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 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 sheetfor 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.
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.
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)
Global Justice: Peace and War
Just Warfare - Do Jews Have Holy War?: Just Warfare: Do Jews Have Holy War?
Genocide and Judaism: This source sheet is from the Beit Midrash event hosted by Uri L'Tzedek, STAND, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum on March 4th, 2009.
Sources on the obligation to prevent genocide in Darfur: Jewish obligations to Non-Jews (Edah), genocide in Darfur.pdf (104 kB)
War: Obligatory and Optional Combat: Reshut and Chova in War
Prisoners of War: Sources on prisoners of war.
World Reaction To The Shoah: This sourcesheet and this sourcesheet are from a shiur by Dr. David I. Bernstein, Dean of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Health and the Body
Sex Abuse - Rav Elyashiv's pesak: Yeshurun (Shaarei Halacha Pamphlet)
Sex, Power, and Abuse in the Orthodox Community: Agenda from a night of learning with Yeshivat Chovevei Torah and Uri L'Tzedek
Sex Abuse and Halakhah (Rabbi Mark Dratch - JSAFE):
How Does Jewish Law Define Sexual Abuse?
End of Life Issues (Rabbi Charles Sheer): Sources from the Uri L'Tzedek beit midrash on Healthcare, End-of-Life Issues, and Global Health.
Health Care and the Jewish Tradition: Health Care shiur (ADW).pdf (220,6 kB)
The following sourcesheets are from the series "Healthcare in Jewish Thought and Jewish Law,"
taught by Eytan Yammer at Hebrew Institute of White Plains in November 2009:
Doctors's Fees
Intro to Medical Issues Miniseries
Medical Sources
Triage
Sex Education-The Jewish and Social Justice Perspective: This shiur is by Aryeh Pelcovitz, Uri L'tzedek Intern.
Human Rights and Duties
Prison Reform from a Jewish Perspective: Revenge, Retribution, Rehabilitation: Mekorot from a shiur on prison reform.
Justice, Forgiveness, and Games: Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks on Parshat Noach
Netziv on Tolerance and Pluralism: Netziv on Tolerance and Pluralism
Halachic Sources on Gun Control: Gun_Control_Shiur.doc (112 kB)
Halachic Sources on Prison Reform: Prison Reform - Yanklowitz.pdf (639,5 kB)
Halachic Sources on Race: Race beit midrash - mekorot.doc (32,5 kB)
Halachic Sources on Tenants' Rights: Tenants shiur.doc (27 kB)
Halachic Sources on Voting: Voting (obligation or permitted).doc (83,5 kB)
Humanity and Divinity (Diversity): diversity_sources_uri.pdf (118,5 kB)
Mitzvot for the Hearing Impaired (Joey Pick): This is the source sheet for Joey Pick's shiur on hearing aids and mitzvot.
Poetry as Protest: Source Packet.doc (3,3 MB)
Sex Slavery in the Torah: Sex Slavery in the Torah.doc (99,5 kB)
Poverty and Financial Ethics
Chillul Hashem: Jewish Business Ethics: Chillul Hashem: Jewish Business Ethics
Accountability and Transparency: This sourcesheet comes from a shiur given by Rabbi Ysoscher Katz on Accountability and Transparency.
Halachic Sources on Lending and Microfinance: Lending (192,4 kB)
Poverty in Tanach: poverty in tanach.pdf (192,5 kB)
Poverty Sources: poverty_sources_uri.pdf (140,6 kB)
Taxes and Tzedakah: This is Rabbi Josh Yuter's shiur on taxes and tzedakah, delivered on Shavuot of last year. Taxes and Tzedakah (Yuter).pdf (324,3 kB)
King Munbaz text: This text serves to foster a discussion on self-fulfillment, tzedakah, and responsibility. King Munbaz text (ULT).pdf
Social Action and Circles of Responsibility
Love The Stranger is by Dani Passow, a student at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah and Chief Compliance Officer of the Tav HaYosher.
This sourcesheet comes from Rabbi Dov Linzer, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah.
Workers' Rights
The Ger Toshav and Immigration Rights: This shiur is by Laura Berger, a student a Fordham Law School studying immigration rights and human rights law.
Halachic Sources on Immigration: Immigration shiur.doc (108,5 kB)
Halachic Sources on Labor Rights: Jewish Labor Committee: Readings on Traditional Jewish texts on Labor and Worker Rights
Halachic Sources on Workers' Rights: workers rights shiur.doc (270,5 kB)
Worker Protest and Organizing in the Jewish Tradition: This is the sourcesheet for the shiur ""STRIKE: Worker Protest and Organizing in the Jewish Tradition."
