Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9
Parshat Shoftim
Shoftim commands appointing judges and officers in every city: “Justice, justice you shall pursue.” It sets out the laws of the king, the kohanim and Levites, the prophet, the cities of refuge, the conduct of war, including the ban on destroying fruit trees, and the eglah arufah for an unsolved killing.
Essays
E-Lights Shoftim – The Two Dimensions of Jewish Kingship One of the Biblical commandments mentioned in this week’s parsha is the appointment of a king. Parsha Shoftim – Be Deliberate in Judgment We cannot escape being judgmental. We must therefore also judge ourselves, judge the totality of others and judge fairly. Parsha Shoftim – Chanukah in the Summer Rebellion against authority is embedded in our soul’s genes. Don’t try to stifle it. Channel it to tear down the walls of exile! Parsha Shoftim – Does the End Justify the Means? We can compromise our interests not our principles. A compromised justice is an injustice. Parsha Shoftim – Don’t Change the Subject! A story is told of a hapless bank robber who approaches the cashier and demands: “Give me $10,000 or else you’ll be geography!”… Parsha Shoftim – Dual Identity We have a public and private persona. Torah too has two parallel identities; its revealed and concealed teachings. To nurture both of our personas we must avail ourselves of both dimensions of Torah. Parsha Shoftim – Elul: A Month of Refuge and Joy Elul is the name of the last month of the year. Elul is the month that precedes the Jewish New Year and is therefore regarded as… Parsha Shoftim – Jewish Ecology There’s more to the world than the world we see. But the actions that we take in the world that we see enable us to see beyond our eye’s range. Parsha Shoftim – Justice of the Future There are two forms of justice: relative and ideal. Even in the time of exile, we must endeavor to anticipate and incorporate ultimate Messianic justice Parsha Shoftim – Officers or Advisors? Officers are needed to enforce the law. Counsellors are needed to make everyone receptive to the law. Parsha Shoftim – Retroactive If you want something enough, don’t just patiently wait for it; anticipate it, yearn for it, incorporate it and live it now! Parsha Shoftim – No Trees in Temple The question: Which comes first, truth or justice? He answer: It depends whose truth and whose justice. Parsha Shoftim – Separation of Powers Separation of powers is necessary as a prelude for their unification. Parsha Shoftim – Teshuvah Yes, Depression No! The perennial sport is wrestling with our Animal Soul. To win the match we must match our strength with positive energy. Parsha Shoftim – The Challenge of Intellectualism Intellect is a double-edged sword. It is true, “a mind is a terrible thing to waste.” Even worse is to waste our minds on rationalizing our behavior. Parsha Shoftim – The Obsession with Royalty Someone once said, “Democracy is the worst form of government except all others that have been tried.” There is one form of government that is truly the best; the Messianic version of the monarchy. Parsha Shoftim – The Spiritual I.n.s. Many are worried about keeping out the negative influences. The Torah is just as concerned, if not more, with keeping in the positive influences. Parsha Shoftim – The Symbiotic Sanhedrin We live in a misaligned world. The Holy Temple was a model of a perfect world where all levels were in perfect alignment. In the Messianic Age the entire world will experience that measure of synchronicity. Parsha Shoftim – Three Arguments for Redemption When you want something good from G-d, don’t settle for measured and finite good. Ask G-d for His infinite goodness. Parsha Shoftim – Three Roads to Geulah In our own time, intellectuals formulated the twin evils of Nazism and communism, which unleased havoc on the world and caused the death of millions. By contrast, knowledge of Torah does not only edify its students. Torah study also refines them, by providing a refuge from the hostile influences of Parsha Shoftim – The Two Tiered Crown Jewish law is G-d’s crown. The crown serves two functions. It evokes greater respect for the king’s orders. It’s crown Jewel elicits admiration for the king himself. Parsha Shoftim – Two Witnesses The test of loyalty is when it manifests itself in two opposite ways. Parsha Shoftim – What Are Eyes and Ears For? If we would realize the power of our five senses (“gates”) we would posts guards to secure them all the time. Guarded human “gates” would cause all the world’s ills to disappear. Parsha Shoftim – What’s Jewish About Labor Day? Labor Day usually occurs at the beginning of the academic calendar. Labor Day also coincides with the beginning of the Jewish New…