רִבִּי יַעֲקֹב בַּר אָחָא בְשֵׁם רִבִּי יָסָא. לְעוֹלָם אֵין הָעוֹלָם עוֹמֵד אֶלָּא עַל הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת. תַּמָּן תַּנִּינָן. שִׁמְעוֹן הַצַּדִּיק הָיָה מִשְּׁיֵרֵי כְנֶסֶת הַגְּדוֹלָה. הוּא הָיָה אוֹמֵר. עַל שְׁלשָׁה דְבָרִים הָעוֹלָם עוֹמֵד. עַל הַתּוֹרָה וְעַל הָעֲבוֹדָה וְעַל גְּמִילוּת חֲסָדִים׃ וּשְׁלָשְׁתָּן בְּפָסוּק אֶחָד. וָֽאָשִׂ֤ים דְּבָרַי֙ בְּפִ֔יךָ. זוֹ תוֹרָה. וּבְצֵ֥ל יָדִ֖י כִּסִּיתִ֑יךָ. זֶה גְמִילּוּת חֲסָדִים. לְלַמְּדָךְ שֶׁכָּל־מִי שֶׁהוּא עָסוּק בַּתּוֹרָה וּבִגְמִילּוּת חֲסָדִים זָכָה לֵישֵׁיב בְּצִילּוֹ שֶׁלְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא. הָדָא הִיא דִכְתִיב מַה־יָּקָ֥ר חַסְדְּךָ֗ אֱ֫לֹהִ֥ים וּבְנֵי֥ אָדָ֑ם בְּצֵ֥ל כְּ֜נָפֶ֗יךָ יֶחֱסָיֽוּן׃ לִנְטוֹעַ שָׁמַ֨יִם֨ וְלִיסוֹד אָ֔רֶץ. אֶלֶּא הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת. וְלֵאמֹ֥ר לְצִיּ֖וֹן עַמִּי־אָֽתָּה׃ אֵילּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל. אָמַר רִבִּי חִינְנָא בַּר פָּפָּא. חִיזַּרְנוּ עַל כָּל־הַמִּקְרָא וְלָא מָצָאנוּ שֶׁיִּקְרְאוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל צִיּוֹן אֶלָּא זֶה. וְלֵאמֹ֥ר לְצִיּ֖וֹן עַמִּי־אָֽתָּה׃ תַּמָּן תַּנִּינָן. רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אוֹמֵר. עַל שְׁלשָׁה דְבָרִים הָעוֹלָם עוֹמֵד. עַל הַדִּין וְעַל הָאֱמֶת וְהַשָּׁלוֹם. וּשְׁלָשְׁתָּן דָּבָר אֶחָד הֵן. נַעֲשֶׂה הַדִּין נַעֲשֶׂה אֱמֶת. נַעֲשֶׂה אֱמֶת נַעֲשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם. וְאָמַר רִבִּי מָנָא. שְׁלָשְׁתָּן בְּפָסוּק אֶחָד. אֱמֶת וּמִשְׁפַּט שָׁלוֹם שִׁפְטוּ בְּשַׁעֲרֵיכֶם׃
Rebbi Jacob bar Aḥa in the name of Rebbi Yasa: The world only continues to exist by the sacrifices. There, we stated: “Simeon the Just was of the remainders of the Great Assembly. He used to say, the world continues to exist by three things, by the Torah, by worship, and by labors of love” All three are in one verse: I shall put My word in your mouth, that is Torah. By the shadow of My hands I shall cover you, these are labors of love; to teach you that he who is occupied with Torah and labors of love merits to dwell in the shadow of the Holy One, praise to Him. That is what is written, how precious is Your grace, o God, and humans take shelter in Your wings’ shadow. To plant the Heavens and give foundation to the earth, these are the sacrifices, and to say to Zion, you are My people, these are Israel. Rebbi Ḥinena bar Pappa said, we went over all of Scripture and only found this one that Israel was called Zion, and to say to Zion, you are My people. There, we stated: “Rabban Simeon ben Gamliel says, the world is existing on three things, on justice, on truth, and on peace. All three are one: If justice is done, truth is accomplished. If truth is accomplished, peace is established. Rebbi Mana said, and all are in one verse, judge truth and law of peace in your gates.
אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק, שְׁנֵי דְּבָרִים בִּימִינוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, צְדָקָה וְתוֹרָה, צְדָקָה דִּכְתִיב (תהלים מח, יא): צֶדֶק מָלְאָה יְמִינֶךָ. תּוֹרָה, דִּכְתִיב (דברים לג, ב): מִימִינוֹ אֵשׁ דָּת לָמוֹ. שְׁנֵי דְבָרִים בְּיָדוֹ, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן: הַנֶּפֶשׁ וְהַדִּין. הַנֶּפֶשׁ, דִּכְתִיב (איוב יב, י): אֲשֶׁר בְּיָדוֹ נֶפֶשׁ כָּל חָי. וְהָדֵין, דִּכְתִיב: וְתֹאחֵז בְּמִשְׁפָּט יָדִי. אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא הַנֶּפֶשׁ וְהַדִּין נְתוּנִים בְּיָדִי, שִׁמְרוּ אֶת הַדִּין וַאֲנִי אֶשְׁמֹר נַפְשׁוֹתֵיכֶם
Devarim Rabbah 5:4
Said Rabbi Yitzchak: Two things are in God's hands-- the soul and justice. The soul, as it is written: "In God's hand is every living soul" (Job 12:10). Justice, as it is written: "My hand lays hold on judgment" (Deut. 32:41). Says the Holy One: "You watch out for justice and I will watch over your souls."
-Translation from Siddur Sim Shalom for Weekdays, 9.
(יז) כָּל מַחֲלֹקֶת שֶׁהִיא לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם, סוֹפָהּ לְהִתְקַיֵּם. וְשֶׁאֵינָהּ לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם, אֵין סוֹפָהּ לְהִתְקַיֵּם. אֵיזוֹ הִיא מַחֲלֹקֶת שֶׁהִיא לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם, זוֹ מַחֲלֹקֶת הִלֵּל וְשַׁמַּאי. וְשֶׁאֵינָהּ לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם, זוֹ מַחֲלֹקֶת קֹרַח וְכָל עֲדָתוֹ:
(17) Every dispute that is for the sake of Heaven, will in the end endure; But one that is not for the sake of Heaven, will not endure. Which is the controversy that is for the sake of Heaven? Such was the controversy of Hillel and Shammai. And which is the controversy that is not for the sake of Heaven? Such was the controversy of Korah and all his congregation.
(ה) וְלָמָּה מַזְכִּירִין דִּבְרֵי הַיָּחִיד בֵּין הַמְרֻבִּין, הוֹאִיל וְאֵין הֲלָכָה אֶלָּא כְדִבְרֵי הַמְרֻבִּין. שֶׁאִם יִרְאֶה בֵית דִּין אֶת דִּבְרֵי הַיָּחִיד וְיִסְמֹךְ עָלָיו, שֶׁאֵין בֵּית דִּין יָכוֹל לְבַטֵּל דִּבְרֵי בֵית דִּין חֲבֵרוֹ עַד שֶׁיִּהְיֶה גָדוֹל מִמֶּנּוּ בְחָכְמָה וּבְמִנְיָן. הָיָה גָדוֹל מִמֶּנּוּ בְחָכְמָה אֲבָל לֹא בְמִנְיָן, בְּמִנְיָן אֲבָל לֹא בְחָכְמָה, אֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לְבַטֵּל דְּבָרָיו, עַד שֶׁיִּהְיֶה גָדוֹל מִמֶּנּוּ בְחָכְמָה וּבְמִנְיָן:
(5) And why do they record the opinion of a single person among the many, when the halakhah must be according to the opinion of the many? So that if a court prefers the opinion of the single person it may depend on him. For no court may set aside the decision of another court unless it is greater than it in wisdom and in number. If it was greater than it in wisdom but not in number, in number but not in wisdom, it may not set aside its decision, unless it is greater than it in wisdom and in number.
Exodus 22:20 states, "You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt," and in Exodus 23:9, the Torah proclaims, "You shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the feelings of a stranger, having yourselves been strangers in the land of Egypt." The attitudes contained in these passages indicate that the experience of oppression demands sensitivity and response on the part of Jews to the need of others. They reveal a wide-ranging philosophy that lies at the heart of Judaism and embody a crucial teaching that is instructive and determinative for the formulation of Jewish actions and deeds.
- David Ellenson, "Laws and Judgments as a 'Bridge to a Better World,' Parashat Mishpatim (Exod. 21:1 - 24:18)" in Gregg Drinkwater, et. al., Eds., Torah Queeries: Weekly Commentaries on the Hebrew Bible. (New York: New York University Press, 2009), 99-100.
Jacob ben Asher (the Tur), Arba'ah Turim (14th C.)
