Main Principles of the Jewish Ethical System

The main principles of the Jewish ethical system are derived from: the Tenach the Talmud the on-going rabbinical tradition

1. The need for justice should be tempered by mercy and compassion. “Just as God is compassionate, be thou compassionate” (Talmud).

2. Jews must act with piety that is beyond the minimum standard expected of others. Jews must bear witness to God’s desire for man to work towards goodness. They have a special assignment to act in such a way as to turn people towards an acceptance of an ethical God.

3. Jews must act in a way which brings shalom – peace and well-being among all people. The more important prayers all end with a prayer for peace on earth.

4. All actions must be pervaded with compassion, a merciful attitude that rules out cruelty (to animals as well as humans).

5. Dietary laws: Jews believe that what they eat is a moral decision, because food has been organised for them by God. God gave them manna from the heavens during their forty year journey through the desert to the Promised Land.

6. Shabbat observance.

7. Jews see themselves as responsible for the community in which they live. The poor and the needy must be cared for. 7. Jews see themselves as responsible for the community in which they live. The poor and the needy must be cared for. Jewish communities are expected to provide relief organisations for the poor, suitable care for the aged and infirm, proper conditions of employment for workers, and so on This applies primarily to Jews, but also extends to Gentiles. Charity is almost compulsory and the highest form of help is that which enables a poor man to become free of the need of help.

8.. The mitzvot – good deeds commanded by God. 9. Jewish ethics address the whole community as well as individuals. 10. Jews believe that divine retribution is a consequence of God’s righteousness, but its purpose is primarily not punitive but educative, and its primary aim is the restoration of human and divine relation.

Fundamental Jewish Beliefs Halachah is the fleshing out of the essence of ethical living, so that it can be understood and actually lived by the follower. At its core, though, the Halachah symbolises the very ethical principles upon which Judaism is based.

The basis of Jewish ethics is the belief that every human is created in the image of God, and is therefore worthy of respect and dignity.

The Torah prohibits graven images. It has been argued in modern Judaism that moral human beings are the only image of God that is appropriate. The religious ethic that emerges from such a view is that humans are the nearest thing to the divine. As such, others should always be treated with respect and generosity, and one should always act with humility. In order to love one’s neighbour, as the Torah teaches, one must know the other’s pain.

In Judaism a person uses morality and a system of ethics to reach in two directions proper conduct between an individual and God proper conduct between two or more people

The Talmud speaks of three principles in life: Torah or “learning”. Service of God – to be worshipped out of love not fear. Performance of good deeds or charity.

The mitzvot cover every area of life. divorce proceedings praying or observing festivals industrial relations conducting a trial food laws Keeping the mitzvot means leading a disciplined life.

Variants Orthodox Jews adheres strictly to the Jewish tradition. Reform (or Liberal) Jews try to adapt their beliefs to modern life. Conservative Jews try to adopt a position somewhere between that of Orthodox Jews and Reform Jews.

Within each of these groups there are other groups, for example Hasidic Jews (one of the Orthodox groups) follow a very strict lifestyle and observe the law closely.

Orthodox Jews insists that the Torah was revealed by God, and that the laws are binding and unchangeable. They view the Tenach and the Talmud as a record of the Israelite and Jewish response to God over a period of some thousands of years. The Tenach and the Talmud, then, are seen as guides to life, and aids to inform modern day Jews about the teachings and insights they contain. Orthodox Jews, therefore, strictly adhere to the law.

Reform Jews believe that, although the Torah contains the word of God, it has been interpreted and written down by human beings. Revelation is a continuous process, confined to no one group and to no one age. The Tenach and the Talmud enshrine Israel’s ever-growing consciousness of God and of the moral law. However, being products of historical processes, certain laws have lost their binding force with the passing of the conditions which called them forth. Each age, then, has the obligation to adapt the teachings of the Tenach and the Talmud to is basic needs. Reform Jews, then, modify the traditional interpretations of the law. They place particular focus on the ethical teachings of the prophets.