The Peaceful Judaism Faith: Practices And Principles

how do the judaism faith practice being peaceful

Judaism is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion that comprises the collective spiritual, cultural, and legal traditions of the Jewish people. The concept of peace is central to Judaism, and it is one of the three key Jewish values, along with truth and justice.

The Hebrew word for peace is 'shalom', which is derived from one of the names of God. The root meaning of the word is 'completeness' and 'perfection', implying that true peace, in Jewish terms, is a state of calm, security, prosperity, and a general feeling of physical and spiritual well-being.

The pursuit of peace is a key principle in Jewish law, and Jewish texts overwhelmingly endorse compassion and peace. The Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, provides guidelines for how to fight a war, including the pursuit of peace before waging war, preserving ecological needs, and maintaining sensitivity to human life.

While Judaism permits waging war and killing in certain cases, it also contains a number of doctrines that eschew violence and condemn normative violence.

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The Hebrew word for peace, 'shalom', means 'completeness' and 'perfection'

The Hebrew word for peace, shalom, means completeness and perfection. It is derived from one of the names of God and implies that according to Judaism and the teachings of the Torah, only when there is a true state of "wholeness" meaning that everything is "complete" does true "peace" reign. In the Bible, shalom means "well-being" or "prosperity," not just "peace." It is a blessing, a manifestation of divine grace.

Shalom is a greeting and a farewell. It is a blessing and a wish for another's well-being. It is used to inquire about someone's state of being. It is a sense of well-being and harmony, both within and without. It is completeness, wholeness, peace, health, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquility, prosperity, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord, a state of calm without anxiety or stress.

Shalom is also used to refer to the absence of conflict between people, nations, and between God and man. It is the hallmark of the future messianic kingdom.

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Peace is one of the three key Jewish values, along with truth and justice

Judaism is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion that comprises the collective spiritual, cultural, and legal traditions of the Jewish people. The concept of peace is central to Judaism, and it is one of the three key Jewish values, along with truth and justice.

The Hebrew word for peace, 'Shalom', comes from a root meaning 'completeness' and 'perfection'. In Jewish terms, peace means calm, security, prosperity, and a general feeling of physical and spiritual well-being. According to Rabbi Simeon ben Gamliel, these three things preserve the world.

The Torah, Tanakh, and related literature extensively write about peace and its opposite states. The Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, is a core text of Jewish religious doctrine. The Talmud, a collection of teachings and commentaries on the Torah, permits deviation from the truth in the interest of peace.

The pursuit of peace is a key principle in Jewish law, and Jewish tradition permits waging war and killing in self-defence or certain other cases. However, the requirement is to always seek a just peace before waging war.

The Jewish obligation to pursue peace is reflected in the idea of 'Tikkun Olam', which recognises that true peace is part of a totality that includes justice and compassion. This concept is a call to action to repair the world through social action, with each act of kindness contributing to building a new world.

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Judaism is not pacifist, but it does reject normative violence

Judaism is not a pacifist religion, but it does reject normative violence. While Jewish law permits and sometimes requires war, it also contains teachings that eschew violence. The philosophy of nonviolence has roots in Judaism, going back to the Jerusalem Talmud of the middle third century.

Jewish law (past and present) does not permit any use of violence unless it is in self-defence. Any person that even raises their hand to strike another person is called "evil". Jewish war ethics attempts to balance the value of maintaining human life with the necessity of fighting a war. Judaism demands adherence to Jewish values even while fighting a war. The Torah provides rules for how to fight a war, including pursuing peace before waging war, preserving the ecological needs of the environment, and maintaining sensitivity to human life.

The Hebrew word for peace, 'shalom', denotes a sense of completion, perfection, and prosperity. It is derived from one of the names of God. In the Bible, 'shalom' means 'well-being' or 'prosperity', not just 'peace'. According to Jewish tradition, the Messianic Era will be one of global peace and harmony, an era free of strife and hardship.

The minimisation of violence is considered a Jewish value. When war is declared, the Torah requires that peace be offered before commencing an attack. In addition, the rabbis of the Talmud established parameters for discretionary wars of aggression that make them virtually impossible to declare today.

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The Torah provides rules for how to fight a war

Judaism is not a pacifist religion, and it acknowledges that war is an inevitable part of human existence. However, the Torah and other Jewish texts provide rules and guidelines for how to fight a war, emphasising the importance of peace and minimising violence.

