As we approach this weekend of Martin Luther King Day, we commemorate the legacy of one of the great voices for social change of the 20th century. Celebrating MLK’s struggle for social justice resonates especially with American Jews – due to both our historic religious obligation to tikkun olam (being God’s agents in repairing and improving the world) and our intimate involvement in the cause for civil rights in this nation.
This Shabbat, we read from the Torah portion known as Vaera, in which God instructs Moses to say to Pharaoh, “Let My people go, that they me serve Me.”. These words are familiar to many of us: They are a timeless expression of hope for any downtrodden or oppressed people, as well as a hallmark exclamation in our American struggles for social, cultural, racial and religious freedom and equality.
So, in thinking about these momentous ideas at this time, I am reflecting on a few of my favorite Jewish quotes regarding social justice, and how each of us can be engaged in perfecting the world in our own day.
Justice, justice shall you pursue. (Deuteronomy 16:20)
I believe these powerful words to be the origins of Jewish social justice – where our striving for just causes is not merely suggested or inferred, but commanded as part of our understanding of the human condition.
Let justice well up like water, righteousness as a mighty stream. (Amos 5:24)
Our attempts toward social good can always be increased, and we should aim at making our efforts overflow.
In the realm of the spirit, our fathers taught us thousands of years ago that when God created man, he created him as everybody’s neighbor. Neighbor is not a geographic term. It is a moral concept. It means our collective responsibility for the preservation of man’s dignity and integrity.
These words were spoken by Rabbi Joachim Prinz, in his remarks at the Lincoln Memorial that introduced MLK’s “I have a dream” speech, August 28, 1963. ‘nuff said.
And finally, a great quote from one of the modern Jewish prophetic voices, Abraham Joshua Heschel, who of course marched alongside Dr. King:
We are commanded to love our neighbor: this must mean that we can.
These are a few of my favorites. What are yours? I’d love to know. More importantly, I look forward to working alongside you that we might together carry on the sacred tasks of those who came before us.
This Shabbat, we read from the Torah portion known as Vaera, in which God instructs Moses to say to Pharaoh, “Let My people go, that they me serve Me.”. These words are familiar to many of us: They are a timeless expression of hope for any downtrodden or oppressed people, as well as a hallmark exclamation in our American struggles for social, cultural, racial and religious freedom and equality.
So, in thinking about these momentous ideas at this time, I am reflecting on a few of my favorite Jewish quotes regarding social justice, and how each of us can be engaged in perfecting the world in our own day.
Justice, justice shall you pursue. (Deuteronomy 16:20)
I believe these powerful words to be the origins of Jewish social justice – where our striving for just causes is not merely suggested or inferred, but commanded as part of our understanding of the human condition.
Let justice well up like water, righteousness as a mighty stream. (Amos 5:24)
Our attempts toward social good can always be increased, and we should aim at making our efforts overflow.
In the realm of the spirit, our fathers taught us thousands of years ago that when God created man, he created him as everybody’s neighbor. Neighbor is not a geographic term. It is a moral concept. It means our collective responsibility for the preservation of man’s dignity and integrity.
These words were spoken by Rabbi Joachim Prinz, in his remarks at the Lincoln Memorial that introduced MLK’s “I have a dream” speech, August 28, 1963. ‘nuff said.
And finally, a great quote from one of the modern Jewish prophetic voices, Abraham Joshua Heschel, who of course marched alongside Dr. King:
We are commanded to love our neighbor: this must mean that we can.
These are a few of my favorites. What are yours? I’d love to know. More importantly, I look forward to working alongside you that we might together carry on the sacred tasks of those who came before us.
nice question.
ReplyDeletethe first quote that comes to mind, of course, is pirke avot - you are not obligated to complete the task, but neither are you free to desist from it.
and then winston churchill - we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. (does that one count? it always seemed like social justice to me.)
shabbat shalom.
"And what does God demand of you, except to do what is just, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God!" -Micah 6:8
ReplyDelete"I don’t know if I particularly want to be remembered for anything. I have enjoyed great satisfaction from my climb of Everest. But my most worthwhile things have been the building of schools and medical clinics. That has given me more satisfaction than a footprint on a mountain."
ReplyDeleteSir Edmund Hilary, age 75.
Sie Edmund Hilary was the first man, along with Tenzing Norgay his Sherpa, to climb Mt. Everest in 1953. During the subsequent four decades, working with his brother Rex, he returned to that area of the world and built 27 schools, 12 clinics, and two airfields so supplies could more easily reach the area. (This story and quote was shared by Danny Siegel)