Rabbinic Judaism’s perspective on the first crimes against humanity

Roubalová, Marie (author)

This article focuses on the first recorded crimes (sins) against humanity in the context of the broader and more fundamental issue of human life’s intrinsic value and dignity. An analysis of the views of rabbinic Judaism reveals a network of concepts that are dynamically intertwined. They originate from a strictly monotheistic framework (worldview) of Judaism that helps resolve whether a person is allowed to end his life for the sake of others. Careful analysis and interpretation of the first three acts of violence recorded in the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) reveal the catastrophic consequences of choosing to end another’s life without considering its intrinsic value while ignoring the intrinsic value of the other and his dignity and assuming that humans have the power to decide the fate of another human being, to distance humanity from God (from God’s presence), trapping humans in the idolatry of materialism. Moreover, the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) allows for a factual assessment and distinction between different acts of violence. It offers guidance, protection, and hope, for both victims and perpetrators, in the drama of creation and salvation.

• Language: English
• Keywords: rabbinic Judaism, crimes against humanity, sin, murder, the value of human life, Cain, Abel, Hebrew Bible (Tanakh)
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: TEOF - Theological Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Publication date: 01.01.2021
• Year: 2021
• Number of pages: Str. 57-74
• Numbering: Letn. 81, [št.] 1
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-163863
• UDC: 26-27:343.33
• ISSN on article: 0006-5722
• DOI: 10.34291/BV2021/01/Roubalova
• COBISS.SI-ID: 86985731
• Publication date in RUL: 14.10.2024

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Bogoslovni vestnik
• Shortened title: Bogosl. vestn.
• Publisher: Bogoslovna akademija, Bogoslovna akademija, Teološka fakulteta v Ljubljani, Teološka fakulteta Univerze v Ljubljani, Založba Univerze v Ljubljani
• ISSN: 0006-5722
• COBISS.SI-ID: 8745472

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Prvi zločini proti človeštvu z vidika rabinskega judovstva

Abstract

Članek se osredotoča na prve zabeležene zločine (grehe) proti človeštvu v kontekstu širšega in bolj temeljnega vprašanja notranje (intrinzične) vrednosti in dostojanstva človeškega življenja. Analiza pogledov rabinskega judovstva razkriva mrežo pojmov, ki so dinamično prepleteni. Izvirajo iz strogo monoteističnega okvira (pogleda na svet) judovstva, ki pomaga razreševati vprašanje, ali je človeku dovoljeno, da konča svoje življenje zaradi drugih. Skrbna analiza in interpretacija prvih treh dejanj nasilja, zabeleženih v hebrejski Bibliji (Tanak), razkriva katastrofalne posledice izbire končanja življenja drugega, ne da bi pri tem upoštevali njegovo notranjo vrednost. Medtem sta neoziranje na intrinzično vrednost drugega in na njegovo dostojanstvo in predpostavljanje, da imamo pristojnost, odločati o usodi drugega človeka, oddaljili človeštvo od Boga (od božje navzočnosti) in ga ujeli v past malikovanja materializma. Še več, hebrejska Biblija omogoča stvarno oceno in razlikovanje med različnimi dejanji nasilja. Zagotavlja vodstvo, zaščito in upanje, tako za žrtve kakor tudi za storilce, v drami stvarjenja in odrešenja.

• Keywords: rabinsko judovstvo, zločini proti človeštvu, greh, umor, vrednost človeškega življenja, Kajn, Abel, hebrejska Biblija (Tanak)