Jewish Tradition
Loving God, and obeying his laws, in particular the Ten Commandments are central to Jewish conceptions of virtue. Wisdom is also celebrated in the Book of Wisdom.
A classic articulation of the Golden Rule came from the first century Rabbi Hillel the Elder. Renowned in the Jewish tradition as a sage and a scholar, he is associated with the development of the Mishnah and the Talmud and, as such, one of the most important figures in Jewish history. Asked for a summary of the Jewish religion in the most concise terms, Hillel replied (reputedly while standing on one leg): "That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. That is the whole Torah. The rest is the explanation; go and learn."
It must be observed, however, that this Rule is a passive command: that one ought to refrain from certain action. Thus, this version of the "Golden Rule" is not completely what is usually called the Golden Rule. In Christianity, what Jesus of Nazareth teaches is a positive command, that one ought to DO certain acts.
According to the New Testament, Luke the physician (Lk 6:31-32) relates that the teaching of Jesus is: "Do to others as you would have them do to you. For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?"
Read more about this topic: Virtue
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