Justice
The Torah commands “Justice, justice you shall pursue” as a condition for inhabiting the land of Israel. The Torah further commands specific measures to be put in place in order to establish just societies, including just courts and fair and honest weights and measures. Several biblical prophets critique those who prioritize ritual practice but ignore the Torah’s imperatives to act justly, and sources throughout the rabbinic tradition discuss and analyze the requirements and parameters of justice.
Notable Sources
All Sources
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Justice Through EmpathyTANAKH
Justice Through Empathy
TANAKH
The Torah's teachings on justice are not just about fairness, but also about empathy, reminding us of our own experiences and urging us to treat others with kindness. The biblical book of Leviticus explains its laws of compassion and equity towards strangers as expressions of empathy, citing the Israelites' experiences as strangers and slaves in Egypt.
Abraham's Appeal for JusticeTANAKH
Abraham's Appeal for Justice
TANAKH
Throughout the Torah, the attribute of justice is emphasized as central to God's identity. In the book of Genesis, as Abraham negotiates with God over the planned destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, he even accuses God of hypocrisy amidst his argument that it would be unjust to kill the righteous along with the wicked.
The Pillars of a Lasting SocietyCOMMENTARY
The Pillars of a Lasting Society
COMMENTARY
The Torah promises a long life for those who keep honest measures and uphold ethical business practice. Ibn Ezra, in his medieval commentary on the book of Deuteronomy, interprets this guarantee, underscoring the broad social consequences of a society's commitment to upholding justice.
Justice by Many NamesCOMMENTARY
Justice by Many Names
COMMENTARY
The concept of justice bears many names in the biblical and rabbinic tradition, each of which has its own nuances. Rashi, in his renowned 11th-century biblical commentary, interprets three different biblical terms for justice.
The Torah's Justice SystemTANAKH
The Torah's Justice System
TANAKH
The Torah, in its command to establish a legal system, emphasizes the importance of just courts and fair laws in ensuring social justice. The biblical book of Deuteronomy imagines and describes a legal system built on principles of honesty and impartiality.
Jupiter, Justice's PlanetKABBALAH
Jupiter, Justice's Planet
KABBALAH
In rabbinic sources, the word for the planet Jupiter is tzedek, the Hebrew word for justice. Sefer Yetzirah, an early text of Jewish mysticism, refers to the planet Jupiter by this name when describing the connection between the Hebrew alphabet and the creation of the universe.
God's Justice Expressed through TorahMIDRASH
God's Justice Expressed through Torah
MIDRASH
That God is just is a core Jewish theological principle, and is reflected in the justice of divine laws and deeds. Midrash Tehillim, a medieval work of midrash on the book of Psalms, argues that the Torah demonstrates God's just nature.
What Does a Just Court Look Like?MIDRASH
What Does a Just Court Look Like?
MIDRASH
While the Torah offers a general directive to "pursue justice," the rabbinic tradition concretizes that principle with a particular vision of a Jewish legal system. Sifrei Devarim, a midrashic work on the book of Deuteronomy, connects the biblical command to pursue justice with the rabbinic approach to double jeopardy.
Tzedek and Tzedakah: Justice and CharityJEWISH THOUGHT
Tzedek and Tzedakah: Justice and Charity
JEWISH THOUGHT
The Hebrew term for charity, tzedakah, is from the same root as the Hebrew word for justice, tzedek. In his 12th-century philosophical work, The Guide for the Perplexed, Rambam explores the etymological connection between these two words and its conceptual and theological implications.
Jerusalem, the Just CityMIDRASH
Jerusalem, the Just City
MIDRASH
According to the rabbinic tradition, the city of Jerusalem is endowed with justice and has been throughout the history of the world. Bereshit Rabbah, a talmudic-era midrashic work on the book of Genesis, traces the connection between justice and the city of Jerusalem to the era of Abraham the patriarch.
Navigating the Narrow Path of JusticeTALMUD
Navigating the Narrow Path of Justice
TALMUD
Sometimes, the rabbinic sages argue, the pursuit of justice requires compromise. The Babylonian Talmud in tractate Sanhedrin employs several metaphors to explain its contention that compromise enables, and does not distort, justice.
Under the Wings of the DivineCHASIDUT
Under the Wings of the Divine
CHASIDUT
Those who convert to Judaism are described in the Jewish tradition as "gerei tzedek," which literally translates to "converts of justice." Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, in his 19th-century work Likkutei Moharan, offers an explanation of this term, drawing connections between justice, the Torah's commandments, and the divine presence.
The Divine Quality of JusticeKABBALAH
The Divine Quality of Justice
KABBALAH
In the kabbalistic tradition, one of the ten sefirot (divine emanations) is sometimes called Tzedek, the Hebrew word for justice. In his medieval kabbalistic theological work, Sha'arei Orah, Rabbi Yosef Gikatilla explains the mystical meaning behind this name for the divine presence.
