Shiur #03: R. Lipshutz's Attitude towards Non-Jews www.etzion.org.il

MODERN RABBINIC THOUGHT

 

Shiur #03: R. Lipshutz's Attitude towards Non-Jews

 

By Rav Yitzchak Blau

 

 

While the Torah's ritual law applies mostly in an exclusively Jewish context, ethical obligations bear a more universal quality.  Pirkei Avot, a tractate dedicated primarily to ethical responsibilities, thus may address the gentile world as well; ethical maxims in Avot might provide guidance for non–Jews along with Jews.  Additionally, the ethical demands made upon Jews can also apply to their social interaction with gentiles.  No rabbinic commentator developed this theme as extensively as R. Lipschutz.

 

Some background will provide a linguistic frame of reference for R. Lipshutz's comments.  R. Shimon bar Yochai taught that non-Jewish cadavers do not convey ritual impurity to other items or people located in the same building with them (tumat ohel).  The biblical verse about cadavers conveying impurity in this manner speaks of "adam" (Bamidbar 19:14), a term that excludes gentiles.  The Rabbis, however, disagree with R. Shimon (Yevamot 61a).  

 

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R. Lipshutz's Attitude towards Non-Jews | Yeshivat Har Etzion

Israel Lipschitz - Wikipedia