{"id":59171,"date":"2021-01-22T17:00:19","date_gmt":"2021-01-22T23:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/?p=59171"},"modified":"2021-01-22T17:00:57","modified_gmt":"2021-01-22T23:00:57","slug":"off-the-pulpit-american-law-and-jewish-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/off-the-pulpit-american-law-and-jewish-law\/","title":{"rendered":"Off the Pulpit: American Law and Jewish Law"},"content":{"rendered":"

By RABBI DAVID WOLPE<\/p>\n

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As with all such generalities, there are many exceptions. But everywhere in Jewish law is the question of what I owe to others and what I owe to God. Ramban wrote that one can be \u201ca scoundrel with the permission of the Torah\u201d \u2013 in other words, one can formally obey the rules of the Torah and yet be an unkind person. In truth, it would not be easy; general prohibitions such as \u201cyou shall be holy\u201d (Lev<\/em>.19:2) on which verse Ramban first made that comment, exist to instruct us to be better than mere rote observance.<\/p>\n

Therefore, when questions arise of social accommodations such as, \u201cshould I wear a mask when near someone who might be afraid of the virus?\u201d or \u201cDo I have to let this pedestrian walk when I my car has the right of way?\u201d as Americans some react with an assertion of our freedom. Judaism would have us prioritize kindness and consideration. \u201cLove your neighbor as yourself\u201d may not be in the constitution, but it is in the Torah.<\/p>\n

(Rabbi David Wolpe is the senior rabbi of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles.)<\/em><\/p>\n

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