Jewish ethics
Fundamental to Jewish ethics are the Torah , the Talmud - especially the Pirke Avot it contains (see below) - and the Halacha , a corpus of rabbinical statements that has been continuously developed for 1500 years. Even today, Jewish ethics is further developed through statements made by rabbis from the various directions of Judaism .
Talmudic ethics
There are already some peculiarities of the ethics of the time of the Talmud. The central point is the passage from Leviticus ( Leviticus 19:18 EU ), which is often quoted in Christian circles as: "Love your neighbor as yourself". Closer to the original Hebrew text , however, would be the translation: "Love your neighbor, for he is like you". Large parts of the Talmud and much of the Torah are explanations for the concrete implementation of this charity .
The best known rabbinical text in connection with ethics is the treatise Avot from the Mishnah , which is often called Pirkej Avot , i.e. H. Sayings of the fathers . This is a compilation of sayings by various Jewish scholars, divided into six chapters. For example, Hillel's saying in the first chapter is well known: If I am not for myself, who is for me? And am I only to myself, what am I? And if not now, when? The beginning of the fourth chapter reads: The son of Soma says: Who is a wise man? Who learns from everyone. Who is a hero Who controls his instinct (i.e. controls himself). Who is rich Who is happy about his share. Who is honored Who honors other people.
General
Jewish ethics is a central part of Jewish philosophy . There are statements by modern rabbis on topics such as homosexuality , equal rights , birth control , artificial insemination , behavior of soldiers in war , the most severe loss experiences, euthanasia , suicide and others. However, no general “Jewish opinion” can be identified in the statements concerned. Each of the Jewish schools has its own views on these issues. According to the liberal Jewish view, ritual laws are timeless, but ethics must be adapted to the current situation, which in many cases also includes adaptations in the ethical areas of the Halacha.
literature
- Moritz Lazarus , Die Ethik des Judenthums Vol. 1 , Kauffmann, Frankfurt am Main 1904.
- Moritz Lazarus, Die Ethik des Judenthums Vol. 2 from the estate of Ed. J. Winter and Augustin Wünsche, Kauffman Frankfurt 1911.
- Central Council of Jews in Germany (ed.), Schweizerischer Israelitischer Gemeindebund (ed.), "Teach me, Eternal, Your Way" - Ethics in Judaism , Hentrich & Hentrich, Berlin 2015. ISBN 978-3-95565-106-0