רמבם, הלכות תשובה ג:א
כל אחד ואחד מבני האדם יש לו זכיות ועונות, מי שזכיותיו יתירות על עונותיו צדיק, ומי שעונותיו יתירות על זכיותיו רשע... וכן המדינה..., וכן כל העולם כולו.
Each and every person has merits and sins. A person whose merits exceed his sins is [termed] righteous. A person whose sins exceed her merits is [termed] wicked… The same applies to an entire country… The same applies to the entire world.
[AJWS translation]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1. How is this a good definition of righteous and wicked? In what ways is this a poor definition?
2. What are our collective good deeds? What are our collective sins?
Time Period: Medieval (Geonim through the 16th Century)