Rabbis For Human Rights

curriculum

"..The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they who do his commandments.."
Psalms 111:10

The curriculum is revised according to student feedback and current RHR activity on issues dominating Israeli society in the spheres of human rights, social justice, and environmental justice. The basis for a Jewish vision of human rights is discussed at the program’s outset while the remainder of the year is devoted to the exploration of specific issues. The study focuses on those aspects of Jewish behavior that define who we are as a People and as individual Jews. Topics include:

• An Introduction to Human Rights and Jewish Tradition; Facets of Jewish study and an open approach to Jewish tradition, texts, and life; ‘Rights’ versus ‘obligations’ in Jewish thought.
• Humans Created in the Divine Image: Ramifications in the halacha and for Jewish individual and national identity.
• Issues of Economic Justice: Tzedaka; Issues of the margin between rich and poor; Tikkun haOlam and elements of the welfare state; Home demolitions; Foreign workers; Trafficking of women; and more.
• Issues of Equality in Israeli Society: Jews and non-Jews; Freedom of/from religion; Health; Agunot; Domestic violence; Equality for women; and more.
• The Environment and Human Rights.

The Yeshiva meets one evening each week for three hours at Beit Hillel on the Har HaTzofim Campus of Hebrew University. In addition, the group takes at least one field excursion, attends an RHR study day or study weekend, and participates in a Beit Midrash student-led program at Hebrew University open to the general student population.