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Tag Archive for: Shof’tim

Shof’tim – שֹׁפְטִים (Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: Shof’tim – שֹׁפְטִים (Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9)

צֶ֥דֶק צֶ֖דֶק תִּרְדֹּ֑ף לְמַ֤עַן תִּֽחְיֶה֙ וְיָרַשְׁתָּ֣ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לָֽךְ׃

Equitable justice you shall pursue, in order that you may thrive and inherit the land that Adonai your God is giving to you.

(Deuteronomy 16:20)

By repeating the phrase “justice, justice,” the Torah teaches us that true justice can only come from a place of equity. When we pursue an equitable society, each person in our communities can feel seen, accepted, and valued for who they are, receiving the treatment they deserve from the people in their communities, as well as fairness under the law. May we all pursue equitable justice for ourselves and every person in our lives.

Parsha Shof’tim – שֹׁפְטִים Torah Summary:

Laws regarding both sacred and secular legislation are addressed. The Israelites are told that in every dealing they should pursue justice in order to merit the land that God is giving them. (16:18–18:8) The people are warned to avoid sorcery and witchcraft, the abhorrent practices of their idolatrous neighbors. (18:9–22) God tells them that should an Israelite unintentionally kill another, he may take sanctuary in any of three designated cities of refuge. (19:1–13) Laws to be followed during times of peace and times of war are set forth. (19:14–21:9) Shof’tim – שֹׁפְטִים צֶ֥דֶק צֶ֖דֶק תִּרְדֹּ֑ף לְמַ֤עַן תִּֽחְיֶה֙ וְיָרַשְׁתָּ֣ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לָֽךְ׃ Equitable justice you shall pursue, in order that you may thrive and inherit the land that Adonai your God is giving to you. (Deuteronomy 16:20) By repeating the phrase “justice, justice,” the Torah teaches us that true justice can only come from a place of equity. When we pursue an equitable society, each person in our communities can feel seen, accepted, and valued for who they are, receiving the treatment they deserve from the people in their communities, as well as fairness under the law. May we all pursue equitable justice for ourselves and every person in our lives.

Shof’tim – שֹׁפְטִים (Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: Shof’tim – שֹׁפְטִים (Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9)

שֹׁפְטִ֣ים וְשֹֽׁטְרִ֗ים תִּֽתֶּן־לְךָ֙ בְּכׇל־שְׁעָרֶ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לְךָ֖ לִשְׁבָטֶ֑יךָ וְשָׁפְט֥וּ אֶת־הָעָ֖ם מִשְׁפַּט־צֶֽדֶק׃

Judges and officials shall you appoint for yourself, in each of your dwellings that Adonai your God is giving to you, for each of your tribes, that they may govern the people with charitable justice. – Deuteronomy 16:18

In commanding the Israelites to appoint officials for themselves, God reminds our ancestors and us that true justice is pursued through Tzedek, through loving, righteous, charitable intention. May we strive to be loving, righteous, charitable, and intentional in all the decisions we make in our own lives, no matter how small they may seem.

Parsha Shof’tim – שֹׁפְטִים Torah Summary:

Laws regarding both sacred and secular legislation are addressed. The Israelites are told that in every dealing they should pursue justice in order to merit the land that God is giving them. (16:18–18:8) The people are warned to avoid sorcery and witchcraft, the abhorrent practices of their idolatrous neighbors. (18:9–22) God tells them that should an Israelite unintentionally kill another, he may take sanctuary in any of three designated cities of refuge. (19:1–13) Laws to be followed during times of peace and times of war are set forth. (19:14–21:9) Shof’tim – שֹׁפְטִים שֹׁפְטִ֣ים וְשֹֽׁטְרִ֗ים תִּֽתֶּן־לְךָ֙ בְּכׇל־שְׁעָרֶ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לְךָ֖ לִשְׁבָטֶ֑יךָ וְשָׁפְט֥וּ אֶת־הָעָ֖ם מִשְׁפַּט־צֶֽדֶק׃ Judges and officials shall you appoint for yourself, in each of your dwellings that Adonai your God is giving to you, for each of your tribes, that they may govern the people with charitable justice. – Deuteronomy 16:18 In commanding the Israelites to appoint officials for themselves, God reminds our ancestors and us that true justice is pursued through Tzedek, through loving, righteous, charitable intention. May we strive to be loving, righteous, charitable, and intentional in all the decisions we make in our own lives, no matter how small they may seem. Laws regarding both sacred and secular legislation are addressed. The Israelites are told that in every dealing they should pursue justice in order to merit the land that God is giving them. (16:18–18:8) The people are warned to avoid sorcery and witchcraft, the abhorrent practices of their idolatrous neighbors. (18:9–22) God tells them that should an Israelite unintentionally kill another, he may take sanctuary in any of three designated cities of refuge. (19:1–13) Laws to be followed during times of peace and times of war are set forth. (19:14–21:9)

Shof’tim – שֹׁפְטִים (Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: Shof’tim – שֹׁפְטִים (Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9)

“When you approach a town to attack it, you shall offer it terms of peace.” Deuteronomy 20:10. Shalom (peace, wholeness, and wellness) and Justice are the only two Mitzvot in the entire Bible that we are commanded to actively pursue. We fulfill mitzvot when they occur to us, it’s peace we should always actively chase.

