Ruth Messinger, "We Must Help, and in the Right Ways," JTA- August 25th, 2009
Part of being Jewish is to put Jewish values into practice where the poorest people are. This is not some new piece of Judaism: The rabbis and Jewish leaders have discussed the balance between helping Jews and non-Jews, the balance of working with different communities, the balance of showing who we are and building a better world not only ourselves but for others. It doesn't say, “Build justice for Jews.”

Suggested Discussion Questions:

1. What would you say to critics of Messinger's belief that Jews must pursue justice for Jews, and non-Jews, alike?

2. How does one define the "balance" that Messinger refers to?

Time Period: Contemporary (The Yom Kippur War until the present-day)