The big idea: The guide's Theme 5 heading is short: central ethical principles are derived from the Torah.
The two principles
- Love: of God (Deuteronomy 6: 4) and of neighbour (Leviticus 19: 18)
- The Golden Rule
Commanded, not recommended: Both are commandments. Judaism does not recommend love; it obliges it.
Love of God
- Deuteronomy 6: 4 — the opening of the Shema
- Worn in tefillin, fixed in the mezuzah
- So the commandment is carried physically
- And recited daily rather than felt occasionally
Love of neighbour
- Leviticus 19: 18 — the second half of the guide's pairing
- Expressed as the Golden Rule
- Applied through the ethical mitzvot, binding in all traditions
- And worked out case by case in halakhah
The distinction that organises the theme: All the mitzvot are either ritual or ethical — and the guide notes that a good mixture is seen in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5).
Then the line that matters: all ethical mitzvot are binding in all traditions. Whatever the movements dispute, they do not dispute this.
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Jewish ethics across the movements. The first row does not vary — start an essay there.
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The move that gets credit: Open with the agreement, then explain the disagreement.
"All ethical mitzvot are binding in all traditions; what the movements dispute is the ritual mitzvot, and only where these no longer serve their original purpose." That sentence is accurate, and most answers do not manage it.
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The guide's most striking ethical sentence: "God is forgiving but he cannot forgive a person on behalf of another if that person has not tried to make amends."
A limit on divine forgiveness, stated as doctrine. Wrongs against people have to be settled with people first.
Teshuvah in Jewish teaching. The order is not optional — amends to a person come before forgiveness from God.
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Why this matters for Part 1 too: The fundamental question columns in paper 1 ask what goes wrong for human beings and what can be done about it.
Judaism's answer is unusually practical: transgression against the covenant, teshuvah as turning, amends to the person wronged, and forgiveness from God — with the middle step non-negotiable.
How this is tested. Theme 5 asks where ethical guidance comes from and how a tradition applies core teachings to new questions.
Explain the basis of Jewish ethics.
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