Judaism considers the “full” life to be more in the dimension of ethical conduct among men than in that of religious worship. The “hasid” (the man who does “hesed,” mercy) is one who has a generous and altruistic character in his relationship with his fellow men, as opposed to one who is very meticulous and observant in fulfilling only his duties of worship. There are two types of obligations imposed on the Jew: obligations toward God and obligations toward his fellow man. Judaism demands that he fulfill both without distinguishing between them, as we see constantly in the texts of the Torah where they are intertwined, such as in Exodus 22 and 23.

It is more difficult in Judaism to measure and value man’s obligations toward his fellow man than man’s obligations toward God. We know that man’s social responsibilities are derived from the divine commandments in the Torah. Thus, on the one hand, man’s obligations towards his family and society are based on the golden rule: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:18). It is God who validates and commands loving your neighbor. But, on the other hand, the Talmud clearly tells us that the man to man commandments are largely independent of the man to God commandments. Thus, for example, it establishes that fasting and praying on Yom Kippur only absolves man’s sins against God, but not those he committed against another person. These are only forgiven by God when you have made amends and obtained forgiveness from the individual you offended (BT Yoma 87a).

What a purely religious sin really is, is an act of disobedience to a commandment given by a Higher Being. An offense in the world of social ethics is a lack of kindness, a refusal to want to relate ethically with another human being. And this is not only in the case of one-on-one relationships, but also in the relationship with the family, the community, the state and all of humanity. Judaism is especially distinguished from other religions by its great concern for the community.

It is clear that Western man has become increasingly individualistic. But when the Torah was given to us at Mount Sinai, that covenant obliged all Jews, in all times, all those who form that entity called the People of Israel to fulfill it. That covenant implies living life in a “full” way.

By Marcos Gojman.

Bibliography: “The Good Society, Jewish Ethics in Action” by Norman Lamm.