1. The Jew’s Role in the
World
Study Guide
8 And the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah, saying: 9 ""%%,)("#"%*+"()"$#"%&'""#"$"#!!
'Thus hath the LORD of hosts spoken, saying: Execute true "-01,"%,)(".$)&/"$#"%,)"#*"#-!
judgment, and show mercy and compassion every man to his "1")"$14"3",!%$"'2!$"$-01".,)
brother; 10 and oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the ""54$"%6"3$."$"#5,()$"#"!"%$"!)".)
stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you devise evil against his "()"$"!)"1")".4%$"$714."()
""%3*&&(&"$&1!.
brother in your heart.
""!%!&#'!!"#$%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Zechararia Chapter 7!
"
! What does it mean to execute true judgment? Is that only mercy and compassion?
"
“There is another explanation, "as fish in the sea," the larger "($'6#"(*"&"3"&1"3"6'"#,"%%!)"%&'
one swallows the smaller, so also is it with men, since if not for "&"3')""5&"8)"'$%"&!".)"4($&"$%"&!,
the fear for government the stronger would swallow the "($'6#"(*"'.$*(,"(1"#)%$,")(,()
weaker. And this is what a Mishna states: "Pray for the peace "'95.'"$5""#$"($%"&!".)"4($&"$%"&!,
of the government…" ""$#"%%,$)"3"5#*#"962")5"5!""&%
""".$*(,"(1"#,$(1&"((0.,
Avodah Zara 4a
"(!,(!!#%!!()*+!!!!!!!!!!
B. R. Haninah, the Segan of the high-priest, said: "Pray always ""$#"%,$)"3"5#*#"962")5"5!""&%
for the welfare of the government; were it not for the fear of it, ")(,()1".$*(,"(1"#,$(1&"((0.,
men would swallow each other alive." """$4(&"3""!"$#4%".)"1")"#)%$,
Avot 3:2 ! !*#/!-)*.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"
! Is it always true that a bigger fish will try to swallow up a smaller fish?
! Is having a government to protect people the only thing that keeps us from being animals?
"
5 Thus says God the LORD, He that created the heavens, and ")%$&"$#"()#"%,)"#*"##!
stretched them forth, He that spread forth the earth and that which ":%)#"47%"3#"-$5$"3",1#
comes out of it, He that gives breath unto the people upon it, and "#"(4"34("#,15"9.5"#")/)/$
spirit to them that walk therein: 6 I the LORD have called you in "$#""5)"#$! %#&"3"*(#("!$%$
righteousness, and have taken hold of your hand, and kept you, and ";'"&"7+!)$"7'/&";".)%7
set you for a covenant of the people, for a light of the nations; 7 To "%$)("34"."%&(";5.)$";%/)$
".$%$4"3"5"4"!70("#+! %3"$6
!!"
!"#$%&'()*%&"+#%,!(-(#$'&).,(,./0.(1.+(1'2%3%"#(-(#%&'*(4567(

2. open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, and !&- +",* '")! '()** !"#$%&
them that sit in darkness out of the prison-house. 8 I am the LORD, "*. !$% '% "1! (0) :/.0 ",."
that is My name; and My glory will I not give to another, neither My "+&%+$ 3+! !& '0!& "2$,-$
praise to graven images. 9 Behold, the former things are come to pass, %1% +$1.!'% (6) :4"&")5&
and new things do I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them. 4'6, 2"(* "1! +$.20$ $!,
:4-+! 7"*.! %10*#+
Yeshayahu Chapter 42
)* &'( !"#$%#
! What does it mean that we should be a light unto the nations?
! How do you open blind eyes?
! Is it only Jewish prisoners that must be saved, or anyone who is oppressed?
5 And now says the LORD that formed me from the womb to be His 2,7& 36,* "'#" '% '*! %+7$ (%)
servant, to bring Jacob back to Him, and that Israel be gathered [!&] &!'."$ $"&! ,87" ,,$.& $&
unto Him--for I am honorable in the eyes of the LORD, and my God %"% "%&!$ '% "1"7, 2,-!$ 9)!" $&
is become my strength-- 6 Yea, He says: 'It is too light a thing that 2,7 "& /+$"%* &81 '*!"$ ($) :":7
you should be My servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to ["'"#1$] ,87" "6,. +! 4"8%&
restore the offspring of Israel; I will also give you for a light of the '$!& /"++1$ ,".%& &!'." "'$#1$
;'!% %#8 27 "+7$." +$"%& 4"$(
nations, that My salvation may be unto the end of the earth.'
)* &'( !"#$%#
Yeshayahu Chapter 49
! Is it really too small of a task for Isaiah to just work on saving the Jewish people?
! What is the end goal of being a light unto the nations?
Therefore we put our hope in You, Hashem our God, that we may +$!'& $1"%&! '% /& %$81 3- &7$
soon see Your mighty splendor, to remove detestable idolatry from 4"&$&( '",7%& /:7 +'!5+, %'%*
the earth, and false gods will be utterly cut off, to perfect the 3$+'-" +$'- 4"&"&!%$ ;'!% 3*
universe through the Almighty’s sovereignty. The all humanity will "1, &-$ "2. +$-&*, 4&$7 38+&
call upon Your name, to turn all the earth’s wicked toward You. &- /"&! +$15%& /*., $!'8" '.,
;'! "7.'
Aleinu
!+#,$
! Is fixing the world through the Almighty’s sovereignty different than just plain fixing it?
! What does the term Tikkun Olam mean?
In former times, a man was allowed to bring together a beit din 4$8** 2", %.$7 %"% %1$.!',
wherever he was, and cancel the get. Rabban Gamliel the Elder, &!"&*( 3,' 3"8+% ,$&6,*$ '0!
however, laid down a rule that this should not be done, so as to 3$8"+ "15* ,3- 3".$7 $%" !&. 38:%
prevent abuses. .4&$7%
Gittin 32a .), 01 -#.#/
Repairing the World: What is referred to? R. Johanan said: To 310$" '' ?4&$7% 3$8"+ "15* "!*
prevent illegitimacy. Resh Lakish said: To prevent wife-desertion. ."' ,4"':** +18+ "15* :'*!
'R. Johanan said to prevent illegitimacy,' for he held with R. '' .+$1$(7 +18+ "15* :'*! ."8&
',) ,4"':** +18+ "15* '*! 310$"
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YESHIVA UNIVERSITY • SHAVUOT TO-GO FOR FAMILIES • SIVAN 5768

3. Nahman who said [that the Get could be cancelled] before [a Beth ,.,)/ ,)-# :$'*+ ,&'() #$% !"
din of] two: [the proceedings] of two are not generally known, so *" *,!0 ,*"2 0!" 1," ,$1 ,#0
she, not having heard and not knowing [that the Get is cancelled] ,*#5),'0 !"4*0 !3+, *"0 !3'/
might go and marry again, and bear illegitimate children. .,$4'' *%,*0
Gittin 33a .$' %& !"#"$
! What sorts of rules were put in place to protect women from being divorced without their
knowledge?
! Is there a difference between this and the commandment to help those imprisoned?
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YESHIVA UNIVERSITY • SHAVUOT TO-GO FOR FAMILIES • SIVAN 5768