Core Ethical TeachingsJudaism

Studies of Religion Preliminary Course

What is ethics?

Ethics is an explicit, systemic philosophical and/or religious reflection on moral thinking and practices to clarify right and wrong and provide guidance for behaviours.

From the ethical system, individual or corporate moral behaviour grows.

Core ethical teachings have same source but may be interpreted and enacted differently depending on the expression of Judaism

SOME COMPARATIVE DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN ETHICS AND MORALSEthics justification for and

reasoning behind patterns of behaviour

Consistently and logically applied within the particular system eg religious tradition

Sourced from significant texts and people throughout time

Builds on previous understanding to respond to new ethical dilemmas

Morals description of the actual

behaviour. Individuals within systems

may choose different moral behaviours in spite of ethical teachings

May or may not have sound basis in research or thought.

May or may not build on past understandings when choosing behaviour

Ethical monotheism – the basis for Jewish ethicsIn Judaism, there is the concept of moral law prescribed by the ONE true God.

This God is1. Supernatural.

This means that God is above the nature that God created and therefore nature is responsible to God.

2. Personal. God enters into relationship… cares about and for all created, especially those in image and likeness

3. Good. God is good and recognises the goodness in God’s creation

4. Holy.Because God is holy, God commands holiness

of humanity.

From this ONE God who is good, holy etc flows other important ideas.

1. ONE God = ONE system of ethics to inform moral behaviour (there is no other god to conflict with)

2. One God created ONE humanity therefore all beings are related and worthy?

3. One God created humanity in image and likeness of God therefore humanity is sacred ( all animals are part of creation but not all equal)

4. God demands goodness from humanity: this is implied ethical behaviour

Where do Core ethical teachings and principles come from inJudaism?

•Torah – understood as both first 5 books of Tenak and more broadly as the entire body of Jewish teaching which expounds the law•Tenak•Mishnah•Gemara•Talmud•Responsa Literature

In this course the syllabus asks to focus on the Torah and Tenak

CORE ETHICAL TEACHINGSSYLLABUS DEMANDS  the Commandments

of the Torah

the Prophetic Vision

the Book of Proverbs – wisdom, righteousness, purity and generosity of spirit

 

outline the principal ethical teachings of Judaism: the Commandments of the

Torah the Prophetic Vision,

including social justice and Tikkun Olam – the repair of the world

the Book of Proverbs – wisdom, righteousness, purity and generosity of spirit

 describe the importance of ethical teachings in the life of adherents

The Commandments of the TorahTorah is regarded as the law as God revealed to Moses on Sinai.

It contains 613 mitzvot which dictate right behaviour for Jewish men in a temple based society. It also contains stories of revelation that show the behaviour and attitudes that God expects from God's people.

The commandments of the Torah and the rabbinic reflections on these form the tradition of halachah, which expounds the religious obligations of Jews. Halachah is regarded as the fleshing out of the essence of ethical living to make it possible for a Jew to live an ethical life.

One particularly famous source text for Ethical teachings is EXODUS 20

Exodus 20

1 And God spoke all these words:  2 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.  3 "You shall have no other gods before me. … 7 "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God… 8 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. …

 12 "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.  13 "You shall not murder.  14 "You shall not commit adultery.  15 "You shall not steal.  16 "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.  17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

ACTIVITYWhat ethical advice is given… what areas of life might be informed by this set of rules

ACTIVITYWhat ethical advice is given… what areas of life might be informed by this set of rules

Exodus 20These commandments suggest and ethical response to the following:

Faith

Sexual relationships

Life

Legal/Judicial

Relationships

PossessionsThey are a distilled version of the 613 mitzvot

OTHER ETHICAL THEMES IN TORAHSexualityLeviticus 18

Justice and equality before the law

Exodus 23Lev 18Lev 19Deuteronomy 22

loving-kindness

DietLev 11

Ethical business practiceLeviticus 25

Social welfare (Tzedakah) Leviticus 23 and 25Deuteronomy 15Deuteronomy 25

War and peace and political freedom

Exodus 23Leviticus 19Leviticus 25Deuteronomy 20

EnvironmentGenesis 1, Leviticus 25Select 3 of these areas and demonstrate

what ethical guidance is offered to Jewish adherents

The Prophetic Vision and Tikkun OlamTikkun Olam literally translates as "world repair” . It is the Jewish commitment to social justice and social order.It is:• One of the traditional categories of tzedakah. • A phrase which does not appear in the Tenak• Most emergent in the literature of the rabbinic

period but was implied in Tenak.

