GEN61 [A] framing Jewish attitude [that shapes economic life] is that human beings are created b’tzelem Elohim, in the image of God [this verse]. Martin Buber suggests that we encounter other individuals as created b’zelem Elohim, that we establish “I-Thou” relationships with them.  In doing so, we see beyond the extraneous and utilitarian aspects of the other person and connect deeply. By contrast, when we engage others for what we can get from them, they become objects in our eyes. This defines an I-It relationship. Buber asserts that most people cannot constantly sustain I-Thou attention. We move between I-Thou moments and I-It ways in which we engage the world. Jewish wisdom encourages us to stretch beyond the illusion of separation between self and others, and to safeguard the dignity and well-being of each person even when we are not able to sustain deep attention to their fundamental essence. The infinite worth of human beings means that they should not be reduced to being means to an end, like rowers in a slave galley. Each of us reflects the divine presence in the world so we must see each person we encounter – bus driver or salesperson, student or teacher, executive or janitor – as a person worthy of our recognition, attention, caring and commitment. This should shape every one of our encounters with others, as it should shape the rules and procedures that we use in our economic lives.  Identifying tzelem Elohim as the core Jewish value that it is may seem radical and utopian. However, it gives direction and depth to our efforts in many domains—spiritual as well as political and economic. TEUTSCHEO 9

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GEN69 [A] fundamental Jewish attitude that shapes economic life is that we are tenants in the world, not owners. “Ladonay ha’aretz umelo’o, the earth and all that is in it belong to God,” proclaims the psalmist (Psalms 24:1).  Psalms 24:1 figures prominently in liberation theology. For this progressive religious movement of the past four decades or so, initially from Catholic Latin America, the rallying cry is “De Jehova es la tierra, y su plenitude (Psalms 24:1)”; nature’s wealth belongs not to multinational corporations or ruling elites, but to God, who loves the campesino and the Presidente equally.  We have an obligation to respect the wishes of the Owner, so we cannot do whatever we like with the property. In Hebrew there is no word that can be directly translated into “owner” or “ownership.”  Things can “belong” (shayakhut) to someone. One can be a “master” (ba’al) over something. But ownership as we understand it in English can refer only to the One owner – God – and we are merely stewards.  The implications of this idea are broad.  Perhaps the most obvious is that just as a tenant is not allowed to deface the apartment or office she rents, so we are not allowed to damage the environment intentionally and irreparably. Our traditional extends this notion much further, however. It suggests that the wealth of the world should be used on behalf of all its inhabitants. While Genesis describes humanity as having dominion over other creatures, Jewish ethics has never seen that dominion as having no limits; we are also stewards of the world with responsibility for it. Genesis describes humanity as having both dominion and the responsibilities of stewardship. These two attitudes are brought into relationship with each other in the very first biblical book. In a world where there is enough for everyone to eat, allowing anyone to go hungry is a violation of our stewardship as the rabbis understand it.  From a Jewish perspective, commitment to the just distribution of resources is the result of understanding the rights and obligations inherent in being human.  TEUTSCHEO  7-8

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GEN70 Rashi, the 11th century scholar, comments on [this verse] that whatever dominion we have is conditional.  Where Genesis says that God planned to create humans “in our image” and to “let them rule over (yir’du)” the rest of Creation, Rashi interprets, “If they merit, let them rule (rodeh); if not, let them fall (yarud).”  A century later, Maimonides (Moreh Nevukhim 3.13) would say of Genesis that “dominion” is descriptive of a capacity in human nature, rather than prescriptive of the human role in the universe.  We do not have an unconditional mandate to dominate.  TEUTSCHEO 8

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GEN423 Jewish tradition teaches that work is a source of kavod. When we have done our economic share, we have a different relationship to what we consume. The idea that labor is a critical source of human dignity has powerful biblical and rabbinic support. The God in whose image we are created is pictured, from the very first chapter of Genesis, as a working God, one who creates on every one of the first six days—and then creates daily, as is stated in the first blessing of the morning service—Hamehadesh betuvo bekhol yom tamid ma’asey v’reyshit, “who in goodness renews the work of creation every day.” Some people picture perfection is immutable. Not the Jews. Thank God that God does finally rest on the seventh day, reminding us that rest, as well as work, is Godly. The rabbis required fathers to teach their sons a trade; we would broaden this to include all parents and all children. From Pirkey Avot 3:17 we learn that “where there is no flour, there is no Torah Book & Portion; where there is no Torah, there is no flour.” This reminds us that worldly needs (flour) and spiritual needs (Torah) must be met in balance with each other. “You will eat the fruit of your labor and be happy, and it will be well with you” says the Psalmist (Psalms 128:2). The Talmud (Berakhot 8A) interprets this verse to mean “happy” in this world and “well with you” in the world to come, and goes on to point out that reverence for God (yirat Shamayim) does not by itself guarantee that things will go well in the next world. Work is thus seen as having redemptive power for the person who undertakes it. Productivity has value beyond the external goods purchased. Producing value also has worth in terms of the workers’ experience of the world and their place in it. After eating the forbidden fruit, Adam was told that he would eat bread only by the sweat of his brow [this verse], and the Talmud (Pesahim 118A) notes that he felt relieved upon hearing this because he understood that making bread involved toil that would separate him from the other animals.  The punishments of Eden may also conceal blessings. Though work and childbirth may be among the most difficult of life’s tasks, they can also be among the most rewarding.  While work conveys dignity, idleness is often portrayed as dangerous. The Mishna (Ketubot 5.5) states that people who can afford not to work should work anyway because idleness can lead to lewdness or depression.  The rabbis say that no matter how wealthy one is, one has an obligation to personally play some role in the preparations for Shabbat. Without making the effort to prepare for Shabbat, we would not be able to fully appreciate the rest and joy that it brings. A midrash (Tanhuma Vayetze 13) says that “when a person toils with both hands, God grants blessing.” While we might not all agree with the theology of this passage, the point it makes about work is clear—our lives are shaped and given meaning, in part, by the work that we do. Of course not all work conveys dignity. Oppressive work conditions, poor treatment of workers and devaluing the results of labor remove the meaning and satisfaction from work. Labor that is dehumanizing or degrading robs the worker of kavod (dignity or honor). Leading a life of kavod is one of the important reasons to work. Thus, a good society is one that ensures meaningful work to those who are willing and able to do it. Work should not be understood in purely selfish terms as producing value only for the worker. One rabbinic tale (Vakikra Rabba 25.5) describes an old man planting a tree. The emperor Hadrian happens by and asks why the old man is planting the tree since it will take many years to bear fruit and the old man will not benefit. The old man replies that just as his ancestors planted for him, so is he planting for those who come after him. This popular story uses an apt metaphor. Our work is always about planting. We cannot know the final outcome. All we can do is labor with a clarity of wholesome intentions—plant seeds of emet, kavod, and kehila (truth, respect and community). Work can be a generative and redemptive act.  Employers must meet several conditions for work to produce kavod for their employees. The employer must treat the worker as a person who has kavod. The worker must see the work as accomplishing something worthwhile. And the conditions under which the worker laborers must be compatible with worker dignity in terms of hours, safety, physical surroundings, compensation and so on.  One of the most consistent and central teachings of the biblical prophets was their profound objection to the exploitation of workers. TEUTSCHEO 15-19

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