A Framework for Inclusion and Exclusion in Jewish Law and Practice

In Jewish law and practice, people are identified as obligated, exempt, or forbidden to perform dictated actions (Mitzvot). Unfortunately, in our collective history, these categorical groupings have been misunderstood and too often, when people are exempt from a certain action, this has devolved into their being excluded by authorities and communities in the name of Jewish law. Contemporary cultural and political conservatism has continued to fuel this dynamic. Four categories of those who may be included or excluded will be examined, using Biblical, Rabbinic, and contemporary sources: (1) women; (2) race; (3) physical/mental differences; and (4) people who are different than we are.