Jewish text is very particular when it comes to the concept of the potential and intention for God's creatures. Humans, regardless of gender or race, are consider to be b'tzelem elohim- created in the image of God. Compare and contrast the life and works of Moses with the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This first section is an exploration of justice and how it is that the Jewish community became involved in the Civil Rights movement in the U.S.A. in the 1960's. To this day, Jews remain committed to racial and social equality. Why did we not stand idly by? What motivated the Jewish community to act towards justice? Why are we obligated to love each of God's creatures regardless of gender, disability, and race?
Judaism teaches respect for the fundamental rights of others as each person's duty to God. How do we get to this idea? In Beit Midrash today please read these text. Pick three that are your favorite because they resonate with you.
(27) And G-d created man in G-d's own image, in the image of G-d, G-d created him; male and female created He them.
(א) וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה בֹּ֖א אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֑ה וְדִבַּרְתָּ֣ אֵלָ֗יו כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י הָֽעִבְרִ֔ים שַׁלַּ֥ח אֶת־עַמִּ֖י וְיַֽעַבְדֻֽנִי׃
(1) Then the LORD said unto Moses: ‘Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him: Thus saith the LORD, the God of the Hebrews: Let My people go, that they may serve Me.
(כב) מִשְׁפַּ֤ט אֶחָד֙ יִהְיֶ֣ה לָכֶ֔ם כַּגֵּ֥ר כָּאֶזְרָ֖ח יִהְיֶ֑ה כִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃
(22) You shall have one law, as well for the stranger, as for the citizen alike; for I am Adonai your God.’
שוב מעשה בנכרי אחד שבא לפני שמאי א"ל גיירני ע"מ שתלמדני כל התורה כולה כשאני עומד על רגל אחת דחפו באמת הבנין שבידו בא לפני הלל גייריה אמר לו דעלך סני לחברך לא תעביד זו היא כל התורה כולה ואידך פירושה הוא זיל גמור.
Another time a non-Jew came before Shammai and said, "I will convert if you can teach me the entire Torah while I stand on one foot." Shammai pushed the non-Jews aside with the ruler that was in his hand. The non-Jew came before Hillel and Hillel converted him saying, "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor, that is the entire Torah, the rest is just commentary, now go and study."
Lilla Watson, Aboriginal elder, activist and educator from Queensland, Australia
“If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. If you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.”
Rabbi Yisrael Salanter
When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world. I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation. When I found I couldn't change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn't change the town and as an older man, I tried to change my family. Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on our town. Their impact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world.
Take a closer look at the words of Dr. MLK Jr. and how they connect to our Jewish texts.
Jewish Text:
Psalms 37:7 Be still before ADONAI; wait patiently till he comes. Don't be upset by those whose way succeeds because of their wicked plans.
Martin Luther King Jr. Quote:*
"We shall overcome because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice." (16 August 1967, Atlanta, GA)
Pirkei Avot 2:11 Hatred of fellow creatures puts a person out of the world. Vayikra 19:17 Do not hate your fellow in your heart.
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that." (1963, Strength to Love)
Jeremiah 15:19 If you produce what is noble out of what is worthless, You shall be My spokesperson.
"I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant." (10 December 1964, Oslo, Norway)
Pirkei Avot, 2:5: In a place where there are not people, strive to be a person.
Babylonian Talmud, Brachot 19b Come and learn: Human dignity is so important that it supersedes even a biblical prohibition.
"Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a greater person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in." (18 April 1959, Washington, DC)
Shabbat 54B If one can protest the misdeeds of his or her household, yet does not, the person becomes guilty with them. If a person can protest the misdeeds of one’s townspeople and does not, the person is guilty with them. If one can protest the misdeeds of the entire world and does not, that person is guilty with them.
"I oppose the war in Vietnam because I love America. I speak out against it not in anger but with anxiety and sorrow in my heart, and above all with a passionate desire to see our beloved country stand as a moral example of the world." (25 February 1967, Los Angeles, CA)
Deuteronomy 16:20 Justice, Justice Shall You Pursue
Deuteronomy 15:11 For there will never cease to be needy ones in your land, which is why I command you: open your hand to the poor and needy kinsman.
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly." (16 April 1963, Birmingham, AL)
First- Read the "I have a dream" speech in the middle of the page.
Then read the ways in which the texts connect to the speech.
As a chevruta please write what you have learned from this exercise in this space below.
