What is the Jewish view justice and righteousness?

Answer 1

Judaism teaches that it is the responsibility of all societies to create just and fair legal systems. In terms of righteousness, this is achieved through our actions, to do good simply for the sake of doing good.

Answer:

We do good not just for the sake of doing good, but because the Torah commands it, in order that we should imitate the ways of God (Deuteronomy 8:6).

Answer 2

The protection of the rights of all human beings, irrespective of race, color, creed, nationality, or language, is central to any conception of justice. The state of human rights in a nation is directly related to national and international security, and this indicates that justice is a condition for security and peace. Justice can be defined as the morally correct state of persons and their affairs. It is a virtue enjoined by religions and honored by the wisdom of generations.

David S. Maddison states that the foundation of Judaism is the Tanakh, an acronym based on the letters T (for Torah), N (for Neviim, or the prophets), and K (for Ketuvim, or the sacred writings). To the Jews, the Tanakhis "the compendium of the teachings of God to human beings in document form."

And according to information from Judaism 101, the Torah, consisting of the five books of Moses, is Judaism's holiest book; but the Talmud, comprising a body of jurisprudence written in a later period by the sages of Judaism, is considered "the Oral Torah." Thus, the Tanakh and the Talmud serve as the foundation of the legal system of Judaism known as the Halakhah, which has been in force among the Jews for centuries and is still honored by the orthodox followers of Judaism .Jewish apologists often say that Judaism is a universal religion that does not claim any superiority for Jews over others. This is quite at variance with their belief that they are "God's chosen people," because "God offered the Torah to all the nations of the earth, and the Jews were the only ones who accepted it," and so "Jews have a special status in the eyes of God".

However , you question "a Jewish person" which is rather personal and can differ , depending on there personality & politics.

Answer 3

Social Justice and ethics

• Judaism has an all-enveloping and passionate dedication to the ideal of justice. The moral imperatives of justice, ethics and morality were taught by the Torah and the Jewish prophets, so that they are religious ideals and obligations, rather than just good behavior. We are obligated to care for the poor (Deuteronomy 15:7-8), the widow, orphan and stranger (Exodus 22:20-21), the Levites (Deuteronomy 12:17-19) and the landless. We are also warned against corruption, bribery, misuse of power, and mistreatment of workers. The Torah specifies rights for women and other groups. The Torah teaches the ideal of justice for the benefit of society and the moral guidance of the individual. The relevant verses are mixed in with other Torah-topics so that the message is imbibed as part of the whole. See also: Judaism's influence

• Judaism addresses in depth and in detail the obligations of the individual and the community to other individuals. A Jew has a legal obligation to help someone in need (e.g. Leviticus 19:16, Exodus 23:5); and to be a bystander in such a case is a Torah-violation. Tradition states that every Jew should exhibit the characteristic of chesed, meaning the ability to go beyond the requirement of the law to help others. The Talmud states that mercy and kindness should be among the defining traits of every Jew (Talmud, Yevamot 79a).

Personal Relationships

• The rabbis stressed the necessity for people to help each other. In order to survive, all human beings must practice mutual aid. Rabbi Akiva qualifies that the initial duty of every person is to him/herself in order that s/he then be able to care for others.

• Compassion, humility, a charitable spirit, forgiveness and good manners are also desirable qualities of the Jew in personal relationships. The Jewish sages specified in detail the attributes which are expected of us. (See: Jewish ethics)

Work and Business Ethics

• Being ethical in business is an essential value in Judaism; such as paying workers on time (Leviticus 19:13), keeping honest weights and measures (Leviticus 19:36), and repaying damages (Exodus 22:4-5). These laws are discussed at great length in the Talmud. The Forefathers themselves were the earliest examples of this kind of carefulness, which has permeated the Torah ever since (see for example Genesis ch.31, and Rashi commentary on Genesis 24:10.)

Environmental Ethics

• Judaism has a heightened sensitivity to the world around us, reflected in the Torah and by the Rabbis and their later rulings. Judaism created specific laws in this area that predated modern laws by thousands of years. For example, the Talmud rules that there must remain distance between industrial and rural areas to create a healthy ecological balance. Garbage must not pollute public property. Maimonides states that causing air pollution through smoke, dust, and noxious smells is not permitted even if no one protests. Water must not cause damage or pollution. Noise must not create a nuisance to the human environment.

• The laws of sh'mittah, by which the land must lie fallow every seventh year (Leviticus ch.25), are to preserve the earth and maintain its fertility. These laws are observed in Israel to this day, by religious farmers.

See also:

How do the Scriptures and Talmud teach the Jewish ideas of justice?

Answer 4

the Hebrew word tzedek is frequently translated as justice, but it is also sometimes used for righteousness. The word tzedakah is sometimes translated as charity, and tzedakim is the word used for those who are righteous. That is to say, acts of charity are also acts of justice, and to be righteous, one must pursue justice.