Encouraging Equity and Equality in Our Communities Today

By Cathey, Swerdlow, WLCJ International Vice President and Education Chair

Over the years as I have engaged in Torah study on a more regular basis, whenever I reach the beginning of Leviticus, I let out a groan. After the family dramas, the escape from slavery, the magnificence of Mt. Sinai, the Torah now turns to animal slaughter, entrails on the altar, and other disgusting details. What a letdown!

But this year, in true rabbinic fashion, I found something to mull over and relate to that I hadn’t fully understood before. In the opening discussion of the guilt offering that we read about last Shabbat there is this exchange (Lev 5:1-13) – “For a guilt offering bring a female from the flock, sheep or goat…but if his means do not suffice, two turtledoves or pigeons…but if his means do not suffice, a tenth of an ephah of choice flour.”

As I read through this passage, it hit me…this is an example of the interplay between equality and equity, two words that get bantered around a lot and, in some circles, even derided as negatives.

Equality – the laws apply equally to all people. Each person has an equal responsibility to endeavor to live a life free of incurring guilt. That is the law. But life is complicated, mistakes are made, and guilt is incurred. If there was only one kind of sacrifice that could be brought the potential would exist that there would be an unequal burden to be shouldered by members of the community.

Equity – the Torah recognizes that not every person has the same resources. So, the Torah immediately sets up a more equitable system. According to a person’s means, the sacrifice offering is adjusted. The ritual still functions in the same manner and expiation is made for the guilt, but there is equity in how the law applies within the community.

What are equality and equity today, in our communities? As an example, we need to have equality of access…to education, to healthcare, to justice, to clean air and water and more. And yet, even when the goal is equality, without addressing equity there is often little semblance of equality.

Suppose you are a teacher in a classroom, and you want everyone to be able to see what you write on the board at the front of the room. Would you put the tallest children in the front row? No, they would obstruct the view of shorter children behind them. Maybe you would arrange the desks in such a way that each child has a clear view of the board, rather than the typical setup with straight rows. And if one child can’t see because she needs glasses you would make sure she gets a pair, but you wouldn’t get a pair for every child. These considerations are examples of seeking equity.

When navigating in the community with the goal of equality, striving for equity is not showing favoritism or discrimination. Rather, it is treating individuals with dignity and respect, understanding a person’s needs and addressing systemic issues that will enable us to create a community of equality and justice. 

Perhaps that is why the Torah embeds these lessons here, amid the messiness of the details of sacrificial offerings. Our world is full of messiness and in order to make sense of it we need to wade through the muck and find our way to the truth.

Shabbat Shalom,

Cathy Swerdlow
WLCJ International Vice President and Education Chair
cswerdlow@wlcj.org