Social Commandments

נמצאו 22 תוצאות חיפוש

1. Social Justice...and Sacrifices?

   Acharei Mot - Kedoshim

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   Social justice laws are discussed side by side with laws relating to animal sacrifices. What connects the two? The Torah is doubling down on important principles - that can be found just as clearly in sacrifice as in social justice. Want to see more videos like this? Check out https://www.alephbeta.org/

2. Vision and Details

   Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

   Parshat Mishpatim takes us through a bewildering transition. Until now in Shemot we have been carried along by the sweep and drama of the narrative: the Israelites’ enslavement, their hope for freedom, the plagues, Pharaoh’s obstinacy, their escape into the desert, the crossing of the Red Sea, the journey to Mount Sinai and the great covenant with God.

   Suddenly, now, we find ourselves faced with a different kind of literature altogether: a law code covering a bewildering variety of topics, from responsibility for damages to protection of property, to laws of justice, to Shabbat and the festivals. Why here? Why not continue the story, leading up to the next great drama, the sin of the golden calf? Why interrupt the flow? And what does this have to do with leadership?

   Through an examination of some of the laws in Parshat Mishpatim, we understand the necessity of both law and historical narrative. Neither historical events nor abstract ideals – not even the broad principles of the Ten Commandments – are sufficient to sustain a society in the long run. Hence the remarkable project of the Torah: to translate historical experience into detailed legislation, so that the Israelites would live what they had learned on a daily basis, weaving it into the very texture of their social life. In the parsha of Mishpatim, vision becomes detail, and narrative becomes law.

    

   This lecture is part of the Covenant & Conversation series.

   To read more from Rabbi Sacks or to subscribe to his mailing list, please visit http://www.rabbisacks.org/. You can also follow him on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

3. Vision and Details (Audio)

   Rabbi Jonathan Sacks | 8 דקות

   Parshat Mishpatim takes us through a bewildering transition. Until now in Shemot we have been carried along by the sweep and drama of the narrative: the Israelites’ enslavement, their hope for freedom, the plagues, Pharaoh’s obstinacy, their escape into the desert, the crossing of the Red Sea, the journey to Mount Sinai and the great covenant with God.

   Suddenly, now, we find ourselves faced with a different kind of literature altogether: a law code covering a bewildering variety of topics, from responsibility for damages to protection of property, to laws of justice, to Shabbat and the festivals. Why here? Why not continue the story, leading up to the next great drama, the sin of the golden calf? Why interrupt the flow? And what does this have to do with leadership?

   Through an examination of some of the laws in Parshat Mishpatim, we understand the necessity of both law and historical narrative. Neither historical events nor abstract ideals – not even the broad principles of the Ten Commandments – are sufficient to sustain a society in the long run. Hence the remarkable project of the Torah: to translate historical experience into detailed legislation, so that the Israelites would live what they had learned on a daily basis, weaving it into the very texture of their social life. In the parsha of Mishpatim, vision becomes detail, and narrative becomes law.

    

   This lecture is part of the Covenant & Conversation series.

   To read more from Rabbi Sacks or to subscribe to his mailing list, please visit http://www.rabbisacks.org/. You can also follow him on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

4. One is Holy

   Rabbi Jay Kelman

5. Kedoshim: No Mercy Here

   Rabbi Jay Kelman

6. Behar-Bechukotai: End of the Story

   Rabbi Jay Kelman

7. Behar: Leaving Egypt

   Rabbi Jay Kelman

8. Kedoshim: Social Values, Laws, and Boundaries

   Rabbi Shlomo Dov Rosen

9. Rashi on Emor: Festivals and Fields

   Rabbi Jonathan Snowbell | 19 דקות

   We discuss Rashi on Parashat Emor.  One of Rashi’s comments touches upon the question of where our focus must be- on the Beit HaMikdash or on the foundation of a good society? In the midst of Parshat haMoadim (the section about the agricultural festivals), a  law about reaping fields reappears. Peah is an agricultural mitzva, and helping the poor is important, but what is this mitzva doing here? What accounts for the repetition after it appears in PArashat Kedoshim? What is the significance of its placement in the midst of the regalim (Pilgrimage Festivals)?

10. Assisting People at Risk of Financial Hardship

    Rabbi David Silverberg

11. Erev Shabbat Behar-Behukkotai: The Sabbatical Year and Social Justice

    Rabbi Jonathan Snowbell | 20 דקות

    What is the 50-year Yovel counting cycle about? The commandment of counting the 50 yeras helps guide us toward the implementation of freedom and equality for all - not only in the Sabbatical (Seventh "Shemitta" year) and Yovel (Jubilee) year, when the Torah commands that land and people shall be released, but that throughout the cycle, we should be helping people to stand on their own two feet.  

