“JUSTICE, JUSTICE SHALL you pursue” (Deuteronomy 16:20). The Jewish Bible, the Tanach, repeatedly tells us to pursue justice, take care of the poor, the hungry, have compassion for the stranger in our midst and to always treat others as we would want to be treated.
Pursuing justice is woven throughout the Tanach, the Jewish Bible. The rock upon which Judaism rests is making sure leaders do not speak just for those with power or wealth, but rather to protect the needs of the most vulnerable.
Judaism has always taught that those who are powerless — the poor, the sick, the homeless and the refugee — are the ones that need a shield against greed and raw political power, and, as Jews, we must always put those principles into action.
The job of religious leaders in all faith traditions is to help people understand what their sacred texts teach about leading a holy life.
Sometimes, what they tell us can be uncomfortable to hear, making us feel uneasy and even a bit guilty. This, too, is a necessary function of religious leaders, to make people think about their actions and hopefully spur them into making changes so their lives more closely match their faith.
Our secular leaders, like politicians and judges, are also enjoined to seek justice and compassion for people.
In the Torah portion Shoftim (Deuteronomy 15:18-21:9), which means “Judges,” Moses reminds judges that they are charged with upholding justice, cannot take bribes, show favoritism or engage in any form of corruption.
We are taught that judges are the bulwark for those seeking unfair advantage over the less fortunate, and our democratic system is based on that principle.
Rabbi Rick Jacobs adds, “The judge has to be wise, humble, and god-fearing, meaning a sense that there’s something larger than them. A judge must have a hatred of money, so as not to be swayed by the possibility of monetary gain. Judges must have a love of truth, amiability, a kind of open-heartedness … and be a person of good reputation.”
All leaders, secular and religious, must be bold in demanding justice and compassion for everyone in society, no matter their status or influence. Sometimes, it takes courage to speak up when those in power become more concerned with what benefits them rather than helping those less fortunate.
Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, clearly understands her role as a religious leader. By speaking truth to power, she reminded the congregation at a service after the inauguration, which included the president, of what is at the heart of not only her faith, but all religious traditions — love, compassion, justice and mercy.
Some accused her of injecting politics into the service. But there was nothing political about her encouraging people to follow what God expects of us as taught in Micah 6:8: “And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
When people demanded Budde apologize, she refused, explaining, “I don’t feel there’s a need to apologize for a request for mercy.”
The bishop was not afraid to be a courageous religious leader in order to teach us all a lesson we need to hear at this time when so many are preaching hate. Even if it makes us uncomfortable, we always need a reminder of how we should live a more holy life as God intends.
May we all dedicate ourselves to making this plea in Amos 5:34 become a reality: “Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an everflowing stream.”
Then together we can create a world based on what religious leaders everywhere have always envisioned.
Kein yehi ratzon … may it be God’s will. Shalom.
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Issues of Faith is a rotating column by religious leaders on the North Olympic Peninsula. Suzanne DeBey is a lay leader of the Port Angeles Jewish community. Her email is debeyfam@olympus.net.
