Shoftim 2021
Isaac’s Parsha Corner · 2021
“Love thy brother as thyself” (Judge him/her favorably)
Rav Yitzchak Says, G-d holds two things in His right hand, Charity and Torah. “Charity fills your right hand.” (Psalms 48:11) and “From His right hand comes the fire of Torah.” (Deut 33:2) Two items are in His hand; the soul of a person (Nefesh) “In His hand is the soul of all living things.” (Job 12:10) and Justice (Din). “I will grasp justice in My right hand.” G-d has said, “The soul and justice are in My hand. If you observe justice I will guard your souls”. Therefore, “You shall appoint judges and officers” (Midrash Rabah Shoftim Paragraph #3)
As we anticipate Rosh Hashanah the Parsha inspires and gives us direction as to how obtain a positive outcome from our personal and collective “Day of Judgment”. As important as are charity and Torah study, only Justice will guarantee a positive outcome on our judgment day. This Midrash requires further analysis. What exactly is the special nature of Justice that carries the day for our people? It could be as simple as a “Measure for a measure” (Midah Keneged Midah). Meaning that G-d will judge us fairly if we do the same for one another. This could be understood in many ways. It could be in terms of fair treatment within the legal court system. That is certainly the plain way to understand the Midrash which quotes the pasuk at the beginning of Parshat Shoftim. “You shall appoint judges and officers” Or it could be more personal. If we see each other in a positive light G-d will act accordingly and will see us exactly that way.
Another Midrash further gives us inspiration: “Go to the ant lazy one, see its ways and become wise. It has neither judges nor police nor leader, yet prepares during summer and in the harvest time.” (Proverbs 21:3)The ant lives no more than six months. Why accumulate so much material? The ant says, “Maybe G-d will extend my life longer. I prepare for that.” So should you prepare Mitzvot in this world in order to gain for the next world. (Midrash Rabah Shoftim Paragraph #2)
This Midrash teaches us about hope when hope is absurd. The ant that never lives more than six months yet hopes that G-d will change His decree and extend its short life for another few months. We, despite thousands of years in exile, were never to give up on the hope to return to our promised land. This we learned from the ant.
The Midrash continues: “What is the meaning of, “See its ways and become wise”? The Rabbis answered, “See how it has run away from stealing”. R Shimon son of Chalafta said, a story is told of an ant that dropped his wheat kernel. All the ants came and smelled it. No ant would touch it until its original owner returned and found it. Learn from those ants that, without Judges or Police or Leaders were careful not to take what was not theirs. You who have leaders and judges and police you must certainly listen to their direction.
This story emphasizes the need for a structured systematic approach to maintaining a community committed to keeping G-d’s commandments. We don’t have the ant’s natural instinctive repulsion from taking what is not ours. Yet we have the power to set a system that assures us just that same outcome. I we are to take G-d’s commandments seriously we should therefore appoint “Judges and Police” so as to assure that we are at least as moral as the lowly ant.
Dedicated to the memory of my mother Chanah Peryl bas Shalom Ve- Pesil whose yurtzeit was 30th of Av