RMPS - Int2/Higher - World Religions - Judaism - Education Scotland

THE GOALS
Care for the weak, the widow and the orphan, the giving of charity and
regard for the rights of others – in other words, love for one’s fellow
man – are important virtues that are taught in Judaism.
Ethics of the Fathers
This collection of wise sayings can be found in the Siddur and its six
chapters are studied each Shabbat from Passover until Rosh Hashanah.
While the ‘fathers’ or forefathers of the Jewish people are Abraham, Isaac
and Jacob, the ‘fathers’ referred to in the Ethics of the Fathers are the
ancient sages and teachers. This collection contains the moral and
practical teachings of these rabbis and sages whose lives encompassed
nearly five hundred years, from the time of the last prophet to the end
of the second century. The Ethics of the Fathers teach how people
should act towards other people and God. The head of a Beth Din to
this day is called the ‘Av’ Beth Din, i.e. a ‘father’, in the sense of a
respected teacher. The following extracts describe seven ethical
statements.
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Source
1. Keep far from a bad neighbour, do not associate with a wicked
person. (Ch.1: 7)
2. The world endures by three things: truth, justice and peace. (Ch.1: 18)
3. Reflect on three things and you will not fall into the grip of sin: know
what is above you – an eye that sees, an ear that hears, and a book in
which all your deeds are written. (Ch.2: 1)
4. Beware of rulers, for they befriend someone only for their own benefit;
they act friendly when it benefits them, but they do not stand by
someone in his time of need. (Ch.2: 3)
5. When your enemy falls, be not glad, and when he stumbles let your
heart not be joyous. (Ch.4: 24, taken from the book of Proverbs 3: 5)
6. Who is rich? He who is happy with his lot. (Ch.4: 1)
7. Despise no man, and find fault with no thing; for there is no man that
has not his hour and there is no thing that has not its place. (Ch.4: 3)
Ethics of the Fathers
RMPS: WORLD RELIGIONS – JUDAISM (INT 2, H)
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