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The Jewish Legal Heritage Society
Human Dignity in Jewish Law Chapter 1 Introduction
Chapter 2 The Dignity of A Human Being is the Dignity of God
1. The Rule: There is no Wisdom, Reasoning or Deduction that Contradicts Gods Word
2. Ramifications of the Rule
a) Human Dignity – Rabbinic Prohibition
b) The Respect for Kings – Rabbinic Prohibition
c) Importance of Human Dignity that it Overrides a Prohibition in the Torah – Rabbinic Prohibition
d) Nullification of a Torah Precept (Return of a Lost Object) due to Human Dignity – Monetary Matters
3. Concepts in the Jerusalem Talmud and their Corresponding Discussion in the Babylonian Talmud
a) The Removal of kilayim from Clothing
b) Overrides a Torah Prohibition
c) The Respect of the Public
Chapter 3 Details and Limitations
1. Respect for Kings of Israel and Respect for Gentile Kings
2. Respect – Objective or Subjective?
3. The Intention to Humiliate and Inherited Honor
4. The Concept of Rabbinic Precepts’ Suspension due to Human Dignity
5. The Dignity of the Individual and of the Public
6. Relinquishing Honor
a) A Torah Scholar who Forgoes his Honor
b) Humiliation Which a Person Accepts Purposely
7. Dignity of One who is not Before Others
8. Honor for the Dead
9. Rabbinic and Torah Precepts
10. Overrides Monetary Law
11. Differences in Humiliation
Chapter 4 The Value of Human Dignity and its Ramifications
1. Extraction of Testimony in Court
2. Leniency with regard to a Mourner Cutting his Hair
3. Stringency in Avoiding Injuring Someone’s Honor
4. Preserving Human Dignity While Administering Punishment
5. A Priest’s Nudity in an Impure Place
6. The Dignity of a Poor Bride
7. The Dignity of the Son of an Apostate
8. The Dignity of the Family of one who Committed Suicide
9. To Hide from a Husband his Wife’s Infidelity
10. The King’s Honor
11. The Dignity of an Unfaithful Wife
12. To Save the Dignity of the Poor
13. Dying Hair
Chapter 5 Laws Enacted to Save the Underprivileged from Humiliation
Chapter 6 Conclusion
Appendix
1. Removal of a Garment if the Tzitzit Tear
2. Personal Hygiene
3. The Disagreement of Rambam and Rosh with regard to One who Sees His Friend Wearing Kilayim
4. Basic Law: Human Dignity and Freedom
5. Law Protecting Individuals with Disabilities