Omer 2025 Day 16

Day 15 | Day 17

Day 16: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Gevurah in Tiferet, Justice/Bravery in Compassion

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." -Atticus Finch

There may not be a character more associated with justice and bravery than Atticus Finch. As a lawyer, he understands that justice is not only about the law, but about human perception and emotion, which, unfortunately, are not in his client's favor as a black man in the Jim Crow south. Still, he does not shrink from the task of defending his client or bow to societal pressure for mob rule. He stands for justice and, in doing so, demands that the rest of the town see beyond the prejudice and stereotype of his client to the real person and witness the injustice of their society, even though the trial's outcome would remain unjust.

Sometimes change is painfully slow. Sometimes good people suffer while our society takes its time doing the right thing. But Atticus Finch's life echoes the Jewish teachings, "Justice, justice shall you pursue" (Deuteronomy 16:20) and "You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it" (Pirkei Avot 2:16). To make the world more just requires good people to pursue it, to stand for it, to speak against injustice, and force others to bear witness to it, rather than turning away in discomfort or indifference.