Home

BabylonianTalmud, Shabbat 54b

 

תלמוד בבלי, שבת נד:

Original Text:

כל מי שאפשר למחות לאנשי ביתו ולא מיחה - נתפס על אנשי ביתו, באנשי עירו - נתפס על אנשי עירו, בכל העולם כולו - נתפס על כל העולם כולו.

Translation:

Whoever can prevent their household from committing a sin but does not, is responsible for the sins of their household; whoever can prevent the people of their city, is responsible for the sins of their city; if the whole world, one is responsible for the sins of the whole world.
[AJWS translation]

Suggested Discussion Questions:

1. Why are you responsible for others' sins if you can prevent them? Is this a fair assignment of blame?
2. How does one go about preventing others from committing a sin? What does this mean in a social justice context?

Time Period:
Type:
Categories:
Keywords:
Related Texts:
BabylonianTalmud, Shabbat 54b
Related Sourcesheets:A Call to Action, Civil Rights: What Should I Do?, Hillel of Greater Philadelphia Staff Training: A Jewish Call to Action, Jewish Ethics on Advocacy, Concentric Circles of Tzedekah, Texts on Protest, International Aid: Jewish Sources and Discussion Questions, Dimensions of the Universe of Obligation , Pikuach Nefesh: Saving a Life- Discussion Questions, An Introduction to Social Action and Jewish Responsibility, What are our obligations to help another person? , Obligation to the Community, One For All: Personal Responsibility for Others

Submitted By

Sarah Margles

Comments on this Text