How to Find Humanity: Honoring Everyone’s Inherent Worth and Valuing Every Human Being

What are we here to do? Why was I born and what should I be doing? What is my purpose, on earth, right now? When we’re struggling with the world, many turn to religion for a guide, but it’s not necessary. The question we’re really asking ourselves is, “What do I value?”

In Judaism, to grow into better humans is our life’s work. Our key purpose is to learn/study, to do good deeds, and to repair (if we cause harm or falter). To become better people, it’s essential to align with our values (Middot), here and now. Being intentionally values-led isn’t meant to be easy, but it is a worthy endeavor.

One very important Jewish value (Midah) is Kavod כָּבֹד which means Dignity, Honor, and Respect. I’ve written about Kavod before — even on LinkedIn.
Why? Without it, we can’t create a future with equality. Without it there is no pay equity or an end to gender based violence.

Without Kavod, we cannot heal the earth.

LOOK DEEPER.

Kavod is the cornerstone of co-existence. Without it, we don’t even SEE each other. If we cannot see each other, we cannot see the truth.

Kavod is evident in how we show up. If you care about human rights, you care about dignity.

LOOK at how people show up. Really SEE people.
Not just at the news, but at the humans.

Who is making an effort to take away someone’s dignity, to dishonor or disrespect them?

Whether you believe in God, Allah, Hashem, the Beatles, or yourself, ask yourself these questions:

Who is acting honorably right now, on the news? Who is acting violent right now?

Who is actively trying to strip people of their basic needs?
Who is trying to be better than, more holy than? Who is using their power to make the other person feel small at every turn?

Who is being treated with Kavod right now? Not just one day, but every day.

Look at…
…pictures, not just October 2023 but 2018, 2008, or even 1948.
…at the history. Read Israel’s Wikipedia page, and ask yourself if that is the whole story.

Look at who..
…is in military gear. Do the pictures remind you of anything?
…is posting “What about X?” Are they commenting in support of something or calling names and belittling the OP?
…the youth protesting. Did protests of violence throughout history change history for the better? Do we see protests from the 60s as a mistake?
…has all the money. Do the people with the billions represent the people actually fighting and dying? Are they at risk?
…is being interviewed on a street with no rubble, with shops and “civilized people” all around?
…is emotional, distraught? Who’s hunched over crying over a bombed out area.
…is crying? Who is smirking, laughing, or saying sweeping statements?
…who is calling who names, and who is begging for peace?
…is using language to disrespect, disregard and dishonor human suffering. Who is doing so, not just by omission, but by changing the subject, or using different words for one human vs. another?
…is walking for days, on the run with the shirts on their back, no water, no food, no cellphones to call relatives? Who is sleeping in their own bed, and who is drinking rain water off their tent?

Who is actively working towards reparations or advocating for the “Loss and Damage fund” for vulnerable communities suffering from climate change? Who is working to end this nightmare of a war?

…

Support the ones treating others with כָּבֹד period.

Emily Weltman is a writer, social entrepreneur, and intersectional feminist Leading with Purpose and founder of Collective Flow Consulting and the FLOWLab and cofounder of Rage 2 Rainbows.

For more on gender, racial, and economic justice, and ideas on reinventing the workplace and healing the world: check out InfodumpsterFire.com and subscribe to The Hot List.

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This post was previously published on medium.com.

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