By the way, the wingnuts are really frothing over my posts about Jewish Law.

Apparently, I am not a Jew. Apparently, I am using silly liberal interpretations of scripture when quoting Avot.

Hillel famously said that “the essence of the Law is do not do to others what is hateful to you. All else is commentary, now go and study.”

This is core Judaism. Those I have quoted so far are Moses - who if you are observant is actually quoting G-d Himself directly, Isaiah (one of the most major prophets) and the sages of the Talmud.

Specifically, I draw most of my quotes from Pirkei Avot, which is one of the most famous Talmudic texts. Pirkei Avot literally means Ethics of the Fathers. I could have chosen many sources, but there are no bigger Rabbis then men like Judah HaNassi, Hillel and Akiva. Further, the entire first chapter of Avot is dedicated to the chain of transmission of the Law and these ethical principles from Moses, through the prophets to those Rabbiam. I am capitalizing the R in Rabbaim because those men had smicha.

No Jew who knows anything about Judaism will say otherwise.

Just as some further examples of other large rabbaim that I could have quoted to support what I was saying:

The Rambam, also known as Maimonides, who is perhaps the most famous of the Rishonim, because he was also a world famous, philosopher, scientist and physician, who is quoted frequently by Aquinas and all students of Western philosophy, wrote in great detail about everything I just have. Of course, he is infinitely greater than me in terms of Jewish learning.

For the record, even the Rambam quotes Pirkei Avot as something bigger than him!

“Along these lines did our Sages command us, ‘All your acts should be for the sake of Heaven’ (Pirkei Avos 2:17). And this is as Solomon in his wisdom stated, ‘In all your ways know Him and He will direct your paths.’ (Proverbs 3:6).”

On helping the poor and the weakest members of society:

“A person is obligated to be careful [in dealing] with orphans and widows since their souls are very lowly and their spirits are down — even if they are wealthy. We are cautioned even regarding the widow and orphans of a king, as it is stated, ‘Every widow and orphan you shall not afflict’ (Exodus 22:21).”

“Anticipate charity by preventing poverty; assist the reduced fellow man, either by a considerable gift or a sum of money or by teaching him a trade or by putting him in the way of business so that he may earn an honest livelihood and not be forced to the dreadful alternative of holding out his hand for charity. This is the highest step and summit of charity’s golden ladder.”

On not putting a stumbling block before the blind:

“Is is forbidden to fool others (‘lignov da’as’ — to steal the mind), even of a Gentile. How is this? One should not sell a Gentile meat from an unslaughtered (and so non-kosher) animal with the assumption it was slaughtered, nor [sell him] a shoe [made from the hide] of a dead [animal] in place of a shoe from a slaughtered one. One should not press his fellow to eat at his house knowing he won’t be able to. He should also not offer his fellow gifts knowing he will not accept them. Nor should one open barrels [of wine] for his fellow which he was going to open anyway (in order to market) in order to trick his fellow that he opened them specially in his honor. Likewise with anything similar. Even a single word of deception or trickery is forbidden. Rather, [one should have] honest lips, an upright spirit, and a heart pure of all vexation and mischief.”

Now what do you think the Rambam (the most famous physician of his time!) would say about, lying that tobacco was really ok for you and that there is no evidence it causes cancer, or lying that AGW is not real and there is no reason to change things?

I could go on with quotes from him. But I hope people see I am writing core Judaism.