127 Torah Book & Portion, Book of Leviticus, Kedoshim (Leviticus 19:1–20:27), Source Book Keys, DORFFWITO LEVITICUS | 19:17 reprove — LEV603 All Jews are responsible for each other (B... LEV603 All Jews are responsible for each other (Babylonian Talmud, Shavu’ot 39a). Hillel says: “Do not separate yourself from the community” (Mishnah, Pirkei Avot 2:4). The thick sense of community that is articulated in these sources, where every Jew is responsible for one another and may not separate himself or herself from the community, where one is to see one's fellow Jew as a member of one's extended family, has many implications. As the last chapter indicates, it is this strong communal sense that is one of the rationales for providing for the Jewish poor. It is also a key element in the Talmud’s requirement to establish schools to educate everyone's children. “Rabbi Judah said in the name of Rav: “Rabbi Joshua ben Gamla should be remembered for good, for had it not been for him the Torah would have been forgotten in Israel. For at first, the boy who had a father was taught Torah by him, while the boy who had no father did not learn. Later, they appointed teachers of boys in Jerusalem, and the boys who had fathers were brought by them [to the teachers] and were taught; those who had no fathers were still not brought. Then they ordered that teachers should be appointed in every district, and they brought to them lads of the age of sixteen or seventeen. And when the teacher was cross with any of the lads, the lad would kick at him and run away. So then Rabbi Joshua ben Gamla ordered that teachers should be appointed in every district and in every city and that the boys should be sent to them at the age of six or seven years” (Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 21a ). As discussed in chapter 2, this thick sense of community is also the basis for making each of us responsible for rebuking others when they have done something wrong, thus doing one's part to ensure that the community is a just one. “Do not hate your brother in your heart. Reprove your kinsman so that you do not bear a sin with regard to him (Leviticus 19:17). “Whoever is able to protest against the wrongdoings of his family and fails to do so is punished for the family's wrongdoings. Whoever is able to protest against the wrongdoings of his fellow citizens and does not do so is punished for the wrongdoings of the people of his city. Whoever is able to protest against the wrongdoings of the world and does not do so is punished for the wrongdoings of the world (Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 54b). Share Print Source KeyDORFFWITOVerse19:17Keyword(s)reproveSource Page(s)131-2 Switch article LEVITICUS | 19:17 reprove — LEV609 See [[LEV485]] Leviticus 19:16 idly DORFFL... Previous Article LEVITICUS | 19:17 reprove — LEV613 The respect demanded by the Jewish traditi... Next Article