Thank you to Rabbi Sharon Brous, our recent scholar-in-residence, and to the Adult Education Committee members (especially chair, Jay Wiesenfeld, and event mavens Doreen Lapperdon-Addison and Karen Karl).
Rabbi Brous taught a section of Mishnah Sanhedrin (4:5) on Sunday morning:
Therefore only a single person was created in the world to teach that if any person has caused a single soul from Israel to perish, Scripture imputes it to him as though he has caused a whole world to perish and if any man saves the life of a single soul from Israel, Scripture imputes it to him as though he had saved the life of a whole world. Again, a single person was created for the sake of peace among the world, that none should say to another: 'My father was greater than your father'.... Again, a single person was created to proclaim the greatness of the Holy One, blessed is He. For man stamps many coins with one seal and they are all like one another, but the King of kings has stamped every person with the seal of the first human, yet not one of them is like another. Therefore everyone must say, 'for my sake was the world created.' (adapted from Danby, The Mishnah, Oxford Univ. Press, 1933)
From that mishnah, she taught three essential human dignities. First, every human being has infinite value. Second, no person or group of people can claim they are better or more valuable than any other. Third, the endless diversity we see between people is a fundamental part of human dignity. Diversity is central to humanity.
Did you have a comment or response to Rabbi Brous’ presentation? Please post it here by clicking the blue link just below this line. Rabbi Brous and I will respond to the postings.
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