Sublime

Judaism never left its ideals at the level of lofty aspirations, but instead translated them into deeds that we call mitzvot, and a way, which we call the halakhah, and thus

So biblical Judaism has a carefully elaborated theory of the state. Oddly enough, though, this is only its secondary concern. Far more fundamental is its theory of society and its insistence that the state exists to serve society and not vice versa.

This is why, in Cass Sunstein’s words, “societies need dissent.”

social contract. The idea behind it is that without law, or at least a central power capable of enforcing it, social life is at constant risk of anarchy, the state of affairs described in the book of Judges as “everyone doing what is right in his own eyes.”

compassion itself must be guided by a duty to help the victim recover his or her capacity for independent action.

Is there one human being able to look on the face of injustice and still believe in you – as you, looking on the face of man’s injustice, still believe in humanity?

Ours is not the only way to live, but it is the Jewish way—the particular example that illustrates the general rule that you can be different and yet human, strangers and yet the beloved children of God. I know of no other faith that has taught this principle so clearly, so consistently, so courageously. The

Morality is that shared system of self-imposed restraints that allow my freedom to coexist with yours.

freedom has an economic dimension. Not only does powerlessness enslave, so too does poverty.8 So no one is to forfeit his independence or dignity. One