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Does Judaism value equality?
Note, there is no word for equality in loshon hakodesh. I don’t recall it being praised anywhere in tanach or gemara.
You’re going to have to elaborate on what you mean, exactly, when you say “equality” since, in some respects, the answer is clearly “yes” and in other respects, the answer is clearly “no.”
The Wolf
No, Judaism does not guarantee or grant equality or have it as a value.
Is a Kohein equal to a Yisroel? Are rabbonim equal to laymen? Are men equal to women? Is a Talmid Chochom equal to am ha’aretz? Of course not.
Is 1+3 equal to 2+2?
I was deliberately vague. I am not aware that the Torah places a value on equality in any form
One example where it does:
If two parties come to Bais Din for a civil dispute, the judges have to treat the litigants equally. It doesn’t matter if one is a complete rasha and the other is the gadol hador — man or woman, kohen or yisroel, rich or poor… it must boil down to the merits of the arguments.
The Wolf
A person is worth a few selaim…. the word you’re looking for is erkecha
This thread has now been closed by the mods. (Well almost, still another few replies to go)
The Torah values equality in the application of the law. Thus we are enjoined from treating a poor man or rich man differently in terms of halachic decision-making, or taking bribes.
Pirkei Avos also speaks of loving all creatures and bringing them closer to Torah. And Hashem is pleased with someone with which others are pleased. This implies we should be kind to all people regardless of who they are.
Absolute economic equality is not a Torah value. However, the highest level of charity is to ensure that the poor become self-sufficient. So ideally, if we were observing the mitzvah of tzedakah correctly as a community, everyone would be equal in the sense that we are all self-sufficient and do not need to rely on charity.
All Israel have a share in the world to come. And Rebbe Nachman teaches that everyone has the innate ability to become a tzaddik of the highest order, if they would only apply themselves with their greatest effort.
No one truly believes in total equality. No one believes a nazi is equal to a talmid chacham. What you are referring to is just equality. That a man should be equal to a woman, or a kohen should be equal to a levi or someone who is a natural talmid chacham should be equal to someone who tries his best but never attained stature. The simple answer is in olam hazeh there is not just equality, but in olam haba Hashem will work everything out.
Justice is a Jewish value. The fact that Hashem is just and treats everyone justly (i.e. based or ones bechira alone, and not based on what sex they are, who there father is, or what genetic advantages they were given in olam hazeh).
“Rebbe Nachman teaches that everyone has the innate ability to become a tzaddik of the highest order, if they would only apply themselves with their greatest effort.”
In all the examples we mentioned though: man before woman, talmid chacham before layman, kohen before levi- we never say tzadik before a non-tzadik. Because that only applies in olam haba.
In terms of administration of justice, equality is a core value
In terms of socio-economic policy, Torah tends towards serious affirmative action (which by definition meets treating people unequally, e.g. give more to the poor than the rich).
In dealing with good and evil, Torah tilts very strong for the good and against the evil
Fairness is a Torah value. Equality in the eyes of the law is but one application of this concept.
If one person is drowning, this does not mean that everyone in the pool should get cpr.
The commonly accepted conception of equality that the rose bush and the cedar tree must both be of the same height, color and build is a mistake that has had terrible consequences for western society.
The Torah teaches us to recognize and celebrate our different roles in Hashem’s world.
i don’t gget the question
we have equality in the Torah
machtzis hashekel for one
erechin is another (all men a certain age are worth the same)
Ever read A Wrinkle in Time?
Or, to paraphrase the words of Eric Blair, “All of us are equal, but some of us are more equal than others.”
The Wolf
All are equal in the sense that each person’s individual job in this world is necessary to the advancement of Hashem’s plan. However, equality does not mean identity. This may be compared to a person’s body. A foot and a hand are both necessary but they are not the same and do not perform the same functions.
Wolf- nice one. I actually had to google that, I was so confused :).
“Is a Kohein equal to a Yisroel?”
Yes, just a lot of different mitzvot.
” Are rabbonim equal to laymen?”
Only when the rabbi is a greater talmid chacham.
” Are men equal to women?”
Yes, just a small number of different mitzvot.
” Is a Talmid Chochom equal to am ha’aretz? Of course not.”
Of course not. Next question.
charliehall: Yes, just a lot of different mitzvot…
Yes, just a small number of different mitzvot.
2+2 = 3+3 (Just a small difference in numbers.)
sure there is equality. everyone is equally accountable for not being the best yid they could be with the tools given to them by Hashem.
In terms of economics: The Torah does not believe in the Communist or Socialist version of equality. Yes, each person has to pay a “tax” to benefit the poor, but this ma’aser is percentage capped and applies to everyone equally regardless of economic status. Chazal were very sensitive to personal property rights and deal only within the framework of capitalism. There is no judicial movement in Chazal to equalize everyone’s wealth – on the contrary, as some have already mentioned, a financial dispute is based on merits of argument alone, and not on how wealthy or poor the defendant/plaintiff may be relative to each other. Chazal also push for a free market society, but they place limits on usury, bribery, extortion, and dishonest dealings.
In terms of gender equality: Both genders deserve equal respect, but they are strongly discouraged from trying to assume identical roles, in all areas of life (public, private, socially, politically, militarily, etc…).
In short, I think equality as defined by society today is contrary to Torah beliefs.
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