DRASH: "No Justice, No Peace: Jewish Sources on Justice and Peace"
Shabbat Shalom. A few opening statements so you’ll understand where I am coming from:
The killing of George Floyd was disgusting, tragic, and an example of the injustice that so many in our country, particularly within the Black community, face every day.
The vast majority of protesters have been peaceful and are respectfully exercising their constitutional rights to do so.
From my experiences, the vast majority of law enforcement officers behave properly and respectfully - those that do not are the exception, and clearly should be investigated, removed from their positions, and prosecuted.
Looting and violence, particularly directed against innocent bystanders and businesses, are not acceptable responses to injustice, no matter how deep the frustrations.
We are a nation of laws and a faith of following divine instructions, including to refrain from the unholy and forbidden activities of murder and theft. Our sacred texts teach us of the importance of justice and peace.
We see the emotions and challenges all around - this is a time of great need and upheaval. Our world faces great obstacles of illness and poverty. Our country is battling disease, economic uncertainty and job-loss, and social unrest due to sustaining and seemingly increasing racism, both personal and societal. There is a lack of basic regard for human dignity and civil rights, conflicted and at times dysfunctional leadership, and we hear the chants of the masses of protesters, young and old, black and white, the whole spectrum of our cities and diverse populations calling out “No Justice, No Peace!”
As my colleague Rabbi Chai Levy wrote this morning: "As Jews, with our commitment to justice and human dignity, it is our duty to take a stand against systemic racism and police brutality. As Americans, we cherish our constitutional rights to freedom of speech, freedom to peaceably assemble, and freedom of the press, and we denounce the dangerous abuses of power that have infringed on these rights in this past week of protests. In this difficult time, we must stay vigilant and lift our voices against injustice. The Torah teaches us that every human being is created B’tzelem Elohim, in the Divine image, Genesis 1:27 and the Torah instructs us not to stand idly by when our neighbor’s blood is shed Leviticus 19:16. It is, therefore, our duty to take action, to educate ourselves, and to work towards structural change and equality in our society”.
So, what are some of the Jewish texts about justice?
“Tzedek, tzedek tirdof - צֶ֥דֶק צֶ֖דֶק תִּרְדֹּ֑ף - Justice, justice you shall pursue!” Deuteronomy 16:20
mong the many explanations of the repeating word “justice” is that we shall pursue justice in a just manner. Two wrongs don’t make a right. In the Talmud, Resh Lakish taught that the repetition of the word tzedek in the Torah is to remind us to be deliberate and careful in judgment, revisiting and reviewing cases and not rushing into decisions. Rabbi Hiyya explained: “If a person is neither a scholar, nor a teacher, nor known for observing all the ritual commandments, but stands up to protest against evil, such a person is considered a blessing.” Bakhya ben Asher (Spain, 12th century CE), taught that the double emphasis means justice under any circumstance, whether to your profit or loss, whether in word or in action, whether to Jew or non-Jew. Reb Yaakov Yitchak of P’shischa (Poland, 19th century) interpreted the word’s repetition to connote that the end does not justify the means: “The pursuit of justice must also be done justly, unblemished by invalid means, with lies and surreptitiousness as some permit themselves under the flag of the worthy cause.”
https://www.reconstructingjudaism.org/dvar-torah/justice-justice
Let’s also take a look at Exodus 23:8 - 9. “You shall not be partial in judgment; hear out low and high alike. Decide justly between the Israelite and the stranger alike. Take no bribe, for bribes blind the eyes of the discerning and upset the plea of the just. Do not oppress the stranger, for you know how feels to be a stranger, for you were strangers in Mitzrayim, the land of the narrows.” This last phase is the most repeated in the entire Torah; 36 times we are reminded of this foundational concept.
There are so many other texts about justice in Judaism. We are to “love our fellow as ourselves.” Leviticus 19:18. We are all children of the One God.
And what about peace?