Parsha Shof’tim – שֹׁפְטִים Torah Summary:

Laws regarding both sacred and secular legislation are addressed. The Israelites are told that in every dealing they should pursue justice in order to merit the land that God is giving them. (16:18–18:8) The people are warned to avoid sorcery and witchcraft, the abhorrent practices of their idolatrous neighbors. (18:9–22) God tells them that should an Israelite unintentionally kill another, he may take sanctuary in any of three designated cities of refuge. (19:1–13) Laws to be followed during times of peace and times of war are set forth. (19:14–21:9) Shof’tim – שֹׁפְטִים “When you approach a town to attack it, you shall offer it terms of peace.” Deuteronomy 20:10. Shalom (peace, wholeness, and wellness) and Justice are the only two Mitzvot in the entire Bible that we are commanded to actively pursue. We fulfill mitzvot when they occur to us, it’s peace we should always actively chase. Laws regarding both sacred and secular legislation are addressed. The Israelites are told that in every dealing they should pursue justice in order to merit the land that God is giving them. (16:18–18:8) The people are warned to avoid sorcery and witchcraft, the abhorrent practices of their idolatrous neighbors. (18:9–22) God tells them that should an Israelite unintentionally kill another, he may take sanctuary in any of three designated cities of refuge. (19:1–13) Laws to be followed during times of peace and times of war are set forth. (19:14–21:9)

Shof’tim – שֹׁפְטִים (Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: Shof’tim – שֹׁפְטִים (Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9)

“Justice, justice shall you pursue, that you may thrive and occupy the land that your God יהוה is giving you” (Deuteronomy 16:20)

The only mitzvah in the entire Torah that we are commanded to pursue is pursuing justice. It is the goal of our teachings, to create a world of justice.

Parsha Shof’tim – שֹׁפְטִים Torah Summary:

Laws regarding both sacred and secular legislation are addressed. The Israelites are told that in every dealing they should pursue justice in order to merit the land that God is giving them. (16:18–18:8) The people are warned to avoid sorcery and witchcraft, the abhorrent practices of their idolatrous neighbors. (18:9–22) God tells them that should an Israelite unintentionally kill another, he may take sanctuary in any of three designated cities of refuge. (19:1–13) Laws to be followed during times of peace and times of war are set forth. (19:14–21:9) Shof’tim – שֹׁפְטִים “Justice, justice shall you pursue, that you may thrive and occupy the land that your God יהוה is giving you” (Deuteronomy 16:20) The only mitzvah in the entire Torah that we are commanded to pursue is pursuing justice. It is the goal of our teachings, to create a world of justice. Laws regarding both sacred and secular legislation are addressed. The Israelites are told that in every dealing they should pursue justice in order to merit the land that God is giving them. (16:18–18:8) The people are warned to avoid sorcery and witchcraft, the abhorrent practices of their idolatrous neighbors. (18:9–22) God tells them that should an Israelite unintentionally kill another, he may take sanctuary in any of three designated cities of refuge. (19:1–13) Laws to be followed during times of peace and times of war are set forth. (19:14–21:9)

Shof’tim – שֹׁפְטִים (Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: Shof’tim – שֹׁפְטִים (Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9)

“If, after you have entered the land that your God יהוה has assigned to you, and taken possession of it and settled in it, you decide, ‘I will set a king over me, as do all the nations about me,’” (Deuteronomy 17:14)

The law of the King is weird. It is not a mandatory Mitzvah, it is said if you want a King, like the others have, be my guest and appoint one. Laws are rarely up to us to decide whether we want to fulfill them or not. In the Torah doing what the other nations are doing is never a good thing. And Kings here, are doing what the other nations do.

The Bible clearly does not like kings or rulers, politics seems to be a compromise. The ideal society does not need a king or any kind of ruler. It is ruled by our ability to listen and obey what God wants us to do.

Parsha Shof’tim – שֹׁפְטִים Torah Summary:

Laws regarding both sacred and secular legislation are addressed. The Israelites are told that in every dealing they should pursue justice in order to merit the land that God is giving them. (16:18–18:8) The people are warned to avoid sorcery and witchcraft, the abhorrent practices of their idolatrous neighbors. (18:9–22) God tells them that should an Israelite unintentionally kill another, he may take sanctuary in any of three designated cities of refuge. (19:1–13) Laws to be followed during times of peace and times of war are set forth. (19:14–21:9) Shof’tim – שֹׁפְטִים