A Jewish perspective on human rights

With the establishment of the State of Israel, the rabbinic tradition faces two critical challenges: first, defining who is a member of the Jewish community; and, second, constructing a "Jewish" vision of a civil society, one capable of including the diverse groups, both Jewish and non-Jewish, that constitute Israeli society. In America, as well, a fundamental shift in perception has taken place among religious Jews about the nature of their relationship to other groups in society. In the past four decades, Jews, including the most religious segments, have come to view themselves as full members-even leaders-of a mixed society to which they now perceive themselves as truly belonging. Their new role in society has led them to focus attention on potentialities within the tradition for the creation of genuine bonds of social solidarity with fellow members of the nation. In this essay, I review some classical rabbinic sources and traditions that exhibit a more inclusive attitude toward non-Jews and nonconforming Jews and thus create opportunities for blurring and extending the boundaries of the Jewish community.