Hezkiya said, “How great is peace, for every commandment in the Torah is written with it. [For example]: “When you encounter your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering, you must take it back to him” Exodus 23:4. “When you see the donkey of your enemy lying under its burden and would refrain from raising it, you must nevertheless raise it with him” Exodus 23:5
Peace, according to the Jewish sages, is the ultimate purpose of the whole Torah: “All that is written in the Torah was written for the sake of peace.” Tanhuma Shoftim 18 Great is peace since all other blessings are included in it. Vayikrah Rabbah 9 The only reason that the Holy One, blessed be God, created the world was so that there would be peace among humankind. Bamidbar Rabbah 12A
Rebbe (Yehuda Hanassi) said: How great is peace, for even if Israel practice idolatry but manage to maintain peace among themselves, the Holy One, blessed be God, says, so to speak, “I have no dominion over them”; for it is said, Ephraim is united in idol-worship; let him alone.
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/peace-jewish-traditional-sources
“Hillel and Shammai received [the oral tradition] from those before them. Hillel used to say: be of the disciples of Aaron, loving peace and pursuing peace, loving your fellow human creations, and drawing them close to wisdom (the Torah)” Pirke Avot 1:12
And what about justice and peace?
It was taught that Rabbi Shimon Ben Gamliel said, “The world is maintained by three things, by justice, by truth and by peace.” Rav Muna said, “These three actually are one. If justice is present then truth is present and this makes peace. And all three are found in the same verse, as it is written, “Judge with the justice of truth and peace within your gates Zechariah 8:16)” Wherever there is justice there will be peace. And wherever there is peace there is justice. Tractate Derekh Eretz https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/peace
Justice will lead to peace; peace will lead to justice. May it be so, soon, speedily in our days, and may we see it happen, and help make it happen, each in our own way, to help bring justice, healing, peace, and dignity to all who reside in this land and in this beautiful and fragile world that we have been given to work and protect.
Wherever there is justice there will be peace. And wherever there is peace there is justice.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Shalom Bochner,
June 5, 2020
The killing of George Floyd was disgusting, tragic, and an example of the injustice that so many in our country, particularly within the Black community, face every day.
The vast majority of protesters have been peaceful and are respectfully exercising their constitutional rights to do so.
From my experiences, the vast majority of law enforcement officers behave properly and respectfully - those that do not are the exception, and clearly should be investigated, removed from their positions, and prosecuted.
Looting and violence, particularly directed against innocent bystanders and businesses, are not acceptable responses to injustice, no matter how deep the frustrations.
We are a nation of laws and a faith of following divine instructions, including to refrain from the unholy and forbidden activities of murder and theft. Our sacred texts teach us of the importance of justice and peace.
We see the emotions and challenges all around - this is a time of great need and upheaval. Our world faces great obstacles of illness and poverty. Our country is battling disease, economic uncertainty and job-loss, and social unrest due to sustaining and seemingly increasing racism, both personal and societal. There is a lack of basic regard for human dignity and civil rights, conflicted and at times dysfunctional leadership, and we hear the chants of the masses of protesters, young and old, black and white, the whole spectrum of our cities and diverse populations calling out “No Justice, No Peace!”
As my colleague Rabbi Chai Levy wrote this morning: "As Jews, with our commitment to justice and human dignity, it is our duty to take a stand against systemic racism and police brutality. As Americans, we cherish our constitutional rights to freedom of speech, freedom to peaceably assemble, and freedom of the press, and we denounce the dangerous abuses of power that have infringed on these rights in this past week of protests. In this difficult time, we must stay vigilant and lift our voices against injustice. The Torah teaches us that every human being is created B’tzelem Elohim, in the Divine image, Genesis 1:27 and the Torah instructs us not to stand idly by when our neighbor’s blood is shed Leviticus 19:16. It is, therefore, our duty to take action, to educate ourselves, and to work towards structural change and equality in our society”.
So, what are some of the Jewish texts about justice?
