Rights
1. The relationship between religious belief and practice and human rightsFormal attempts to guarantee, for all human beings, decent treatment and protection from discrimination and abuses of power. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is based on belief in the 'dignity and worth of the human person'. The universality of human rights appeals very much to humanists., social justice and citizenship.
2. Means by which contemporary, historical and founder figures have created paradigms of action for people of faith.
3. Responsibilities and commitments in being a person of faith.
Judaism has very clear teaching about how people should be treated.
When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not wrong him. The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as one of your citizens; you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I the Lord am your GodWord used to describe a personal transcendent Being. (LeviticusThe major law book of the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible 19:33-34)
Many of the Jewish prophets wrote about social injustice:
Spare Me the sound of your hymns,
And let Me not hear the music of your lutes.
But let justice well up like water,
Righteousness like an unfailing stream. (AmosOne of the 12 minor prophets of the Bible 5:23-24)
Yet you ward off [the thought of] a day of woe
And convene a session of lawlessness.
They lie on ivory beds,
Lolling on their couches,
Feasting on lambs from the flock
And on calves from the stalls.
They hum snatches of song
To the tune of the lute-
They account themselves musicians like David.
They drink [straight] from the wine bowls
And anoint themselves with the choicest oils-
But they are not concerned about the ruin of JosephA major figure of the Exodus stories of the Bible. (Amos 6:3-6)
Judaism believes it is a religious responsibility to try to help any one or any country in terms of money and development. Jews should fight injustice in whatever way they can and make financial contributions to help people.
Jews should give a tenth of their wealth as tzedakaAn act of charity - meaning righteousness (righteousness). This money is owed to the poor and so if it is not given it is robbing them. Even the poorest people should try to give tzedaka.
The best way to give tzedaka is to lend money them indefinitely and without interest. By doing this you people are saved the embarrassment of taking a gift. The hope is that the money will help the poor to become self-supporting.
This view of life has been demonstrated by the many great Jewish benefactors.
Websites
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/
http://www.jewfaq.org/index.htm
http://www.jewishagency.org/JewishAgency/English/Jewish+Education/
http://www.myjewishlearning.com/index.htm
http://www.religionfacts.com/judaism/
Bibliography
Cohn-Sherbok, D., 1999. Judaism: A Short Introduction. Oxford: Oneworld.
Cohn-Sherbok, D., 2003. Judaism: History, Belief and Practice. London: Routledge.
Gaster, T.H., n.d. Festivals of the Jewish Year. s.l.: Morrow Quill
Greenberg, B., 1990. How to run a traditional Jewish household. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Greenberg, B., 1992. On Women and Judaism: A View from Tradition. s.l.: JPS.
Harris, L., n.d. Holy Days, the World of a Hasidic Family. s.l.: Collier Books.
Koltun, E., (ed.), 1989. The Jewish Woman. New York: Schocken, New York.
Kraemer, D., (ed.), 1989. The Jewish Family. Oxford: OUP.
Mayled, J., 2007. ‘Judaism’. In Tyler, S. & Reid, G., AS Religious Studies. London: Pearson.
Mayled, J., 2007. ‘Judaism’. In Tyler, S. & Reid, G., A2 Religious Studies. London: Pearson.
Pilkington, C. M., 1995. Teach Yourself Judaism. London: Hodder & Stoughton.
Schauss, H., n.d. Jewish Festivals: History and Observance. s.l.: Schocken.
Unterman, A., 1996. The Jews: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices. s.l.: Sussex Academic Press.
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