Firstly, the Torah requires that peace be offered before waging war. According to Deuteronomy, an offer of peace must be made to any city under siege, on the condition that they accept terms of tribute. This rule is further emphasised by the story of Moses, who, upon seeing a Jew striking another in Egypt, asked, "Why do you hit your fellow?". This story highlights the importance of pursuing peace and avoiding violence, even when conflict seems inevitable.

The Torah also provides guidelines for the conduct of war, including the preservation of the ecological needs of the environment and sensitivity to human life. Jewish law prohibits outright vandalism and the destruction of fruit trees, as well as breaking vessels, tearing clothing, stopping fountains, and wasting food. These rules demonstrate the importance of minimising destruction and maintaining respect for human life, even in the midst of war.

The Talmud, a collection of teachings and commentaries on the Torah, further expands on these guidelines. It establishes parameters for discretionary wars of aggression, making them virtually impossible to declare in the modern era. For example, the Talmud requires that the Sanhedrin, the traditional Jewish high court, be consulted before declaring a discretionary war. Additionally, the urim v’tumim, the priestly breastplate and oracle, must be consulted to determine the probability of victory, which is no longer possible as the urim v’tumim no longer exist.

The Talmud also provides exemptions from military service for certain individuals, such as those who are fearful or tender-hearted, as well as those in the midst of a significant life event like a wedding or the dedication of a new home. These exemptions recognise the psychological and emotional toll of war and aim to maintain the morale of the army.

Overall, while Judaism acknowledges the inevitability of war, it provides a comprehensive set of rules and guidelines in the Torah and other texts to ensure that wars are fought with sensitivity, respect for human life, and a constant pursuit of peace.

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Jewish law prohibits the use of outright vandalism in warfare

Judaism is not a pacifist religion, and it does permit violence in self-defence. However, Jewish law prohibits the use of outright vandalism in warfare. This is based on the principle of 'Bal Tashchit', which means 'thou shalt not destroy'. The relevant passage in Deuteronomy reads:

> When thou shalt besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by wielding an ax against them; for thou mayest eat of them, but thou shalt not cut them down; for is the tree of the field man, that it should be besieged of thee? Only the trees which thou knowest that they are not trees for food, them thou mayest destroy and cut down; and thou shalt build bulwarks against the city that maketh war with thee, until it fall.

This passage is interpreted to mean that the destruction of fruit trees, and by extension, the destruction of property in general, is forbidden in Jewish law. The Talmudic and Midrashic traditions extend this prohibition to include the destruction of almost everything else:

> And not only trees, but whoever breaks vessels, tears clothing, wrecks that which is built up, stops fountains, or wastes food in a destructive manner, transgresses the commandment of Bal Tashchit, but his punishment is only flogging by rabbinic edict.

Additionally, it is forbidden to kill an animal needlessly or to offer poisoned water to livestock.

There are, however, a few exceptions to this rule. For example, the destruction of trees is permitted if they are used to construct a siege or to deprive the enemy of wood. Also, non-fruit-bearing trees must be used first if wood is needed.

The principle of 'Bal Tashchit' is based on the idea that wanton destruction or vandalism goes against the Jewish values of compassion and peace. As the Midrash collection Sifre states:

> The whole Torah was given in order to promote peace in the world.

Frequently asked questions

The Hebrew word for peace is "shalom", which is derived from one of the names of God. It implies a sense of "wholeness" or completeness. In Judaism, peace is not merely the absence of war but an ideal state of affairs.

The love of peace and the pursuit of peace is one of the key principles in Jewish law. While Jewish tradition permits war and killing in certain cases, the requirement is that one always seeks a just peace before waging war.

There are many teachings and guidelines in the Torah that promote peace. For example, Deuteronomy 20:10 states: "When you come near a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace to it". Another example is Proverbs 3:17, which says: "Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace".

Judaism has many teachings that discourage violence. For instance, Jewish law prohibits the destruction of fruit trees as a tactic of war. It also forbids breaking vessels, tearing clothing, and other forms of needless destruction. In addition, Jewish soldiers are expected to abide by specific laws and values when fighting, such as preserving the ecological needs of the environment and maintaining sensitivity to human life.

Judaism promotes inter-faith understanding and peace by emphasising the equality of all human beings. For example, the book of Leviticus states: "You shall neither take revenge from nor bear a grudge against the members of your people; you shall love your neighbour as yourself. I am the Lord".

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