“Tzedek, tzedek tirdof - צֶ֥דֶק צֶ֖דֶק תִּרְדֹּ֑ף - Justice, justice you shall pursue!” Deuteronomy 16:20
mong the many explanations of the repeating word “justice” is that we shall pursue justice in a just manner. Two wrongs don’t make a right. In the Talmud, Resh Lakish taught that the repetition of the word tzedek in the Torah is to remind us to be deliberate and careful in judgment, revisiting and reviewing cases and not rushing into decisions. Rabbi Hiyya explained: “If a person is neither a scholar, nor a teacher, nor known for observing all the ritual commandments, but stands up to protest against evil, such a person is considered a blessing.” Bakhya ben Asher (Spain, 12th century CE), taught that the double emphasis means justice under any circumstance, whether to your profit or loss, whether in word or in action, whether to Jew or non-Jew. Reb Yaakov Yitchak of P’shischa (Poland, 19th century) interpreted the word’s repetition to connote that the end does not justify the means: “The pursuit of justice must also be done justly, unblemished by invalid means, with lies and surreptitiousness as some permit themselves under the flag of the worthy cause.”
https://www.reconstructingjudaism.org/dvar-torah/justice-justice
Let’s also take a look at Exodus 23:8 - 9. “You shall not be partial in judgment; hear out low and high alike. Decide justly between the Israelite and the stranger alike. Take no bribe, for bribes blind the eyes of the discerning and upset the plea of the just. Do not oppress the stranger, for you know how feels to be a stranger, for you were strangers in Mitzrayim, the land of the narrows.” This last phase is the most repeated in the entire Torah; 36 times we are reminded of this foundational concept.
There are so many other texts about justice in Judaism. We are to “love our fellow as ourselves.” Leviticus 19:18. We are all children of the One God.
And what about peace?
Hezkiya said, “How great is peace, for every commandment in the Torah is written with it. [For example]: “When you encounter your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering, you must take it back to him” Exodus 23:4. “When you see the donkey of your enemy lying under its burden and would refrain from raising it, you must nevertheless raise it with him” Exodus 23:5
Peace, according to the Jewish sages, is the ultimate purpose of the whole Torah: “All that is written in the Torah was written for the sake of peace.” Tanhuma Shoftim 18 Great is peace since all other blessings are included in it. Vayikrah Rabbah 9 The only reason that the Holy One, blessed be God, created the world was so that there would be peace among humankind. Bamidbar Rabbah 12A
Rebbe (Yehuda Hanassi) said: How great is peace, for even if Israel practice idolatry but manage to maintain peace among themselves, the Holy One, blessed be God, says, so to speak, “I have no dominion over them”; for it is said, Ephraim is united in idol-worship; let him alone.
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/peace-jewish-traditional-sources
“Hillel and Shammai received [the oral tradition] from those before them. Hillel used to say: be of the disciples of Aaron, loving peace and pursuing peace, loving your fellow human creations, and drawing them close to wisdom (the Torah)” Pirke Avot 1:12
And what about justice and peace?
It was taught that Rabbi Shimon Ben Gamliel said, “The world is maintained by three things, by justice, by truth and by peace.” Rav Muna said, “These three actually are one. If justice is present then truth is present and this makes peace. And all three are found in the same verse, as it is written, “Judge with the justice of truth and peace within your gates Zechariah 8:16)” Wherever there is justice there will be peace. And wherever there is peace there is justice. Tractate Derekh Eretz https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/peace
Justice will lead to peace; peace will lead to justice. May it be so, soon, speedily in our days, and may we see it happen, and help make it happen, each in our own way, to help bring justice, healing, peace, and dignity to all who reside in this land and in this beautiful and fragile world that we have been given to work and protect.
Wherever there is justice there will be peace. And wherever there is peace there is justice.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Shalom Bochner,
June 5, 2020
Photo taken by Alex Photo email: photo.modesto@gmail.com