8 Jewish Perspectives on Restorative Justice Eliezer Segal Judaism is a 'traditional' religion in that its revealed scriptures are mediated and interpreted by a historical tradition, known as the 'oral Torah.' The word 'Torah' means 'instruction' and is applied narrowly to the first five books of the Bible. Although the Jewish Bible includes all the books of the standard Christian 'Old Testa- ment,' the books of the Torah are considered more important and authoritative than the others. Indeed, the other books of the Hebrew Bible are perceived by Jews primarily as exhortations and object lessons aimed at strengthening their devotion to the Torah.! At the core of the Torah is a variegated collection ofcommandments which, according to the normative Jewish belief, were revealed directly by God through Moses, greatest of the prophets, to the assembled peo- ple of Israel at Mount Sinai. Study and observance of these precepts forms the supreme measure of piety. Thus, spirituality is related more to adherence to the divine law than to acceptance of doctrinal truth or to the attainment of a mystical state. The legal component of Jewish religious discourse is known in Hebrew as "halakhah" (literally: 'walking'), as distinct from the more theoretical realms of "aggadah" ('talking'), which is normally not considered binding or normative. 2 Assuredly, the Bible presents us with several fundamental aggadic value-concepts that form the foundation of the Torah way of life. Some beliefs that have a bearing on the current topic include: the "divine image" that bestows value and dignity upon each person (Genesis 1:26); the common origin of all humanity (Genesis 5:1); peace (e.g., Psalms 34:13); love for one's fellow human being (Leviticus 19:18); lRl