Social Justice and Judaism

Dr. Martin Luther King Day is only one of many opportunities to consider Judaism’s teachings about social justice. It also raises questions about our involvement or lack thereof when faced with inequality, oppression, poverty and abuse. We are told about many Jews joining peace movements and protesting child labor, about great and wonderful acts - about what Abraham Joshua Heschel coined “praying with our feet.” But do we always speak up? Are we doing what Torah and our conscious requires us to do? Rev. King once wrote, “History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people”. In order to do something, we first need to notice that there is a need to do something. We need sensitivity and empathy. We need to be able to overcome our selfishness and narrow-mindedness.

The Talmud teaches us, “Whoever is able to protest against the transgressions of the entire world and does not do so is punished for the transgressions of the entire world” (Shabbat 54b). It is obvious we have the obligation to shout out about the injustice and suffering. We should be able to stand up to tyrants and lynching mobs. Have we always? Bertram W. Korn, a Jewish historian, wrote, “Ante-bellum Southern Jews were more likely to quote the Talmudic maxim that ‘the law of the land is the law [for Jews]’, and to regard the institution of slavery as part of the law, which they were bound to uphold and follow, than they were to evaluate the failing of slavery in the light of the prophetic ethics”.

Yochanan Muffs taught us the most important traits of the prophets: sensitivity to the suffering of others and independent thought. Otherwise they would never have been moved to pray for those who suffer.
We, too, are able to strengthen our empathy and prevent ourselves from becoming numb to the suffering of others. It’s all too easy to find excuses, even in our own Tradition. It takes bravery and strength to stand together with the prophet Isaiah, “to proclaim freedom for captives and release from bondage for those imprisoned” [61:2].

Rochel Czopnik
Judaics Instructor