Issues Surrounding Conflict

Question 1

What are Jewish views on violence?

Answer 1

1. Judaism is based on mutual respect in society, violent people have no understanding of their responsibilities
2. Violence without a just cause is sinful
3. Have to protect the weak, violence is the opposite of that
4. Jewish people should defend human rights, violence denies this

Question 2

How to Jews work to overcome these issues?

Answer 2

1. Terrorist attacks are condemned by leading rabbis
2. American Jewish Committee creates alliances with people from diverse backgrounds.
3. Visiting the areas of attacks

Question 3

What are non-religious attitudes to conflict?

Answer 3

1. Humanists feel it is fundamentally wrong for civilians to be directly targeted
2. The ends can never justify the means, no matter how ‘good’ the cause the terrorists are fighting for is.

Question 4

SOWAAs:

Answer 4

1. “defending the fatherless.”
2. “defending…the oppressed.”
3. “Judaism rejects violence.” Colombus Platform