The verse that I most relate to is Leviticus Chapter 19 "You shall not render an unfair decision: do not favor the poor or show deference to the rich; judge your kinsman fairly." This mitzvah relates to both criminal punishment and having a fair justice system, as well as simply resolving conflict with a neighbor. A fair justice system helps to make sure that there is no cruel or unusual punishment given to a person who has committed a crime or a sin. By not favoring the poor— most likely out of pity— may not allow them to receive proper punishment for their crimes. By not showing deference to the rich, they may also be punished for crimes without the fear of disrespecting the criminal. Resolving civil conflict is a problem that is more common than having to use the justice system in most of our lives. By using similar tactics as the justice system, one can resolve quarrels in a respectful manner that allows everyone to be treated equally. I fulfill this mitzvah in my life by treating everyone who I fight or argue with in the way that corresponds with their actions. In the modern world, this mitzvah can be a guideline that helps me and others deal with people's negative actions that require resolution.
I chose this picture that I took when I visited the Kinesset two years ago. It represents justice because it deals with their legislative branch of government. With government there is justice and order. Laws and governments are created to protect citizens, and by doing so they help punish criminals properly. A court is unbiased and a jury is of the defendant's peers, which correspond with the stated mitzvah.
I chose the Mitzvah in Leviticus 19:17, “You shall not hate your kinsfolk in your heart. Reprove your
kinsfolk but incur no guilt because of him”. To me, this means that loving your family is one of the most important things that you can do. It also is saying that since you can’t change your family it is necessary to help each other be better people, yet not in a degrading or condescending way. For me personally, friends and people come and go but my family is forever and they mean the world to me. My parents, my brother, and I are all very close and we are constantly supporting each other and helping one another. If one of us thinks that we know what’s best for another one of us, we don’t take it negatively and we all understand that we all have each other's best interests in mind. I fulfill this Mitzvah in my daily life by calling my parents and brother more days than not, even when I’m more than 6,000 miles away. We all check up on each other because with me in Israel, and my brother away at college we won’t all be together for a long time and so we make sure to still be close with each other. This is a guideline for me as a Jew in the modern world because even when I become frustrated with my family I can think back to my Jewish values and remember that I love them and that they love me.
This is a picture of my parents, my brother, and I at my brother's graduation party. This represents my Mitzvah because it is a reminder of the people who mean the most to me and that I can't forget about them or fall out of touch with them. I have it as my phone lock screen to remember that they are the most important people in my life and being connected to them needs to always be one of my top priorities.
Please open the Tanach to ויקרא י"ט (Leviticus 19). Please read the wide range of mitzvot here and choose one mitzvah (commandment) to which you can relate.
Please explain why you chose this Mitzvah or pasuk (verse) and build a fence around it. How do you interpret this Mitzvah? How do you or can you fulfill this mitzvah in your daily life? How can it be a guideline for you as a Jew in the modern world?
Using a digital camera/phone, please take a photograph that in some way expresses the verse you selected (or use an existing photo). The photo can be a place, a person, something you’ve created, an object in nature, etc… Be creative! The image may only have meaning for you!
Write a concluding paragraph explaining how this photograph expresses the Jewish mitzvah/ value you selected.
This assignment must be constructed of 2 paragraphs and a picture.
The mitzvah that I choose is Leviticus 19:17 "Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt." I chose this commandment because I believe it has a lot to do with current issues. We were talking to Rabbi Rick Jacobs today about the Reform movement and it's struggles with the Orthodox movement. He discussed how Orthodox leaders don't treat other citizens and sects of Jews equally. These actions go directly against the commandment Leviticus 19:17. However, the commandment also adds that it is important to debate other views and have a friendly argument. This relates to my daily life because throughout my experiences with Israelis, I have often had debates about religious and political issues, but I always make sure I respect their ideas. I believe it can be a guideline to me because even though I disagree with a lot of people in Israel I have to learn to respect them.
I chose a photo of the western wall because there are many altercations between Jews that happen there. Whether it's when women of the wall hold protests and Orthodox men spit on them, or the separation of women and men at the wall. Based on Leviticus 19:17 this needs to stop. However, the Western Wall is also a place for Jews to unite and have friendly conversations. This is why this photo represents the commandment.
I chose the mitzvah “You shall not pick your vineyard bare, or gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger.” I interpret it to mean that not only do we need to give to the needy, but we need to incorporate it into our daily lives by donating part of the fruits of our labor. In my daily life, I can follow this rule by giving a portion of my earnings to charity, and giving the extra things that I don’t need, like clothes I’ve grown out of, to people that need them. This mitzvot can create a guideline for me as a Jew in the modern world by encouraging community service and taking the time to help the less fortunate in my community. Also, it teaches us to be kind to the stranger, which in today's times can be interpreted to mean we should advocate for immigrants escaping bad situations and refugees.
I chose a picture of a soup kitchen because it represents helping the stranger and the poor to get food that they need to survive. This picture shows volunteers who cooked food and are giving it to people that need it. Additionally, in the mitzvah, by leaving parts of the vineyard for strangers, you are giving them food so they can survive. This photograph also represents the Jewish value of this mitzvah of giving up something to help someone in need, since in the photo the volunteers are giving up their time to help someone who needs it get food and in the commandment, the farmers give up some profit for the benefit of the stranger.
I strongly connect to the mitzot of 32 “‘Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord.
Personally, I have always felt a very strong connection to my family members of older generations. My great uncle passed away this past year, whom I was very close with. He was a very musical person with a lot of connections to a musical world. His contribution to my life was enormous. Also as someone who was very learned, he taught me how to play chess and learn the game with a passion. He will always be remembered by me and my family as well as for his music. Today, I can honor him and this commandment by talking to my grandparents, hanging out with them, which is something I do often, and interacting and being a part of their lives as much as possible. Respecting those who came before us and their contribution to our lives is very important to maintaining the Jewish tradition and this mitzvot specifically.
This is a video of my Uncle Herby, who passed away, and my then 3 year old brother Henry. This video was made by my uncle while he was documenting Herby's music. There are a bunch of other videos on his YouTube page of my great uncle singing and playing originals,covers, and more. We have kept the memory of Herby and his music alive through sharing his memory and his work. My cousin Marc now plays music at the level of Herby, composing and making his impact. By remembering Herby's impact on our family, we can continue to respect him and the Jewish commandment.
I relate to the mitzvah in Leviticus 19:33-34. These verses say, “When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them.The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.” I think this mitzvah can be interpreted in two very distinct ways. In the large scale, this mitzvah can be interpreted through the lens0 of the refugee crisis. I think it speaks to the idea of taking people in and caring for them no matter where they’re from. The second way, the small scale, is to try to be inclusive and accepting of all people.
I think that this picture, taken at a march that one of my friends attended, represents both interpretations of the mitzvah. The people in the picture are marching for refugee rights
and many of them had never met the people they were marching with. The front row is
filled with people of all different ages and creeds who accepted each other. I think that we should, as Jews and as people, should accept people because we too were slaves in the land of
Egypt.
I chose this Mitzvah because I think it is something everyone needs to hear every once in while. I think that this Mitvah can be fulfilled daily by people thinking about their actions and what they say to other people. I think that this can e a guide in the modern world as a reminder that women are people and not objects.
Women are strong and this Mitzvah is telling women; to not allow themselves to be degraded, not to degrade their daughters, sister, mothers, and to give them the opportunity to shine. Women and girls have to e allowed to reach their full potential and they can't do that if they are being sold into the ideals and expectation of prostitution and sexualization of the body they were given.