How much do we give to the poor? "Sufficient for what he lacks, according to what he is lacking." How does one do this? If he is hungry, and needs food, you should feed him. If he is naked and needs clothing, you should clothe him. If he has no utensils, you should buy him utensils. If, when he was rich, it was his custom to. ride on a horse with a servant running in front of him, once he has become poor, you should buy him a horse on which to ride and a slave to run in front of him. Similarly, you should give each person sufficient for his need.
משנה תורה הִלְכּוֹת מְזוּזָה ו:א
עֲשָׂרָה תְּנָאִין יֵשׁ בַּבַּיִת, וְאַחַר כָּךְ יִתְחַיַּב הַדָּר בּוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת לוֹ מְזוּזָה, וְאִם חָסֵר תְּנָאי אֶחָד מֵהֶן, פָּטוּר מִן הַמְּזוּזָה; וְאֵלּוּ הֶן: שֶׁיִּהְיֶה בּוֹ אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת עַל אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת אוֹ יָתֵר, וְשֶׁיִּהְיֶה לוֹ שְׁתֵּי מְזוּזוֹת, וְיִהְיֶה לוֹ מַשְׁקוֹף, וְתִהְיֶה לוֹ תַּקְרָה, וְיִהְיוּ לוֹ דְּלָתוֹת, וְיִהְיֶה גֹּבַהּ הַשַּׁעַר עֲשָׂרָה טְפָחִים אוֹ יָתֵר, וְיִהְיֶה בֵּית חֹל, וְיִהְיֶה עָשׂוּי לְדִירַת אָדָם, וְעָשׂוּי לְדִירַת כָּבוֹד, וְעָשׂוּי לְדִירַת קְבָע.
Rambam, Mishneh Torah: Hilchot Tefillin u'Mezzuza 6:1
There are ten conditions that a house must meet in order for the resident to be obligated to put up a mezuzah and if it fails to meet any one of these conditions, [the resident] is not obligated to put up a mezuzah, and these are: It must be at least four amot (cubits) (1 amah = 18 inches) by four amot. It must have two doorposts. It must have a lintel. (horizontal structure spanning the opening). It must have a roof. It must have doors. The gate must be ten t’fachim (handbreaths) (1 tefach = 3 inches) or higher. It must be for ordinary purposes. It must be made as a place for people to live. It must be made as an honorable place. It must be made as a permanent place.
-Translation by Rabbi Jill Jacobs, There Shall Be No Needy: Pursuing Social Justice through Jewish Law and Tradition (Jewish Lights Publishing, 2009), 145.
אֵין מְמַחִין בְּיַד עֲנִיֵּי גוֹיִם בְּלֶקֶט בְּשִׁכְחָה וּבְפֵאָה מִפְּנֵי דַּרְכֵי שָׁלוֹם תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן מְפַרְנְסִים עֲנִיֵּי גוֹיִם עִם עֲנִיֵּי יִשְׂרָאֵל וּמְבַקְּרִין חוֹלֵי גוֹיִם עִם חוֹלֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְקוֹבְרִין מֵתֵי גוֹיִם עִם מֵתֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִפְּנֵי דַּרְכֵי שָׁלוֹם
The mishna teaches: One does not protest against poor gentiles who come to take gleanings, forgotten sheaves, and the produce in the corner of the field, which is given to the poor [pe’a], although they are meant exclusively for the Jewish poor, on account of the ways of peace. Similarly, the Sages taught in a baraita (Tosefta 5:4): One sustains poor gentiles along with poor Jews, and one visits sick gentiles along with sick Jews, and one buries dead gentiles along with dead Jews. All this is done on account of the ways of peace, to foster peaceful relations between Jews and gentiles.
The mussar, allegorical lesson conveyed by the lights of the menorah is us that only by the “right” side representing preoccupation with eternal values, life in the future, working together with the “left” side which represents the concerns with physical life on our planet, will we be able to attain our purpose on earth. Our sages in Chulin 92 phrased it thus: אלמלי עלייא לא מתקיימא אתכליא, “if not for the input from celestial regions, spiritual input, the creatures on earth would not be able to survive at all.” [I have not found this precise quote, but it means more literally that if there were no wise people who could tutor the ignorant, the world as we know it would collapse. Ed.] In order for this universe to function as G’d wanted it to, all social levels of the people have to make their respective contributions.
A major function of the combined activity by the “tutored and the ignorant” is to ensure that G’d’s name would be hailed, revered and enthusiastically acknowledged by every segment of mankind, all of His creatures. An example of such a thing happening is found in Exodus 19,8 ויענו כל העם יחדו ויאמרו כל אשר דבר ה' נעשה, the emphasis here being on the word יחדו, i.e. all the people in unison would combine to carry out G’d’s will.