The Challenge:
We are afraid that Chairman Ryan’s budget reflects the values of his favorite philosopher, Ayn Rand. Survival of the fittest may be okay for Social Darwinists but not for followers of the gospel of Jesus.
--from a letter to Budget Committee Chair Paul Ryan, signed by ninety priests/professors at Georgetown University, Spring, 2012
To roll back tax credits for the poor to help fund tax breaks for the rich is morally reprehensible.
--Rev. Jim Wallis, president and CEO of the social justice organization Sojourners.
What happens when even a person with a job does not earn enough to buy necessities? How can we create a society in which people who [are willing to] work are guaranteed [to earn] enough to support a family?
"There shall be no needy among you" and a few lines later [we are commanded] to open our hands to the poor "for the poor shall never cease from your land." (Deuteronomy 15)
This presents at once a long-term vision for ending poverty and a short-term strategy for alleviating immediate needs. We may not ignore an individual’s need for food, clothing, housing. Too, we may not focus only on band-aids; we must...create [the political and economic conditions that tend toward ending] poverty.
--Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Exec. Dir., Rabbis for Human Rights/North America
--
Twenty-Five Ancient Responses to The Challenge:
1. Proverbs 22:16 He who oppresses the poor to increase [what he has] will lack.
2. Amos 5:11, 12 To the extent you exploit the poor...you've built youselves houses of stone but you won't live in them...for your evil is known [when] you turn aside the poor at your door.
3. Amos 8:4-6 You [are evil] who swallow up the needy, and make the poor of the land fail.
4. The Talmud on Charity: We are obligated to be careful with the Commandment to give to the poor more than with any other Commandment, for Charity and Justice are the signs of righteousness.
5. The Talmud on Chrity: Learning Torah without Charity and Kindness to the Poor is meaningless.
6. Deuteronomy 15:7-11 If there are among you poor people...you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from them. You shall open your hand wide willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs.
7. The Talmud You shall give to the needy; your heart should not be grieved when you give.
8. Deuteronomy For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you: You shall open your hand wide to your poor.
9. Proverbs 17:5 He who mocks the destitute shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over their disaster will not go unpunished.
10. Matthew 19:21 Jesus said, If you want to [follow me] sell your possessions and give to the poor. [Only then may you] follow me.’”
11. Ezekiel 16:49 This was the sin of Sodom: Sodom was arrogant, overfed and unconcerned and did not help the needy.
12. Proverbs 16:8 Better is a person with a just a little decency than great income with injustice.
13. Psalm 82:3 Defend the poor and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and needy.
14. Deuteronomy 24:19-21 When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the poor, the stranger, the fatherless and the widow.
When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the poor, the fatherless and the widow.
When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the poor, the stranger, the fatherless and the widow.
16. Exodus 23:11 During the seventh year, let the land lie unplowed and unused. Then the poor may get food from it.
17. Leviticus 23:22 When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the stranger.
18. Exodus 22:25 If you lend money to one who is needy, charge him no interest.
19. Luke 6:20-21 Then he looked up at his disciples: 'Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry, now.
20. Luke 4:16-19 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been raised, he went to the synagogue...[and] stood up to read and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
[I am here to] bring good news to the poor. [I proclaim] release to the captives...let the oppressed go free.
21. Matthew 25:34-36 [You are deserving] for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me. I was in prison and you visited me.
22. Mark 10:21-22 Jesus...said You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and then follow me...[and] when you give a meal invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.
23. Matthew 25 What you do you to the least of us you do to me.
24. The Talmud You must teach as God teaches, without collecting a fee.
25. This is the Whole of Torah Law:
Do not do to another what is detestable to you.
Any Questions? (I hope so.)
-----
NOTES:
Torah comprises the five books of the written Jewish Law:
In/At the Beginning (Genesis)
Now, These Are The Names of the Sons of Israel (Exodus)
And He Called (Leviticus)
In The Wilderness (Numbers)
These Are the Words that Moses Spoke (Deuteronomy)
Talmud is the medieval multi-volume Rabbinic commentary on all aspects of the Torah, often referred to as the Oral Law (although it is, and has been for ages, written down).
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Comments
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Rated.
I recommend your post today to everyone who comes here.
This is one of the basic tenets of Islam too. I agree with Dr Hesham and Joan. Where did people go wrong in the first place?
Thank, you Jonathan.
R♥
The golden rule exists in almost every religion. For me it is the true religion. Treat others as you wish to be treated.
Years ago my husband and his boys financed a scholarship fund in the name of his first wife. When my husband died we established one in his name. When my daughter was dying she requested that we begin a paid internship in her name at the Hartford Courant, where she was a business writer. We believe that education is the way to independence.
