Doing Justice
One of the most oft-quoted verses in the Bible proclaims, “Tzedek, tzedek tirdof - Justice, justice shall you pursue.” (Deuteronomy 16:20) The rabbis taught that this is an example of imitatio Dei, of imitating God’s behavior, because God is just. The rabbis portray God as balancing din, strict, retributive justice, with raḥamim, mercy. The Bible repeatedly calls upon us to care for widows, orphans, the downtrodden and the foreigner as required by justice, which is repeatedly tied to insights based on empathy— “You were slaves in Egypt.”1
- 1. Adapted from A Guide to Jewish Practice, Volume 1—Everyday Living. The Guide may be ordered from the Reconstructionist Press.