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Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 54b-55a

 

תלמוד בבלי מסכת שבת דף נד עמוד ב-שבת דף נה עמוד א

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. אמר רב פפא: והני דבי ריש גלותא נתפסו על כולי עלמא. כי הא דאמר רבי חנינא: מאי דכתיב +ישעיהו ג+ ה' במשפט יבא עם זקני עמו ושריו, אם שרים חטאו -זקנים מה חטאו? אלא, אימא: על זקנים שלא מיחו בשרים.

Translation:

Anyone who is able to protest against the transgressions of one's household and does not, is punished for the actions of the members of the household; anyone who is able to protest against the transgressions of one's townspeople and does not, is punished for the transgressions of the townspeople; anyone who is able to protest against the transgressions of the entire world and does not is punished for the transgressions of the entire world. Rav Papa siad: The house of the exilarch (Jewish communal authority during Babylonian exile) was punished for the transgressions of the entire world, as Rav Hanina said, "What is the meaning of the verse, 'God will bring judgment on the elders and the officers of the peope'" (Isaiah 3:14)? Perhaps the officers have sinned, but have the elders sinned? Rather, this verse signifies that God brings judgment on the elders for not having protested against the transgressions of the officers.

Suggested Discussion Questions:

1. What does this text imply about the scale of consequences for apathy?
2. Do you identify with this text's understanding of communal responsibility and collective guilt?
3. What are the transgressions of our communities? How can we protest against them?

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Submitted By

JUFJ

Comments on this Text

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?

What are the implications of the word “can/efshar”? What are the different ways we can prevent injustice from happening?

What does this text suggest about the relationship between power and responsibility? Between education and responsibility?

What does this text suggest about a person’s sphere of influence in the world?

Who are the people over whom you have influence? How might you use that influence?