Page 12 - Issue 5

Pursue justice, that you may live

Life is the ultimate mitzvah in Judaism. What does it take to live a full life? What does one
need to do, to rest in the knowledge that they live an honest and true existence?
We find ourselves in an interesting climate. We are all trying to live a true, just life according

to our values and ideology. We have a vision that we are striving for, and a direction that we
are moving towards. If the road ahead were clear, our mobility would be trouble-free, but
we meet barriers and opponents along the way that induce clashes and conflicts
preventing us from reaching our goals speedily and unhurt. What are those barriers? Why do
they exist? If we are working towards a better society, and building a movement of change,
and realising the potential that we are here to bring about, who would stand in our way?
What do we do about it?

I decided to search for the answers to these questions in three primary sources - Martin
Buber, anarchist writings I found on the net, and Jewish teachings - in an attempt to find
reason and understanding to explain the predicament.

I think that in order to understand what is happening in this situation, we need to explore the
meaning and definition of ‘justice’, after all, that is what we are pursuing in our quest, is it

not? So the first thing that came to mind is ‘human nature’. What if we grew up on a desert
island, with no one else in sight? Would we be more just? Aristotle wrote: “Man, when
perfected, is the best of animals, but when separated from law and justice, he is the worst of
all.” So, perhaps it is natural for human beings to be unjust, or perhaps we are simply
imperfect?

What if God was controlling all aspects of life – constructing a contrived society? The
prophet Jeremiah exclaimed "You are always right, O Lord, when I bring a case before You.
Whenever I bring You to court, You always win. Yet I want to speak to You about justice. Why
does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are the evil people always at ease?" Even he is
not sure, challenging ‘God’ and suggesting that either ‘God’ is not creating perfection or

even saying that ‘God’ brings about injustice (God forbid!). However, we live and feel based
on the constructs of society around us. Essentially, we are accountable for our own actions,
so any reflection that blames or challenges ‘God’ must be running away from our own
responsibilities. Jeremiah’s solution is clear: “If one practices justice and righteousness, if one
champions the cause of the poor, then it will be well with one”.

Perhaps a more poignant observation from the disagreement between Jeremiah and God is
the suggestion that power leads to the abuse of position and as a result, the rejection of
justice? French Philosopher, Blaise Pascal, talked of justice and power needing to be
brought together, so that whatever is just may be powerful, and whatever is powerful may
be just.

Justice in Judaism is supposed to be impartial. There are so many reminders in the Torah
concerning the need for justice in the world that it can be said with confidence that a
concern with justice is one of the most important messages of Judaism to the peoples of this
earth. Perhaps the most often quoted statement in this regard is the pronouncement by the
prophet Amos (5:24) “Let justice roll like water and righteousness as a permanent torrent.”

Also in Amos is written, “hate evil and love good and establish justice in the gates of
the land”.