Judaism & Pacifism (Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B): Revision Note

What is pacifism?

• A pacifist is a person who believes that war and violence can never be justified and that conflicts should be settled peacefully

• Promoting justice and human rights is an important part of this

• They will not participate in any war, regardless of the reasons for that war

• All religions teach the importance of peace on earth and encourage their followers to live peacefully

• Throughout history, there have always been people prepared to refuse to use violence or fight in wars, even if it meant they faced imprisonment for their beliefs

• Conscientious objectors are people who refuse to participate directly in fighting wars on the grounds of conscience

  • They will assist in non-military ways, for example working as medics, in relief work and as mediators

Judaism and pacifism

• Judaism is not a pacifist religion, although individually Jews may be pacifists

  • It allows for self-defence and necessary wars (Milchemet Mitzvah)

• Although it is not a pacifist religion, Judaism does highlight the importance of peace:

‘Shun evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it’ (Psalm 34:15)

• The Torah emphasises the importance of pursuing peace before starting war:

• The Hebrew word Shalom means peace and wholeness, and Judaism teaches that peace should always be pursued

• Although not a pacifist religion, there have been Jewish teachings and individuals who have supported pacifism

  • The prophets, such as Isaiah, promoted a vision of peace 

• Throughout history (for example, during the Holocaust), Jews have often been victims of violence, leading some to advocate for non-violence and peace

• Organisations like Jewish Voice for Peace and Rabbis for Human Rights promote pacifism and conflict resolution today

• The principle of Pikuach Nefesh justifies breaking laws to save lives. This can influence Jewish attitudes toward war and peace

• However, some Jews argue that pacifism is unrealistic in a world where antisemitism and threats exist, leading to the belief in justified self-defence 

What is passive resistance?

• Passive resistance is a non-violent way of opposing authority or injustice

• Instead of using violence, people protest through peaceful methods such as strikes, boycotts, civil disobedience, and demonstrations

• Passive resistance is intended to highlight injustice and encourage change

• There have been many examples of passive resistance throughout history

  • Mahatma Gandhi led non-violent protests against British rule in India

  • Martin Luther King Jr. used passive resistance in the U.S. Civil Rights Movement

  • Jews resisted Nazi oppression by maintaining religious traditions and hiding from persecution

Jewish teachings about passive resistance

• Judaism teaches that while violence should be avoided whenever possible, standing up against injustice is important

  • Passive resistance, or non-violent opposition, is sometimes used to uphold Jewish values

• There are many different teachings related to passive resistance in Judaism

  • Judaism promotes peace and non-violence whenever possible (Psalm 34:14: ‘Seek peace and pursue it’)

  • Jews are taught to stand against injustice (Isaiah 1:17: ‘Seek justice, defend the oppressed’)

  • Passive resistance can be seen as part of the Jewish duty to improve the world (tikkun olam) through justice and ethical actions

Passive resistance in Judaism

• There have been many examples of passive resistance throughout Jewish history

• During the Holocaust, many Jews resisted oppression non-violently by preserving their religious traditions in secret, writing in ghettos, and maintaining cultural identity

  • For example, Emmanuel Ringelblum was a Polish Jew who, during his time in the Warsaw Ghetto, became a believer in armed resistance, although he remained passive as far as possible

• Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel campaigned for civil rights in America and called for an end to the USA’s war in Vietnam

  • In 1965, he joined Dr Martin Luther King Jr. to protest for voting rights for black Americans

IMAGE REQUIRED

Note to illustrator - Not sure if you can do anything with this picture or if you can find one that can be used. It is Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel campaigning with Martin Luther King

• Heschel spoke against the futility of war in his work and quoted from Habakkuk 2:13: ‘The nations exhaust themselves for nothing’

• The former Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks taught that: ‘Wars are won by weapons, but peace is won by ideas’ 

  • Sachs encouraged Jews, as well as those of other faiths or none, to work together to try and prevent conflict

• Groups like Jewish Voice for Peace and Rabbis for Human Rights use peaceful protests and civil disobedience to promote justice