Justice – Biblical

30.00

Deborah Williger

BIBLE

There is guidance to discern between good and evil Bible passage – Genesis 8.20 – 9.7 and Psalm 85. = ecitsuj rof werbeHצדק) Zedek)

Introductory remarks:

Unuttered social and individual governance had failed after exit from Gan Eden and led into chaos and violence. “…Noach was a righteous man (Zadik); …Noach walked with God” (Gen 6.9). The Noachides who were righteous survived the great flood, Mabbul, with the animals on the Teva. Future communities now needed controlled guidelines to discern between good and evil. After Mabbul the first earthly legal system was established. The Talmud calls the first seven rules “Noachidic laws”. They restrict human greed and build fences around human excesses, needs and desires and pave the way to live together in peace. At Sinai the oral and written Torah, elu we elu (both) was given to the people. This order and guidance formed the Jewish Law, Halakha (way), until today. Deborah the judge ensured forty years of unity and peace in Israel like the queen in a colony of bees. Deborah in Hebrew means bee. In the colony each bee has an assignment. Less structure enables more energy to be set free. Energy that is needed to build up materialistic participation. Participation leads to more just social systems. Everybody in respective of their abilities should assist with tikkun olam, the healing of the world to come. For example, by planting a tree or a smile given away. The sage Hillel said “If I am not for myself, who is for me? But if I am for my own self only, what am I? And if not now, when?” (Pirkei Avot 1.14).