Balancing how and why we do what we do in Tikkun Olam

Balancing how and why we do what we do in Tikkun Olam

BabylonianTalmud, Kiddushin 40b

קידושין מ׳ ב:ח׳

וכבר היה רבי טרפון וזקנים מסובין בעלית בית נתזה בלוד, נשאלה שאילה זו בפניהם: תלמוד גדול או מעשה גדול? נענה רבי טרפון ואמר: מעשה גדול, נענה ר"ע ואמר: תלמוד גדול, נענו כולם ואמרו: תלמוד גדול, שהתלמוד מביא לידי מעשה.

Kiddushin 40b:8

Rabbi Tarfon and some elders were reclining in an upper chamber in the house of Nitza in Lod when this question came up: Which is greater, study or action? Rabbi Tarfon spoke up and said: Action is greater. Rabbi Akiva spoke up and said: Study is greater. The others then spoke up and said: Study is greater because it leads to action. [Soncino translation]

Suggested Discussion Questions

1.Do you agree more with Rabbi Tarfon or Rabbi Akiva? (You have to choose one)

2. What’s positive about the ‘others’ third way answer?

3. What is problematic about it?

BabylonianTalmud, Sukkah 49B

Translation

Original

Our Sages taught: Gemilut chasadim (acts of loving kindness) is greater than tzedakah in three ways: Acts of tzedakah involve only one’s money – gemilut chasadim can involve both money or one’s personal service. Tzedakah can be given only to the poor – gemilut chasadim can be done both for the rich and for the poor. Tzedakah can be given only to the living – gemilut chasadim can be done both for the living and the dead. [AJWS translation]

תנו רבנן: בשלשה דברים גדולה גמילות חסדים יותר מן הצדקה, צדקה - בממונו, גמילות חסדים - בין בגופו בין בממונו. צדקה - לעניים, גמילות חסדים - בין לעניים בין לעשירים. צדקה - לחיים, גמילות חסדים - בין לחיים בין למתים.

Suggested Discussion Questions

1.Tzedakah has its roots in Tzedek – justice – and unlike charity from the Latin caritas is based on obligation rather than emotion or altruistic love. Here the sages seem to suggest that acts of love are greater than acts of justice.
In what ways do you agree?

2. Why might a society based on justice as a duty, rather than kindness based on love, be preferable?

Isaiah 16:5

וְהוּכַן בַּחֶסֶד כִּסֵּא וְיָשַׁב עָלָיו בֶּאֱמֶת בְּאֹהֶל דָּוִד שֹׁפֵט וְדֹרֵשׁ מִשְׁפָּט וּמְהִר צֶדֶק:

And a throne shall be established in goodness in the tent of David, and on it shall sit in faithfulness a ruler devoted to justice and zealous for equity. [JPS translation]

Suggested Discussion Questions

1. How does this piece from Isaiah contribute to a discussion about the prority we place on study, action, kindness and justice?

2. Is there cause for any discomfort with a zealous pursuit of equity?