This week’s Torah portion, K’doshim, is the 30th (30/54 or 52, depending on the year: this year, it’s 54…) reading in the annual cycle, and the 7th parashah in the book of Vayikra/Leviticus.
This portion has the verse from which Rabbi Hillel draws his famous order to the prospective convert wanting to learn Torah while standing on one foot:
“That which is hateful to you, do not do to your Neighbor. On this hangs the whole Torah; the rest is commentary: go learn it.”
(Sorry, I’m too tired to quote the original src from which this comes, but here is a lovely article which does cite Hillel, and this parshah’s verse which R. Hillel was using as the basis for his order to the man, who did, apparently, go on to convert to Judaism, if I recall correctly. Hopefully Dolly or David will read this and correct me if I’m mis-remembering…)
What do you think our world could look like if every one of us followed the order given by Rabbi Hillel?
I look forward to hearing your opinions on this matter, Thoughtful Readers.
We can really Do Better.
-Shira
Last week was: Parashat Acharei Mot, Mourning, and Caring for Each Other ,
Action Prompts:
Share your thoughts on how to build buy-in create a more equal, or at least less inequitable, society, please. Writing, by the way, is my personal contribution to Project Do Better.
What would yours be, if you had time?
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Click here to read, if you like:
B5, Hakan:Muhafiz/The Protector, Lupin, or La Casa De Papel/Money Heist Reviews,
Shira Destinie A. Jones, MPhil, MAT, BsCs
Shira Destinie Jones’ work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Inspiring Critical Thinking and Community via Books, Lessons, and Story 
Todah Rabah ( תּוֹדָה רַבָּה), Ned!
Thank you Very Much, Ned!
Shira
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You have asked an excellent question.
Most of the world’s religions include some version of the Golden Rule. The wording varies, but the idea is the same. Yet religious history is replete with examples of adherents of these religions violating the Golden Rule, often in the name of a deity. And one of the surest ways to create controversy is to practice the Golden Rule.
In the Acts of the Apostles, some opponents of St. Paul and company complained that “the men who have been turning the world upside down” had arrived in a particular city.
The world is already upside down. A world in which the Golden Rule was normative would be right side-up.
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Thank you, Good Sir: very well stated. Sadly, but truly. Our world, and we human beings, can certainly Do Better.
With Warmest Respects,
Shira “Do Better” Destinie A. Jones
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HeCetuvim HaEleh tzrichot laasot “linked” beYachad…
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E’Aseah cach…
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A very simple rule, which would be the only one necessary, if we observed it …
We have the same in German: Was du nicht willst, das man dir tu, das füg auch keinem anderen zu (What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others).
Life could be so easy …
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It could, and it can, still, if we refuse to give up!
We can definitely Do Better!!
🙂
Shira
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No giving up. We have to start with ourselves, do the right thing as per the above rule.
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Thank you, Birgit: your support, especially, has made it more doable for me to not give up. Thank you, and I hope that your weekend has been good: Happy Mothers’ Day, if it applies to you.
Shira
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Thank you, Shira, for your kind words and good wishes. ❤
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“That which is hateful to you, do not do to your Neighbor. On this hangs the whole Torah; the rest is commentary: go learn it.”
THANK YOU Shira. I have been collecting such quotes from all the great religions and will add this one.
🙂
Bob
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Thanks to the school of Hillel for preserving this one, and his philosophy.
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Is not Torah one of the three things upon which the universe is claimed to stand?
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So that’s why I’ve been hearing that song all week! Yes,
“Al Shloshah d’varim haOlam omed: al haTorah, ve al haAvodah, ve al G’milut Chasadim.”
“On 3 things, the world stands: on Torah, on Prayer service, and on Acts of Kindness.”
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This is also the Parashah, is it not, commanding
“do not stand idly by while the blood of your neighbor is shed “
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Good point, but I wanted to emphasize R. Hillel’s famous dictum.
I’ll add comments on this, my driving verse in Torah, next year, B’H.
Shira
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אל תישקח
Al tishkach.
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Delivering a message from Shira:
“Something that also hangs on critical thinking with empathy, is Page 125 of 244 in draft 6: that is the adulthood service challenge.”
Anla’Shok Mayann, for Shira Destinie Jones
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Thank you, Ranger M.
Shira
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We live for the One, we die for the One.
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We live for the One, we die for the One.
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