(15) The king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shifrah and the other Puah, (16) saying, “When you deliver the Hebrew women, look at the birthstool: if it is a boy, kill him; if it is a girl, let her live.” (17) The midwives, fearing God, did not do as the king of Egypt had told them; they let the boys live. (18) So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this thing, letting the boys live?” (19) The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women: they are vigorous. Before the midwife can come to them, they have given birth.” (20) And God dealt well with the midwives; and the people multiplied and increased greatly.
Sotah 11b
It was the reward of the righteous women of that generation that caused Israel to be redeemed from Egypt.
Anyone who has the capability to effectively protest the sinful conduct of the members of his household and does not protest, he himself is apprehended for the sins of the members of his household and punished. If he is in a position to protest the sinful conduct of the people of his town, and he fails to do so, he is apprehended for the sins of the people of his town. If he is in a position to protest the sinful conduct of the whole world, and he fails to do so, he is apprehended for the sins of the whole world.
Amos 5:15, 23-24
(15) Hate evil and love good, and establish justice in the gate..... (23) Spare Me the sound of your songs! And let Me not hear the music of your lutes! (24) But let justice well up like water and righteousness as a mighty stream.
He has told you, O humankind, what is good, And what God requires of you: Only to do justice, to love goodness, and to walk modestly with your God.
Rabbi Arthur Waskow (USA, 1933- )
The story of Shifrah and Puah–the midwives who refused to obey Pharaoh’s order to murder Hebrew boy babies–is perhaps the first tale of nonviolent civil disobedience in world literature.
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks (UK, 1948- )
Often the mark of real moral heroes is that they do not see themselves as moral heroes. They do what they do because that is what a human being is supposed to do. That is probably the meaning of the statement that they “feared God.” It is the Torah’s generic description of those who have a moral sense.
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (USA, 1929-1968)
Radio Broadcast, KPFA, Santa Rita CA, January 14, 1968
Courage is an inner resolution to go forward despite obstacles. Cowardice is submissive surrender to circumstances. Courage breeds creativity; Cowardice represses fear and is mastered by it. Cowardice asks the question, is it safe? Expediency asks the question, is it politic? Vanity asks the question, is it popular? But, conscience asks the question, is it right?