ספר המנהיג שער הצדקה וגמילות חסדים עמוד תשטו:ב
בת קול מכרזת מאחר הפרגוד צדק צדק תרדוף וגו', וכן במשה הוא אומ' צדקת יי' עשה ומשפטיו עם ישראל, וכי מה צדקה עשה משה עם ישראל אלא שהזהירם בצדקה, שנא' לא תאמץ את לבבך וגו' כי פתוח תפתח את ידך וגו'.
The Bat Kol (Divine voice) declared from behind the divider, Justice, justice you shall pursue (Deut 16:20). This refers to Moses. About him, Torah says, he executed the righteousness of the LORD, and God’s ordinances with Israel. (Deut 33:21) And what is this righteousness that Moses did? Only that he warned them to do righteousness. As it says, do not harden your heart and shut your hand against your needy kinsfolk, (Deut 15:7) and rather, you must open your hand [to your kin] (Deut 15:8) [Translation by Rabbi Rachael Bregman. Edited for gender neutrality]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1. How did Moses fulfill the commandment of “justice, justice you shall pursue”?
2. How is education part of social justice? What is the goal of social justice education?
3. How can this text inspire us to different forms of action?
Time Period: Medieval (Geonim through the 16th Century)