Q&A: Morality and Jewish Law
Morality and Jewish Law
Question
Rabbi, I’m trying to summarize the views that emerged from your lecture regarding morality and Jewish law:
A. The Hazon Ish (apparently) and Leibowitz — there is only Jewish law, with no morality at all, and there is no need to bring morality into halakhic consideration.
B. Rabbi Kook — there is only morality, and the Torah is essentially the highest moral embodiment.
C. Maimonides — in the Torah there are moral commandments and there are also religious commandments; a mixture within the Torah.
D. Rabbi Shimon Shkop — ? Where does he stand?
E. Ran, Derashah 11, and the Rabbi’s view — two completely different categories, where in situations of distress or pressing circumstances one must take the other into account.
Answer
Rabbi Shimon Shkop does not say anything clearly defined. He holds that there are binding rules prior to Jewish law. That is, in his view Jewish law does not include all morality and all obligations. That is certainly not Leibowitz (though in my opinion Leibowitz meant E), and apparently not Rabbi Kook either.