Justice, Justice, Shalt Thou Pursue

by Rabbi Benjamin Blech

There is a difference between punishment and vengeance.

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The Bible commands the pursuit of justice. Punishment is not vengeance. It is making a statement of principle. To condone wickedness is to encourage it. And so the world that had sinned with both deed and with silence strove to redress its wrongs after the defeat of Nazi Germany. To its credit, the civilized world regained its voice in the post World War II era.

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from: "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Jewish History and Culture," p. 266, by Rabbi Benjamin Blech, Alpha Books, New York, 1999

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VISITORS COMMENTS: 1

(1) GRAHAM R-B, 11/1/2008
Pursuit of Peace
It seems that though we are instructed to 'pursue justice 'there is no stress laid on us to pursue peace. While we may desire Peace we are not obligated to pursue it. We simply pray for it as though
Peace is the Almighty's to grant or withhold.

If we pursue justice and our neighbors do too, peace will follow.

About the author:

Rabbi Benjamin Blech

Rabbi Benjamin Blech is the author of 12 highly acclaimed books, including Understanding Judaism: The basics of Deed and Creed. He is a professor of Talmud at Yeshiva University and the Rabbi Emeritus of Young Israel of Oceanside which he served for 37 years and from which he retired to pursue his interests in writing and lecturing around the globe. He is also the author of "If God is Good, Why is the World So Bad?"

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