Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof

Jewish Value: Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof

The Torah says, “Tzedek tzedek tirdof, Justice, justice shall you pursue, so that you may live and inherit the land that the Eternal your God gives you” (Deuteronomy 16:20). Tzedek, “justice,” is a core Jewish value. For example, while Jews have 613 mitzvot to follow, non-Jews have only seven. One of the seven things that the Jewish tradition teaches that nonJews need to do in order to be ethical is have just courts (Mishneh Torah,

Book of Judges, Laws of Kings 9:1).

The Jewish commitment to justice starts with Abraham. First

God reflects on telling Abraham what is about to happen to

Sodom and Gomorrah. God says: “For I have known him so that he may command his children…to do righteousness and justice…” (Genesis 18:19). Then Abraham told God, “Shall not the judge of all the earth do justly?” (Genesis 18:25). Justice is at the heart of the

Jewish relationship with God.

Justice, of course, has to do with courts and laws. That is one kind of justice. Another kind of justice has to do with the way we treat other people. That is why the word tzedakah comes from the root tzedek, justice. Micah the prophet taught us: “It has been told you, human, what is good, and what the Eternal does demand of you: only to seek justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof Text: Nahmanides

The Torah says:

And you shall do what is right and good in the si ght of the Eternal, that it may go well with you, and that you may go in and take poss essi on of the good land that the Eternal swore to give to your fathers.

Deuteronomy 6:18

Nahmanides explains it:

In Deuteronomy 6:17 God says, “You shall diligently keep the mitzvot of the Eternal your G od, and God’s rules, and God’s ordinances, that have been commanded you.” The next verse, “ And you shall do what is right and good in the si ght of the Eternal,” goes beyond specific rules. It speaks of compromise and actions that are beyond the obligations of the law. God first tells you to obey the law; then God reminds you to do what is “ right and good” when it is beyond the law. This is a great matter. It is impossible to mention in the Torah all of a person’s actions toward his neighbors and friends…So after God has mentioned many of them…God continues to say that even if it is not specifically mentioned, one should still do “ what is right and good” through compromises and other actions that are specifically mentioned in the Torah.

Commentary on the Torah, Deuteronomy 6:18

1.

2. What does Nahmanides say is the difference between Deuteronomy 6:17 and Deuteronomy 6:18? What does he mean when he says God also wants us to do “‘ Right and Good’ when it is beyond the law”?

3.

Give an example of something that is “ Right and Good” and beyond the law.