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Religion and Justice – from Leviticus to Lily
Rabbi Harry Martin Jacobi Memorial Lecture, 24 January 2021
in European Judaism
Author:
Margaret Jacobi
Margaret Jacobi
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Abstract
This article was a memorial lecture to the author's father, Rabbi Harry Jacobi, and begins with a tribute to his commitment to justice. It traces the concept of justice and its application from Leviticus to the Talmud to Lily Montagu. It suggests three models of approaching justice. In Leviticus, the principle of justice is clear and its application radical, especially in the concept of the Jubilee year. In the Talmud, the complexity of justice is addressed. Examples are given of debates about disputed possession, compensation and taxation. Finally, a biography of Lily Montagu and examples of her work are presented to show how she put the theory of justice into practice. It is suggested that a threefold approach to building justice is needed: a strong sense of justice, an acknowledgement of the complexities and a commitment to actively working for justice.
Contributor Notes
Margaret Jacobi was blessed as a baby by Lily Montagu and had a Liberal Jewish upbringing. After studying medicine and working in medical research she was ordained at Leo Baeck College. She was the rabbi of Birmingham Progressive Synagogue from 1994 to 2023 and obtained a PhD in Talmud in 2014.