Justice and Kindness

נמצאו 8 תוצאות חיפוש

What Does the Lord Require of You
Haftarot: Balak
Rabbi Mosheh Lichtenstein
Micah's prophecy emphasizes the dependency on God and man's spiritual status as determining factors in our relationship with God. Balak understood the significance of the spiritual factor, and summons Bilam to assist him. Bilam's offerings do not express internal spirituality, but rather an attempt to appease God using magic. Micah objects to sacrifices that are not accompanied by a deep spiritual feeling, acknowledgement of our dependency on God, actions of righteousness and justice, and appreciation toward the Divine.
The Best of Times: The Reigns of Yerovam ben Yoash and Uziya
Rabbi Alex Israel
The long and impressive reign of Yerovam ben Yoash sees the Northern Kingdom reaching the summit of its regional power and material prosperity. The prophet Amos who prophesies during this period, reveals a society of enormous wealth, complacency, and security and yet bearing startling inequalities of income, and outrageous exploitation of the poor by the rich.

Uziya's long reign is filled with a long list of impressive accomplishments: Military conquests, extensive fortification of Jerusalem, development of agriculture and a cutting-edge military. However, his successes lead to arrogance and his eventual downfall, plagued till his death with Tzaraat. Yishayahu describes a society in Yehuda similar to what Amos described in the North.

While Sefer Melakhim dwells almost exclusively on the issue of idolatry, Amos and Yishayahu highlight the sins of arrogance and social injustice. Amos warns of an earthquake which shakes the kingdom a mere two years after Amos begins his prophecy. And yet, even with a national disaster of this proportion, Israel and Yehuda fails to harness its peace and wealth towards kindness, justice, and communal support.
Shmuel David Luzzatto (Shadal) as a Bible Commentator
Rabbi Dr. Martin Lockshin |
In this class, we will examine the unique approach of Shadal (Shmuel David Luzzato) in his Bible commentary. We will look at different texts that highlight interesting features in his commentary to them. He does not hold back from interpreting the pshat (plain meaning of the text) in a way that contradicts traditional Rabbinic interpretations. Occasionally, he strongly voices his opposition to Rambam (Maimonides) and the apparent influence of Greek philosophers such as Aristotle on Rambam’s comments. Luzzato’s comments also reveal ideas about equality, sexual ethics, and the conviction that the purpose of the Torah(including mitzvoth such as Loving God, is not philosophy, but action: for furthering the goal of doing and spreading justice and righteousness.
Amos 5-6 - Matan Al HaPerek
Rabbi David Sabato
Central to perek 5 is the call to “seek the Lord” through righteousness and judgment, contrary to what was happening among the people at that time. The first section of the chapter uses the language of a lament for “the house of Israel” (1-17). Amos rebukes the people for focusing on the idolatrous rites in various temples instead of seeking God Himself through righteousness and judgment. In the second secton of the perek Amos argues with the nation about the nature of the day of the Lord which they are longing for (18-20).

In Chapter 6, Amos again argues with the people of Israel about their attude toward “the day of the Lord”, and shatters their illusions about the nature of the day.

This study guide includes guided questions and an appendix about Orion and the Pleiades constellations.
Parashat Shavua - Ki Tisa - Truth as an Attribute of Mercy
Rabbi Shlomo Dov Rosen | 30 דקות
After Bnei Yisrael construct the Golden Calf and the first tablets are shattered, Moshe pleads with God for mercy on behalf of Bnei Yisrael. God teaches him the 13 Attributes of mercy. The list, strangely, includes "emet' - truth. In what sense could truth by a Divine attribute of mercy? And why is truth a quality that comes in addition to kindness? We eplore the relationship between truth and kindness to arrive at a deeper sense of the relationship between God and man, as well as between man and man. We also look at the verses preceding the Sin of the Golden Calf, which center around Shabbat. Both Shabbat and the Mishkan serve to continue the relationship between God and Israel begun at Sinai by having the Divine Presence in our midst in a normative way - part of justice being combined with hessed (kindness).
Mishlei - Part 5: Knowledge and Action
Rabbi Shlomo Dov Rosen | 36 דקות
In this fifth instalment of our Mishlei series, we study both the 5th and the 6th poems in the Book of Mishlei – the third chapter of the book. We continue from last shiur's message, that understanding and internalizing the concepts of God keep us from straying and bring us spiritual gain.

We look at the relationship between intellectual knowledge and action in the world. What is the difference between the relationship to the mitzva and the relationship to the Torah? We guard the mitzvot, keeping them in mind for when the time comes to act upon them. But Torah is about not forgetting, not about just guarding. We examine the meaning of "length of days" by looking at the story of Yaakov's interview with Pharaoh in the book of Bereisheet, and look at the relationship between kindness and truth in the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy

Intellect and action - hesed (lovingkindness) and emet (truth) can sometimes seem to contradict one another, but the "tree of life" image in Mishlei sends the message that we must support society and also ourselves. This personal and interpersonal development evokes the intertwining of truth and kindness.
Eikev: What Does It Mean To Be A Good Person? Part I
Rabbi David Fohrman |
In this week's parsha, Moshe tells the nation exactly what God wants of us, but the prophet Micah makes a similar speech many generations later and exhorts the people very differently. Why? Rabbi Fohrman takes us into Micah's speech and explains the critical building blocks to being a good person.

If you enjoyed this video, please visit AlephBeta.org to watch more.
Eikev: What Does It Mean To Be A Good Person?- Part 2/2
Rabbi David Fohrman |
Are Micha and Moses arguing? Find out in this epilogue to Parshat Eikev.

If you enjoyed this video, please visit AlephBeta.org to watch more.