The concept of "neighbor" in Judaism

[ontheway1]

I recently came accross this statement on a web site devoted to Jewish law:

“In general, when the Torah states a law applying to one’s “neighbor,” the rabbis understand the law as applying to Jews and not to non-Jews.” The Non-Jew in Jewish Law | My Jewish Learning

The articles expands on the idea of talks about various interpretations of this law.

Our Christian concept of “neighbor” is significantly different. I wonder how this impacts Jewish attitutudes toward the Christians.

 

[meltzerboy2]

In Judaism, virtually everything is based on interpretation, which may differ both within and between different denominations of Judaism. In other words, for Judaism, G-d is in the details. And interpretations do vary within the limits of Jewish morality and ethics, as they do regarding secular law, such that even if the Law seems to state something explicitly, there is generally the plain meaning of the text as well as the contextual (and cultural) meaning. Thus the Oral Law (the Mishnah of the Talmud, as well as the Gemara: rabbinical commentaries of the Mishnah) must also be consulted to interpret the Written Law. Judaism is a law-centered religion: even the partnership between G-d and humanity is a legalistic one. This does not mean, however, that in Judaism justice always takes precedence over mercy, since the Law itself has built into it the requisites of kindness, compassion, and mercy. If you read the whole article carefully, you will find that the main fear of Jews at the time was that treatment of non-Jews as neighbors, association with them, might promulgate idolatry. (Note that even the term “idolatry” was interpreted in different ways: some rabbis defined this in the broad sense of general lawlessness rather than the specific meaning of worshiping false gods.) It is important to note that the Jewish Law has been interpreted in different ways and is subject to breaking. That is, just as Catholicism has the concept of binding and loosening its law, so does Judaism. For example, despite the dietary laws, a Jew, no matter how religious, may eat non-kosher food if it is a matter of life or health. And the Sabbath law of rest may be broken if it means preserving a life: and that generally means ALL human life, not only the life of a Jew. So, the title of this article is somewhat misleading; again, G-d is in the legalistic details.

 

[ontheway1]

So…the concept of “neighbor” is open to interpretation? How do you, then, decide, if I am your neighbor?

 

[Poldy]

How do you, then, decide, if I am your neighbor?

If you live next to me.