    What is important about he Shemitta and Yovel cycle is not only whether the land lies fallow, but whether the social justice system behind the "Shabbat of the years" is being fulfilled. If that system is failing to be fulfilled, mass exile will be the consequence (as detailed in Yirmiahu's castigating those who freed the slaves -but then immediately forced them to return).

    It is only on the basis of social justice that the Mikdash and its significance can survive - and we can dream of the restoration of Jerusalem's former glory only if we build a just and kind society.

12. Behar: Giving Charity with Illogical Insistence, but Wisely

    Rabbi Shlomo Dov Rosen

13. Nehemya Fights for the Poor

    Rabbi Tzvi Sinensky

14. The Teshuva Revolution

    Part 2

    Rabbi Tzvi Sinensky

    Consistent with the transition detailed from a Temple-based Judaism to a Torah-centered lifestyle, the emphasis in this chapter is decidedly not on the Temple service. Many, if not all, of the practices omitted in this chapter bear significant connections to the Temple service. Ezra’s revolution, which seeks to reimagine Jewish life in the aftermath of the destruction of the First Commonwealth, envisions an observance of the holidays that does not revolve around the sacrificial service.

    Putting Esther and Nehemya together, it appears that repairing the Jewish People’s social fabric was a major point of emphasis for both post-exilic communities. It is almost as if Tanakh implies that Jews of Persia and Israel sought to “undo” the sins of previous generations, in which the wealthy trampled upon the poor and there were irreparable divisions between the different classes of society. Both Esther and Nehemya worked to create greater unity by emphasizing the importance of generosity at times of communal celebration, so that no one would feel excluded.

    The extraordinary moment of solidarity around the celebration of Sukkot – with all the difficulties it raises regarding contemporary observance of that holiday - coupled with the dramatic impact of the Torah reading ceremony just a few days earlier, combines to make the events of Nehemya chapter eight some of the most climactic known to biblical history.

15. Rashi

    Part 4 - The Moral and Educational Philosophy of Rashi (II)

    Dr. Avigail Rock

    In his commentaries, Rashi displays great sensitivity towards the people in society who are indigent or powerless, who have no defenders.  This compassion for the disadvantaged is expressed in numerous ways.

    Rashi expresses great affection for the forebears of Israel, the Patriarchs, the Matriarchs, and the Twelve Tribes. This regard is expressed in two areas.  The first is an attempt to minimize — to the level of obscuring the very progression of the biblical text — the negative traits or acts which are attributed in Scripture to Israel’s forebears and its role models. The second is the glorification of acts that seem to be insignificant.

16. Ki Tetze: Practical Mitzvot

    Rabbi Dr. Yoel Bin Nun

    Parashat Ki Tetze has many commandments related to social interactions and social obligations toward others in society, especially the vulnerable. We explore practical applications of commandments such as the obligation to help with loading and unloading as they apply to drivers and groups of travelers or hikers and issues pertaining to interest on loans in the days of modern banking. We also explore the laws requiring one to help a fugitive slave, and other slavery-related laws and note the strikingly differences as compared to other systems law in the Ancient Near East, and as compared to the era of slavery in the United States of America. 

17. Ki-Teze: What a Story!

    Rabbi Jay Kelman

18. Thoughts on Parashat Re'eh - Part 2

    Rabbi Yaakov Beasley

19. Re'eh: Caring for God's "Family" on the Festivals

    Rabbi David Silverberg

20. Ki Tavo: Netziv on Following God's Ways

    Rabbi David Silverberg

21. Va'etchanan: Seeing Layers in the Ten Commandments

    Rabbi David Fohrman |

    We've seen the text of the Ten Commandments so many times, but how does the Torah pack so much meaning into so few words? In this parsha video, Rabbi Fohrman shows us how the Torah layers meaning into the Ten Commandments, giving us a sample of the subtleties of the Torah.

     

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22. How Can I Achieve True Love?

    Parshat Kedoshim

    Rabbi David Fohrman |

    We all know the maxim from this week's parsha, "Love your neighbor as yourself." But how do I do that? As it turns out, the Torah points a way. In this week's video, Rabbi Fohrman gives us the context for this directive, and helps us find the building blocks for true love.

     

     

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