Judaism and Justice: A Teaching for The First Church of Christ, Congregational (Suffield, CT).

ByAJWS Staff

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Mishna, Pirkei Avot 2:10

רבי אליעזר אומר יהי כבוד חברך חביב עליך כשלך.

Pirkei_Avot.2.10

Rabbi Eliezer said, "Other people’s dignity should be as precious to you as your own." [AJWS translation]

Discussion Questions

1. How does this text inform our interaction with other faith communities?
2. In what ways can we, as individuals, follow this more in our daily lives?

Deuteronomy 10:18-19

עֹשֶׂה מִשְׁפַּט יָתוֹם וְאַלְמָנָה וְאֹהֵב גֵּר לָתֶת לוֹ לֶחֶם וְשִׂמְלָה: וַאֲהַבְתֶּם אֶת הַגֵּר כִּי גֵרִים הֱיִיתֶם בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם:

Deuteronomy.10.18-19

[God] upholds the cause of the orphan and the widow, and befriends the stranger, providing him/her with food and clothing. -- You too must befriend the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. [JPS translation edited for gender-neutrality]

Discussion Questions

1. What is our relationship to the stranger?
2. What is G-d's responsibility to us and what is our responsibility to others? What are the different sources of these responsibilities?
3. This text reminds the reader of Israelite slavery. In what ways is a history of slavery connected to doing justice and loving the stranger?

Psalms 118:19-20

פִּתְחוּ לִי שַׁעֲרֵי צֶדֶק אָבֹא בָם אוֹדֶה יָהּ: זֶה הַשַּׁעַר לַה' צַדִּיקִים יָבֹאוּ בוֹ:

Psalms.118.19-20

Open the gates of justice for me that I may enter them and praise God. This is the gateway to God -- the just shall enter through it. [AJWS translation]

Discussion Questions

1. What are the gates of justice?
2. Why are the just allowed to enter the gates to praise God?
3. Does acting in a just manner make you closer to God? Why or why not?