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

THE FINAL AIM OF EXISTENCE
Responsibilities of the Jewish people
There are two major statements in the Hebrew Bible about the
responsibilities of the Jewish people. The first is ‘and ye shall be to me a
kingdom of priests and a holy nation’ (Exodus 19: 6). It was to be
Israel’s duty to bring the nations of the world to a realisation of the one
God and of the universal truths and moral duties which every civilised
human being should aim for.
The second important responsibility of Israel was to be ‘a light unto the
nations’ (Isaiah 49: 6). This means that the people of Israel should be an
example to others and a teacher of the ways of God, and through this
should demonstrate the ethical values by which mankind should live so
that in the end there would be a world of peace and tranquillity.
To a certain extent these aims have been fulfilled though not nearly
sufficiently. Many of the moral principles of Judaism have been taken up
by other religions such as Christianity. Christians have taken up the
Golden Rule of loving one’s neighbour (see section 4, p41) and the
principles of care for the poor and the disadvantaged is another part of
the Golden Rule they have taken up. These principles and others are
often referred to as the Judaeo–Christian ethic.
The responsibilities have been summarised in one telling sentence in
Micah – ‘What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, to love
mercy and to walk humbly with thy God’ (Micah 6: 8). This sentence is a
good guide for everyone, not just the Jewish people.
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RMPS: WORLD RELIGIONS – JUDAISM (INT 2, H)
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