ABSTRACT
This chapter explores how nonviolence, and these related terms, has been understood in the Hebrew Bible, as well as in later sacred Jewish texts, such as the Talmud and classical Midrash. Changes in beliefs and practices as related to nonviolence reflect ways that contemporary Jews have modified these ancient ideas for current situations. In order to gain a deeper understanding of Judaism and nonviolence, people need to explore different threads that, when woven together, provide a fuller tapestry of nonviolence within Judaism, as the term “nonviolence,” historically speaking, is relatively recent. The Hebrew Bible also contains examples of nonviolence where one does not see the words shalom , tzedek , or mishpat , such as episodes reflecting active resistance. Like the Hebrew Bible, the Talmud and Midrash do not have a single usage of “peace” or “justice” but utilize these terms in a multiplicity of ways.
