Masechet Zechuyot Ha'Adam: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights with Jewish Sources

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

With Corresponding Jewish Text References, In English and Hebrew Introduction to the document:

On December 10, 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights the full text of which appears in the following pages. Following this historic act the Assembly called upon all Member countries to publicize the text of the Declaration and "to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories."

International human rights law was made necessary in large part because of the atrocities committed by the Nazis against the Jews during the Holocaust. The Jewish focus on the creation of the human being in the divine image, the right of each person to be free from oppression and shame, and the idea that we cannot forget that we were strangers in the land of Egypt link Jewish values with those expressed in the Universal Declaration. As Jews, we study this text as a sacred text, one that ensures that the world never forgets the obligations of its citizens to respect each other at their core. Please notice that the text first listed in each section is from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is followed by a corresponding Jewish source in English and then in Hebrew. Read an uninterrupted copy of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

PREAMBLE

Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

Genesis 1:27-28

God created the human in God's image. In the image of God, God created him, male and female he created them. And God blessed them.
ויברא אלהים את האדם בצלמו בצלם אלהים ברא אתו זכר ונקבה ברא אתם ויברך אתם אלהים

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people…

Isaiah 58:6-9

This is the fast that I desire: to unlock fetters of wickedness, and untie the cords of the yoke. To let the oppressed go free; to break off every yoke. It is to share your bread with the hungry, and to take the wretched poor into your homes; When you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to ignore your own kin. Then shall your light burst through like the dawn and your healing shall spring up quickly; Your Vindicator shall march before you, the presence of God shall be your rear guard. Then, when you call, God will answer. When you cry, God will say, "Here I am."

הלוא זה צום אבחרהו פתח חרצבות רשע התר אגדות מוטה ושלח רצוצים חפשים וכל מוטה תנתקו

הלוא פרס לרעב לחמך ועניים מרודים תביא בית כי תראה ערם וכסיתו ומבשרך לא תתעלם

אז יבקע כשחר אורך וארכתך מהרה תצמח והלך לפניך צדקך כבוד יקוק יאספך

אז תקרא ויקוק יענה תשוע ויאמר הנני

Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations…

Isaiah 2:4

Thus God will judge among the nations and arbitrate for the many peoples. And they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their swords into pruning hooks. Nation shall not take up sword against nation; They shall never again know war.

ושפט בין הגוים והוכיח לעמים רבים וכתתו חרבותם לאתים וחניתותיהם למזמרות לא ישא גוי אל גוי חרב ולא ילמדו עוד מלחמה

Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,

Malachi 2:10

Have we not all one Parent? Has not one God created us? Why should we be faithless to each other, profaning the covenant of our ancestors?

הלוא אב אחד לכלנו הלוא אל אחד בראנו מדוע נבגד איש באחיו לחלל ברית אבתינו:

Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.

May it be your will, Source of Life, that every one of your creations strive to fulfill your vision of peace and create a world in which everyone lives in freedom, free from fear. May we work to learn about these rights, educate others, and reinforce them daily in our lives. If there are those who do not live in freedom, then none of us truly is free. If there are those who live without basic dignity, then all of our dignity is compromised. We ask for your blessing on our leaders, who work to enshrine these rights in law. Give them the gift of true understanding and may we never experience war and devastation as human beings again.

Article 1.

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Genesis Rabbah 24

Ben Azzai taught: "This is the line of Adam" (Genesis 5:1) is the most important concept in the Torah. Rabbi Akiva taught: "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18) is a greater concept, so that no one should say: "Because I have been dishonored, let my fellow person be dishonored." Rabbi Tanhuma taught,"If you do thus, know that the person you have dishonored was created in the image of God."

בן עזאי א' זה ספר תולדות אדם כלל גדול בתורה, ר' עקיבה א' ואהבת לרעך כמוך (ויקרא יט יח) כלל גדול ממנו, שלא תאמר הואיל וניתבזיתי יתבזה חבירי, אמר ר' תנחומ' אם עשית כן דע למי אתה מבזה בדמות אלהים עשה אתו

Article 2.

Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Tosephta Sanhedrin 8:4

Adam was created alone. And why was he created alone in this world? So that the righteous could not say, "We are the children of someone righteous," and so the wicked could not say, "We are the children on someone wicked."

