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Rituals and Kindness


Question:

What is a Jew supposed to emphasize in life? It seems to me that most Jews are more concerned with keeping rituals than with doing acts of kindness and helping the needy. Thanks.



AskTheRabbi.org answered:

We are supposed to be as concerned about acts of kindness as we are about keeping the rituals, but it is important to stress that even the acts of kindness have rules that define them and guide us as how to perform them properly. The prophet adjures the Jewish People to be a "Light Unto the Nations". This means that we must strive to live in accordance with God's will in this world and in this way serve as spiritual role models all humanity.


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