Touro Law Review
Abstract
Jewish law obligates each person to assist and respect his fellow. This includes a wide-range of interpersonal obligations, such as the duty to support the less advantaged, the duty to rescue from danger, and the duty to “love your fellow” and promote his success. In this article, we argue that these interpersonal obligations are rooted in Judaism’s conception of the person as endowed with dignity. This dignity is grounded in the notion of tzelem Elokim, in the metaphysical conception of man created in the divine image (Imago Dei). We argue that this metaphysical basis for human dignity imposes duties upon others and generates claims against them for respect and proper moral regard. Further, we argue that if each person is endowed with divine dignity, then each person enjoys equal moral dignity to his fellow and commands equal respect and concern. We demonstrate that several provisions of Jewish law reflect this sense of basic equality among persons along with a duty of equal moral concern towards others. Finally, we argue that the Jewish obligation of tzedakah is best characterized as a duty to respect the dignity of others. Tzedakah obligates us to restore human dignity (tzelem Elokim) wherever material or social deficiencies diminish it. We argue, on this basis, that tzedakah is not limited to financial support. It includes the social bases of self-respect and inclusion necessary to restore the dignity of personhood.
Recommended Citation
Rosensweig, Itamar and Mermelstein, Shua
(2025)
"Dignity, Equality, and the Duty of Assistance,"
Touro Law Review: Vol. 40:
No.
3, Article 6.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.tourolaw.edu/lawreview/vol40/iss3/6