sacred
and of infinite worth.
In consequence, a human being cannot be treated
as a chattel or a thing,
but must be treated
as a personality,
and as a personality,
every human life is the possessor
of the right to life, honor,
and the fruits of his labor.
"JUSTICE IS THE AWE-INSPIRED
RESPECT FOR THE PERSONALITY
OF OTHERS
AND THEIR INALIENABLE RIGHTS."
AND INJUSTICE IS THE MOST
FLAGRANT MANIFESTATION OF DISRESPECT
FOR THE PERSONALITY OF OTHERS." AND TO GOD!
"JUSTICE IS THE AWE-INSPIRED
RESPECT FOR THE PERSONALITY
OF OTHERS
AND THEIR INALIENABLE RIGHTS."
AND INJUSTICE IS THE MOST
FLAGRANT MANIFESTATION OF DISRESPECT
FOR THE PERSONALITY OF OTHERS." AND TO GOD!
.....F. Adler
Judaism requires that
the human personality be respected
in every human being.
In the female heathen prisoner of war,
in the delinquent, even in the criminal condemned to death.
The lashes to be inflicted
on the evil-doer
must be strictly limited-
lest- "thy brother seem vile to thee"...( Talmud ? 25:3 )
If he is found worthy of death by hanging,
his body is not to
remain hanging overnight,
but must be buried in the same day. ( Talmud 21:23 )
Thus , it seems that
the Greek idea of justice
was akin to Harmony,
whereas the Hebrew idea
was akin to Holiness.
Isaiah 5:16 declares
"The Holy god is sanctified by Justice."
Isaiah 5:16 declares
"The Holy god is sanctified by Justice."
Where there is no justice,
No proper and practical appreciation
Of the human rights of every human being
As sons of the one and only God of righteousness,
There we have a negation of religion.
and especially on those
as the orphan, the widow, the stranger,
those who are too weak to defend themselves (the helpless)
....is throughout the scriptures held forth
as the enemy of man and God!
Justice is more, however,
than mere abstention
from injuring our fellow-man.
In Isaiah 32:17, is said..."THE WORK OF JUSTICE
IS PEACE;
AND THE EFFECT THEREOF
IS QUIETNESS AND CONFIDENCE
FOREVER."
In Isaiah 32:17, is said..."THE WORK OF JUSTICE
IS PEACE;
AND THE EFFECT THEREOF
IS QUIETNESS AND CONFIDENCE
FOREVER."
It is a positive conception
and includes charity, philanthrophy,
and every endeavor
to bring out the highest and best in others.
Just as truth is usually
preceded by lovingkindness,...
to remind us that truth
must be spoken in love,
So justice is accompanied by "Chesed" ( lovingkindness)--
to teach us that strict justice
must be mitigated by pity and humanity,
mercy(ruchamah)compassion.
The prophet sums it up this way:
"What is required of thee, O man?
but, to do justly and love mercy,
and to walk humbly before thy God."
The rabbis say that...
"the world could not exist if it were governed
by strict justice alone...
Therefore God judges his human children by
....."Justice tempered with Mercy".....
Such being the Jewish understanding of Justice,
in later Hebrew
that same word came to denote
"charity" exclusively.
Justice is not solely limited to relations between individuals.
it extends to the relationships
between one group and another group,
between rich and poor,
of the helpless upon those
who have the means to help.
Even as there is social-justice
[ presribing the duties of class to class ]
...There is international -justice,
which demands respect for the personality
of each and every national group...
and proclaims that no people can of right
be robbed of its national life or territory,
its language, or spiritual heritage.
This wider recognition has called into existence
the "League of Nations".
it extends to the relationships
between one group and another group,
between rich and poor,
of the helpless upon those
who have the means to help.
Even as there is social-justice
[ presribing the duties of class to class ]
...There is international -justice,
which demands respect for the personality
of each and every national group...
and proclaims that no people can of right
be robbed of its national life or territory,
its language, or spiritual heritage.
This wider recognition has called into existence
the "League of Nations".
...