The Jewish concept of justice

L IKE CHRISTIANITY, JUDAISM TEACHES THAT GOD wishes humankind to pursue justice and mercy, to have a proper regard for each person and to make a contribution towards the emergence of a better social order. This is a theme that is commonly found in the Hebrew Bible and, of course, is well attested in the New Testament and later Christian writings. The purpose of this article is to examine the biblical concept in more detail and to consider how it has been understood in the interpretations of the rabbis as documented in the rabbinic literature. What do the ancient rabbis mean when they say that the Torah begins and ends with justice? (Exodus Rabbah 30:19). In addition, we will discuss the relevance of the Jewish understanding of justice in society today and, as a case study, I refer to the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It seems appropriate to begin this study with a quotation from the written Torah, for the Jewish emphasis on justice finds its root with biblical statements such as, 'justice, justice you shall pursue' (Deut 16:20). We might also refer to Psalm 119:137-144 which explains that establishment of justice is the purpose of many of the commandments: