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

SECTION 7
Moral and social responsibilities
Justice
THE PRACTICES THAT HELP ACHIEVE THE GOALS
Justice has been widely considered to be the most important moral
value in Judaism, as it provides the basis for other ethical values. The
Jewish search for justice begins with the following biblical
commandments which set out a system of justice to ensure that
impartiality and fairness were consistently practised. This consisted of
the setting up of law courts and the appointment of judges. It directed
the judges to treat people equally with patience and politeness, and
forbade the acceptance of bribes. It emphasised the supreme duty of
even-handed justice to all.
Source
Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the Lord thy
God giveth thee, tribe by tribe; and they shall judge the people with righteous
judgement.
Thou shalt not wrest (pervert) judgement; thou shalt not respect (show
partiality to) persons; neither shalt thou take a gift; for a gift doth blind the
eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.
Justice, justice shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land
which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
Deuteronomy 16: 18–20
The ‘judges and officers’ (verse 18) represent the authority of a system
of justice. At the present time in Britain there is a Beth Din (pr. betdeen),
which is a religious court, in towns where there is a sizeable
Jewish community. This court is headed by three senior rabbis who have
had special training and experience; they deal with matters of personal
status such as marriage, divorce and conversion. In addition they decide
on civil disputes when the litigants are willing to accept judgement
RMPS: WORLD RELIGIONS – JUDAISM (INT 2, H) 73
© Learning and Teaching Scotland