Jewish Scripture
Peace
Pursuit of Peace (Psalms 34:14)
“Seek peace, and pursue it.” This verse encapsulates a fundamental Jewish value that encourages the pursuit of peace over conflict, which can be seen as an implicit rejection of those actions that lead to violence or discord.
Ethics of the Fathers (Pirkei Avot 4:1)
“Who is strong? He who conquers his impulses.”
Prophets Against False Zealotry (Isaiah 1:17)
The prophets, like Isaiah, spoke against empty ritualistic zealotry, emphasising true justice and righteousness: “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.”
Talmudic Teachings on Extremism
The Talmud contains numerous discussions cautioning against extreme interpretations of the law. It criticizes those who are “pious fools” or excessively stringent in their religious observance to the point of harming themselves or others.
Maimonides’ “Golden Mean”
Maimonides, in his philosophical works, advocates for a “golden mean,” a path of moderation between extremes.
Proverbs 4:26-27
“Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.”
Kindness
Leviticus 19:33-34
“When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. The stranger who sojourns with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.”
Exodus 22:21
“Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt.” This verse reiterates the importance of empathy and fair treatment of non-Israelites, drawing on the Israelites’ own experiences as foreigners.
Deuteronomy 10:19
“Love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” Similar to Leviticus 19:34, this commandment emphasizes the need to love and care for strangers, highlighting the importance of empathy towards those from different backgrounds.
Book of Ruth
The story of Ruth, a Moabite woman who becomes part of the Israelite community, is often seen as a testament to the acceptance and kind treatment of those from different faiths or ethnicities.
Prophets on Justice and Fairness (Zechariah 7:9-10)
“Thus says the LORD of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.” This passage from the prophets emphasizes justice and kindness to all, including foreigners.
Talmud, Tractate Gittin 61a
The Talmud discusses the concept of providing charity and assistance to non-Jews as well as Jews, underlining the importance of kindness and support for all people, regardless of their faith.
Maimonides on Treatment of the Ill (Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Melachim 10:12)
Maimonides, a medieval Jewish philosopher and legal scholar, wrote about the obligation to heal non-Jews as well as Jews, emphasizing the universal value of human life and the need to treat all people with care and compassion.
Forgiveness
Leviticus 19:18
This verse explicitly instructs, “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against your countrymen. Love your neighbour as yourself: I am the LORD.” This is a foundational text in Jewish ethics that promotes forgiveness and love over revenge.
Proverbs 24:29
“Do not say, ‘I’ll do to them as they have done to me; I’ll pay them back for what they did.’”
Psalms 130:3-4
“If you, LORD, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.”
Talmud, Tractate Yoma 85b
In the Talmud, there are numerous discussions about forgiveness, especially in the context of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. This particular section discusses the importance of seeking forgiveness from those we have wronged and the necessity of granting forgiveness to others.
Talmud, Tractate Rosh Hashanah 17a
This text elaborates on the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy, a central Jewish concept about God’s forgiving nature.
Ethics of the Fathers (Pirkei Avot) 4:1
This collection of ethical teachings includes the famous maxim, “Who is strong? He who conquers his impulses, as it is said, ‘Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.’”
Theft
Eighth Commandment (Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17)
The commandment “You shall not steal” is a fundamental ethical directive in the Ten Commandments.
Leviticus 19:11
“You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another.”
Leviticus 19:13
“You shall not defraud your neighbor; you shall not steal; and you shall not keep for yourself the wages of a laborer until morning.”
Proverbs 22:22-23
“Do not rob the poor because they are poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate; for the Lord will plead their cause and despoil of life those who despoil them.”
Ethics of the Fathers (Pirkei Avot) 2:1
This text teaches, “Be as scrupulous in performing a minor mitzvah as in a major one, for you do not know the reward for the respective mitzvot.” This implies the importance of adhering to all commandments, including those against theft, regardless of their perceived significance.
Maimonides’ Mishneh Torah, Laws of Theft and Lost Property
Maimonides, a preeminent medieval Jewish philosopher and legal authority, details the laws of theft and the necessity of returning stolen property. His writings emphasize the ethical and legal aspects of theft in Jewish law.