Activism and Torah

Lifeboat Ethics: Rabbi Akiva vs. Ben Petura - by Rav Elyakim Krumbein, translated and adapted by Rav Eliezer Kwass: Lifeboat Ethics: Rabbi Akiva vs. Ben Petura

Jewish Values in a Changing World - by Rav Yehuda Amital, translated by David Strauss:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Derekh Eretz-Being A Mensch: These sources are from HaRav Yehuda Amital and were compiled by Aryeh Pelcovitz.

Community Organizing in Sefer Shemot: organizing with moshe text.pdf (107,2 kB)

Encountering the Other: the Importance of Relationships in Social Justice: This is the source sheet for the shiur, "The Encounter with the Other & The Importance of Relationships in Torah Social Justice -- The Biblical and Rabbinic Moral Constructions of the Other as Family, Enemy, Stranger, Self, and G-d," given by Shmuly Yanklowitz at Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun.

If He Saw or Knew: Social Protest and Responsibility in the Jewish Tradition: social_protest_uri.pdf (115,6 kB)

Poetry as Protest: Writing Inspiration This workshop comes from "Poetry as Protest II: Writing Justice," an event sponsored by Uri L'tzedek, Mima'amakim, and Pardes. 

Social Change in the Torah - Zrizut or Savlanut: This sourcesheet was used in a shiur delivered by Shmuly Yanklowitz at the YCT Yom Iyun.

Social Justice in the Torah - Intro: Social justice intro (Rachel Rosenthal's mekorot).doc.pdf (92,8 kB)

The Dos and Don'ts of Torah: DosAndDonts.doc (281 kB) 

Humanitarian Aid: This shiur is about giving humanitarian aid as a Jewish value. 

Modesty and Humility: Part 1 and Part 2 in a shiur on "Modesty and Humility in Jewish Leadership" by Noah Cheses.

Judaism in the Public Square: This shiur is by Rabbi Josh Yuter.

Exploring the role of social action in Judaism, by Rabbi Dov Linzer:

Social Action - Mandate or Mixed Message.pdf (193,5 kB)

Is there a Jewish Social Action.pdf (229,5 kB)

Can We Legislate Desire?: This shiur is by Seth Aronson.

Judaism and a Social Justice Ethic: This shiur is by Rabbi Yamin Levy.


Agunot

Who Divorces Whom? This shiur is from Yaffa Epstein of the Pardes Institute for Jewish Studies in Jerusalem.

Ethical Consumerism

Ethical Consumerism @ BU: Shmuly Yanklowitz gave a talk on "Ethical Consumerism: Desire, Responsibility, and the Good Society" on Sunday, March 1st at the Boston University Hillel. This is the source sheet: Ethics of Consumerism (Yom Iyun Shiur).pdf (173,2 kB)

Halachic Sources on Blood Diamonds: Blood Diamonds (mekorot and packet) Blood Diamonds.doc (94,5 kB)

Halachic Sources on Copyrights: Copyright Chaburah.doc (165 kB) and Copyright Chaburah 2.doc (106,5 kB)

Employee Ethics: This shiur is by Dani Passow, rabbinical student at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah and Chief Compliance Officer of the Tav HaYosher.

Halakhic Sources on Ethical Consumption: Ethical Consumption Packet

Torah Consumer Responsibility: This shiur is by Ezra Fishman.

Food Justice and the Environment

Environmentalism and Judaism: This source sheet is from the Beit Midrash hosted with HAZON in March 2009 at Mt. Sinai in Washington Heights. judaism_and_environmentalism.doc (133 kB)

Ethical Kashrut: Ethical Kashrut (Philly Limmud, 2009).pdf (185 kB)

Food and Justice: This source sheet is from the Beit Midrash on "Food Sources: Do They Matter?" by Adina Luber.

Food and Torah: Food and Torah (Rachel Rosenthal's sources).doc.pdf (173,8 kB)

Sources on Ethical Kashrut: Ethical Kashrut (Brandeis, November 2008).doc (86,5 kB)

Sources on the Tav HaYosher: Tav Sourcesheet.doc (130,5 kB)