Tag
Social Justice
10 articles
Tikkun Olam: Repairing the World
From a mystical Kabbalistic concept about gathering divine sparks to a modern rallying cry for social justice, tikkun olam — repairing the world — is one of Judaism's most powerful ideas.
The Jewish Prophets: Voices of Justice and Vision
From Isaiah's visions of peace to Amos's thundering demand for justice, the Jewish prophets shaped not only Judaism but the moral imagination of the world. Meet the major and minor prophets and their enduring message.
Jewish Social Justice: From the Prophets to the Streets
Jewish social justice is rooted in the prophetic tradition — Amos, Isaiah, and Micah demanded justice before ritual. From Heschel marching with MLK to the labor movement, Jews have translated Torah into activism for centuries.
Abraham Joshua Heschel: The Rabbi Whose Legs Prayed
He fled the Nazis, wrote the most beautiful book about Shabbat ever published, marched with Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma, and taught a generation that God is not found in indifference but in the prophetic demand for justice.
Judaism and Poverty: The Obligation to Act
Judaism doesn't just encourage charity — it demands systemic justice. From the Torah's agricultural laws to Maimonides' eight levels of giving, discover how Jewish tradition treats poverty as a communal responsibility, not a personal failing.
Amos: The Shepherd Who Demanded Justice
Amos was a simple shepherd from Tekoa who became one of the Bible's most powerful voices for social justice, insisting that God demands righteousness above ritual.
Bernie Sanders: Brooklyn's Jewish Senator and Political Revolution
Bernie Sanders grew up in a Brooklyn Jewish family, became America's longest-serving independent congressman, and launched a political movement that reshaped the Democratic Party.
Jews in the Civil Rights Movement: Walking Together Toward Justice
Jewish Americans played a significant role in the civil rights movement, from Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel marching with Dr. King to Jewish lawyers and organizers working for racial equality.
Judaism and Immigration: The Ethics of Welcoming the Stranger
The Torah commands Jews to love the stranger 36 times — more than any other commandment. This repeated insistence, rooted in the Jewish experience of exile and migration, shapes a distinctive ethical approach to immigration.
Judaism and Racism: The Ethical Call to Justice
Judaism's foundational teaching that every human is created b'tzelem Elohim — in the image of God — provides a powerful framework against racism. Jewish involvement in civil rights movements reflects this theological commitment.