A duty to change the whole world?

ByAJWS Staff

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Mishna, Pirkei Avot 2:16

משנה טז [טו] רבי טרפון אומר לא עליך המלאכה לגמור ולא אתה בן חורין ליבטל ממנה

Pirkei_Avot.2.16

Rabbi Tarfon says...It is not upon you to finish the work, but neither are you free to desist from it. [Translation by Hillel]

Suggested Discussion Questions

1. What does Rabbi Tarfon suggest is the limit of of our responsibility?
2. What do you think the work is that Rabbi Tarfon is referring to?

3. What would be helpful, and what might be unhelpful, about approaching our work as activists in line with Rabbi Tarfon's suggestion?

Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 54b-55a

שבת נ״ד ב:כ׳-נ״ה א:א׳

כל מי שאפשר למחות לאנשי ביתו ולא מיחה - נתפס על אנשי ביתו, באנשי עירו - נתפס על אנשי עירו, בכל העולם כולו - נתפס על כל העולם כולו. אמר רב פפא: והני דבי ריש גלותא נתפסו על כולי עלמא. כי הא דאמר רבי חנינא: מאי דכתיב +ישעיהו ג+ ה' במשפט יבא עם זקני עמו ושריו, אם שרים חטאו -זקנים מה חטאו? אלא, אימא: על זקנים שלא מיחו בשרים.

Shabbat 54b:20-55a:1

Anyone who is able to protest against the transgressions of one's household and does not, is punished for the actions of the members of the household; anyone who is able to protest against the transgressions of one's townspeople and does not, is punished for the transgressions of the townspeople; anyone who is able to protest against the transgressions of the entire world and does not is punished for the transgressions of the entire world. Rav Papa siad: The house of the exilarch (Jewish communal authority during Babylonian exile) was punished for the transgressions of the entire world, as Rav Hanina said, "What is the meaning of the verse, 'God will bring judgment on the elders and the officers of the peope'" (Isaiah 3:14)? Perhaps the officers have sinned, but have the elders sinned? Rather, this verse signifies that God brings judgment on the elders for not having protested against the transgressions of the officers.