אדם נברא יחידי ולמה נברא יחידי בעולם שלא יהו צדיקים אומרין אנו בניו של צדיק ושלא יהו הרשעים אומ' אנו בניו של רשע

Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5

Therefore, Adam was created alone, to teach us that anyone who wastes one life in this world, the Torah treats them as though they had wasted a full world, and anyone who saves a life, the Torah treats them as though they had saved an entire world. And also for peace among creation, so that no person could say to another, "My ancestor was greater than yours," and to demonstrate God's greatness. When a person stamps coins, how many coins does he make from one mold and yet all are alike. And God stamps every person with the mold of the first person, and none are alike! Therefore, everyone is required to say, "For my sake the world was created." לפיכך נברא אדם יחידי ללמדך שכל המאבד נפש אחד מעלה עליו הכתוב כאילו איבד עולם מלא וכל המקיים נפש אחת מעלה עליו הכתוב כאילו קיים עולם מלא ומפני שלום הבריות שלא יאמר אדם לחבירו אבא גדול מאביך ...ולהגיד גדולתו של הקדוש ברוך הוא שאדם טובע כמה מטבעות בחותם אחד וכולן דומין זה לזה ומלך מלכי המלכים הקדוש ברוך הוא טבע כל אדם בחותמו של אדם הראשון ואין אחד מהן דומה לחבירו לפיכך כל אחד ואחד חייב לומר בשבילי נברא העולם

Article 5.

No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment:

משנה מסכת סנהדרין פרק ד
משנה ה
[ה] כיצד מאיימין את העדים על עדי נפשות היו מכניסין אותן ומאיימין עליהן שמא תאמרו מאומד ומשמועה עד מפי עד ומפי אדם נאמן שמענו או שמא אי אתם יודעין שסופינו לבדוק אתכם בדרישה ובחקירה הוו יודעין שלא כדיני ממונות דיני נפשות דיני ממונות אדם נותן ממון ומתכפר לו דיני נפשות דמו ודם זרעיותיו תלוין בו עד סוף העולם שכן מצינו בקין שהרג את אחיו שנאמר (בראשית ד') דמי אחיך צועקים אינו אומר דם אחיך אלא דמי אחיך דמו ודם זרעיותיו דבר אחר דמי אחיך שהיה דמו מושלך על העצים ועל האבנים

Article 7.

All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.
Deuteronom 1:16-17
I charged your magistrates saying, "Hear out your fellow person, and decide justly between any person and a fellow Israelite or stranger. You shall not be partial in judgment: hear out high and low alike. Fear no person, for judgment is God's.

(טז) ואצוה את שפטיכם בעת ההוא לאמר שמע בין אחיכם ושפטתם צדק בין איש ובין אחיו ובין גרו:
(יז) לא תכירו פנים במשפט כקטן כגדל תשמעון לא תגורו מפני איש כי המשפט לאלהים הוא

Article 8.

Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.

Deteronomy 16:18-20a

You shall appoint magistrates and officials for your tribes, in all the settlements that Adonai your God is giving you, and they shall govern the people with due justice. You shall not judge unfairly; you shall show no partiality; you shall not take bribe, for bribes, for bribes blind the eyes of the discerning and upset the plea of the just. Justice, justice shall you pursue, that you may thrive. שפטים ושטרים תתן לך בכל שעריך אשר ה אלהיך נתן לך לשבטיך ושפטוּ את העם משפט צדק: לא תטה משפט לא תכיר פנים ולא תקח שחד כי השחד יעור עיני חכמים ויסלף דברי צדיקים: צדק צדק תרדף למען תחיה :

Article 12.

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

Baba Metzia 58bAnyone who shames his fellow in public, it is as if he spilled blood.

דמים כל המלבין פני חבירו ברבים כאילו שופך

Article 25.

(1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.

(2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

Zechariah 7:10Do not defraud the widow, the orphan, the stranger, and the poor; and do not plot evil against one another.

תחשבו בלבבכם ואלמנה ויתום גר ועני אל תעשקו ורעת איש אחיו אל:

Article 26.

(1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.

(2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.

(3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

Talmud Kiddusin 29a

A parent is obligated to circumcise their son redeem him, and teach their children Torah and find them a spouse and teach them a trade. Some say: Also teach them to swim.

האב חייב בבנו למולו, ולפדותו, וללמדו תורה, ולהשיאו אשה, וללמדו אומנות; וי"א: אף להשיטו במים; רבי יהודה אומר: כל שאינו מלמד את בנו אומנות - מלמדו ליסטות. ליסטות ס"ד? אלא, כאילו מלמדו ליסטות.

Article 29.

Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.

Netivot Shalom: Lekh Lekha

No person is like another. From the day of the creation of Adam and onward, no person can fix in this world what it is the responsibility of another to fix. Everyone has his or her destiny and assignment in life.אינו דומה אדם לאדם מיום בריאת אדם והלאה ואין אדם אחד יכול לתקן מה שעל חברו לתקן

היינו שלכל אדם יש לא יעודו ותפקידו אותו ירד לעולם לתקנו כידוע.