Human rights are defined as the basic moral entitlement and freedoms that belong to every person in the world. They are things that are absolutely necessary to live a dignified and secure life. As such, human rights are a core Jewish value. In the first chapter of Genesis we are told that:

Jewish Texts

Rights in Action

• Which of these rights offered ...protection?

• Which right provided something that ...was needed?

• Which offered participation?

• Which was the most relevant to us?

• What is the point of rights that we do ...not need? (Others might need them, ...even if we feel we do not)

• Why is it important that all rights ...should be respected and protected?

• How did the story show that even by ...taking away just one right, people ...could end up being killed?

• Can you think of modern examples ...that show how rights work together?

a. Human rights are only necessary in countries ...where there is a lot of poverty or war.

b. You have to be a certain age to have the right to ...be taken seriously and be heard.

c. Picking on someone is a violation of their human ...rights.

d. It is the government’s responsibility to make sure ...people have rights.

e. The right to say what you think does not mean ...you can attack other cultures or religions.

f. You have the right to create clubs and groups that ...exclude people you do not like.

g. You have an absolute right to get information even ...if some of it can be harmful to you, for example ...from the internet.

• What is freedom?

• Why is freedom important?

• What does it mean to be enslaved? ...What does this feel like?

• In what ways are you enslaved?

• How can you become a free person?