As you know, Jon I believe in self sufficiency but I also believe that we must help those in need. Not because it is written, but because it is the right thing to do. Good post....initiating discussion.
"Give a man a fish and he won't starve for a day. Teach a man how to fish and he won't starve for his entire life."
When my mon died in '73 we established a prisoners' rights fund in her name; it still aids law students as they take up cases for those wronged while in prison...the least among us.
Now hat our dad has died, we're establishing a teaching/discussion series in his name at our shul, the only one that architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed.
:)
Thanks for bearing w me, friend.
:)
Is there a role for government to support those down on there luck or physically or mentally unable to support themselves -absolutely-I think we differ about the point on the spectrum.
Imagine if we created an environment where those that needed a helping hand desired to contribute some day as they recovered from their misfortune?
R
Though provoking piece; thank you.
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It is bigger than that-I have a good friend who proudly exclaimed that his boss just told him he could file for unemployment and he will pay him under the table. $800.00 per month in MA. He now makes 7000.00 a month and none is taxed except by consumption.
He has two new cars and a 3500 sq ft home and a boat. He goes to Disney every year with his family. This is not an exception.
straight to the heart of the mediocre religious set.
Those who seek only safety from their sect.
The poor are always gonna be here..
This is not an ancient quote:
"The international community . . . allows nearly 3 billion people—almost half of all humanity—to subsist on $2 or less a day in a world of unprecedented wealth." Kofi Annan
ten yrs old.
to the ones in power who keep this profanity going for their benefit,
and the benefit of their own sons and daughters only,
i say, check the escatology.
If people give at the office (pay their fair share) then, the need to give to charity is for a majority,has already been met.
Thus, the impact of consciously opening up your purse and given with no thought of it's return is gone. There is the spiritual growth aspect that is now gone from the equation.
The Mormon religion, which is not a Christian religion (though they will try to convince you it i to gain one's approval) is a self-serving elite religion. It is also the richest church in America. Most of their membership isn't even privvy to the grand scheme to put a Mormon in the top office of government, seizing it to become a Theocracy -- more like Hitler's Germany than George Washington's Valley Forge.
According to my personal morality, to let someone go hungry or without medical care so another can have billions is wrong. Everything inside me tells me it's evil and I have the right to think and feel that about people who begrudge it. No one can make me change my inner guide of right and wrong so I side with Jesus on the poor.
Jay gets to have his own inner morality which can be lower than that of society if he chooses, we all make our own choices and are judged by them. I also have a personal morality about my good friends. I personally wouldn't be good friends with a criminal even if he was just a non-violent thief. I also wouldn't be friends with someone who lies and the maximum unemployment for MA is 653/wk or 2800/mo. I was on unemployment and every year the fed makes you pay income taxes on it using form 1099-G. I don't associate with crooks and liars because I don't want people who aren't crooks to know I'm okay with people like that. My nature is to be particular about who I associate with so I would not consider someone who steals, then lies to me a good person or good friend. I also suspect people who are good friends with crooks, that's just my nature.
I'm not surprised about the business owner as I've worked for quite a few skeezbags in addition to the fine bosses I've had. The last one got busted for wage theft twice but the state just made her pay up, just another skeez stealing from others but in glamorous silk suits. She donated a little of what she stole from others to her church so she's in good standing there. She ran the same scam with having people on unemployment and working supposedly "part time" for her. I refused and went in person to turn her in at the Labor Dept with two co-workers who also didn't want to steal. They had no method to handle it unless it was an employee stealing, so I called my State Representative. She's a business owner so it went no farther. To the State and church she's good, to me, she's just another skeezy crook.
Amos 8:4-6 You [are evil] who swallow up the needy, and make the poor of the land fail.
There are a lot of evil people around at many income levels. It's simply repulsive.
Saying I have chosen a lower morality (perhaps) is exactly what a certain business owner is getting attacked for on OS. But, it is okay for me to be judged in the same manner? Selective Discernment Syndrome.
Saying I have chosen a lower morality (perhaps) is exactly what a certain business owner is getting attacked for on OS. But, it is okay for me to be judged in the same manner? Selective Discernment Syndrome.
Ayn Rand
Oral Law is way older than that. Oral law was first compiled in written form by Yehuda HaNasi during Roman times, done because Roman limitations on Jewish education put it in danger of disappearing. The origins of Talmud, while later, are still pre-Medieval.
By the way, though rhere's a ton of material, the Hagaddah is a good source: "Let all who are hungry come and eat" recited at an open door.