Challenging authority and questioning norms seem to be central aspects of Judaism. Our greatest leaders from the Torah, the Prophets, and the Talmud, up to current times, have been outspoken voices protesting unfairness, even arguing with God and other authority figures for the sake of justice for all.
This week Moses put down a rebellion by Korach. Throughout the Book of Numbers, Moses faced protests from almost every direction.
What constitutes a reasonable protest?
As Jews we have wrestled with the answer to that question for millennia.
Jewish voices agree that a protest on the grounds of fairness and justice must be more than self-motivated. In order to validly object to governing authorities, we must think big, beyond our own personal interests, and see ourselves as interwoven into the fate of bigger communities.
Arguments and protests for the greater good are at the heart of Judaism.