ABSTRACT
Human beings, who are created in God's image, are just a little lower than the angels. Humans are the custodians committed to appreciating and taking seriously the events and activities of the world, and ultimately charged with the task of mending creation itself. The Exodus experience is the central event for the Jewish people and bears witness to the very idea that freedom is an essential element for all human beings. There are two principal standards in the Genesis story: the supremacy of God and the sacredness of the individual. Not only is each human imbued with dignity, but he or she is also recognized as unique, with choices and responsibilities. The concept of the dignity and the sanctity of the individual are paramount in Judaism. The ideas and values that frame the concept of 'human rights' are among the core beliefs of Jewish sacred scripture and the tradition of beliefs and practices that flow from it.