Tikkun Olam has its source in the ancient prophets who see the obligation to repair the world as originating primarily from the commandment to emulate God's holiness, for, in their view, God is the model for human righteousness. Leviticus 19.2

The prophets lived in a time of great upheaval and uncertainty and oppression. They insisted that it was possible for human beings to have a just and loving, covenantal relationship with each other and with the land.

The prophets lived in a time of great upheaval and uncertainty and oppression. They insisted that it was possible for human beings to have a just and loving, covenantal relationship with each other and with the land. The prophetic insistence on individual and communal responsibility to create a just society can be linked to Torah teachings. They insisted that it was essential to pursue justice because that's what God says to do (Deuteronomy 16:20).

Consider the following comparisons:

•Isaiah 1: 17 with Exodus 22.21•Isaiah 58:5-6 with Leviticus 25:10•Micah 4:4 with Leviticus 25:3•Isaiah 56:1, Jeremiah 34:15 and Amos 5: 24 with Genesis 18:19•Zechariah 7:10 with Deuteronomy 24:17

Prophets like Amos and Isaiah cried out against those who would place ritual over ethics, who would mouth fine words but fail to fulfil moral duties.

Some important Prophetic understandings supporting the development of tikkun olam

•But the Lord of hosts is exaulted by justice and the Holy God shows himself holy by righteousness. Isaiah 5:16

•Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an everflowing stream. Amos 5:24

•But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. Jeremiah 29:7

•God has shown you, O Man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8

A shift in understanding of the definition of Tikkun Olam

Tikkun Olam has grown to become a concept that encompasses three dimensions of tzedek (justice ): • tzedakah (financial support of the poor), • gemilut chasadim (acts of loving kindness), • Bal Tashkit (protection of creation).

This is as the concept has come to be equated both with a general call to justice, and with specific volunteer activities.

Provide an example how each of these elements may be regarded as part of tikkun olam because they repair the world.

Arms Control Gun SafetyCivil Liberties/Hate CrimesEconomic JusticeEnvironmental ProtectionCapital Punishment

Health CareCriminal JusticeWomen’s Issue/Reproductive RightsCampaign ReformReligious Liberty/AntiSemitism

Contemporary responses to Tikkun Olam:

These are some of the areas that Tikkun Olam urges contemporary Jewish followers to repair the world:

Wisdom Literature

Wisdom literature says much about the way that morally correct behaviour might be realised. The possession of WISDOM is an important element in this.

Book of Proverbs

Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gets understanding, for the gain from it is better than gain from silver and its profit better than gold... (3:13-14)  Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called happy. (3:16-18)

Other themes informing Core Ethical teachings are:

WisdomDo not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. (9.8) A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. (18.2)

 

RighteousnessBread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel. (20.17)Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fatted ox and hatred with it. (15.17)  Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. (16.18)A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. (22:1)If you argue your case with a neighbor,        do not betray another man's confidence, or he who hears it may shame you        and you will never lose your bad reputation (25:9-10)

 

 Purity of word deed and thoughtA soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (15.1)Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. (27.17)

generosity of spirit  Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles;  lest the LORD see it, and be displeased. (24.17)  A generous man will himself be blessed,        for he shares his food with the poor. (22.9)

SexualityCompare proverbs 5:18-20 with Proverbs 31: 10-31

 Impact on daily lives of believers

•Mezuzah. Scroll at the door of each Jewish home is a reminder to live by the teachings of Torah. Therefore a reminder to be an ethical being.•Duty bound nature of Judaism inspires adherence in key areas to Jewish ethical teachings for most observant Jews.

•Jewish ethics makes demand on Jews to act in certain ways on a wide range of social, environmental, economic, and personal issues . Make a table that indicates one or two examples of an issue for each of these areas