Parashat Shoftim 5784

Parashat Shoftim has many important lessons for all people, and specifically for Am Yisrael, the people of Israel. The name of the Torah reading, Shoftim, means judges. We are taught that to live in a civil society we must appoint judges, officials, magistrates, to create a community of justice. We are told to pursue justice, tzedek tzedek tirdof – Justice, justice, you shall pursue (Deuteronomy 16:20). Why is the word tzedek, justice, repeated twice? I have not researched this specific commentary, but a thought I had was that there are often different situations for which we need to pursue justice – ones that we can see; and also those that we cannot see – silent situations. For example, we do not know what is happening to the hostages taken by Hamas, but we must not remain silent to their plight. Many hostages who have returned have not even shared all they endured, but we must not remain silent. We must bring each one home. Even if a situation is not transparent, even when one might stay silent, or we are not able to be with the person treated unjustly, we must pursue justice. Some situations which need our attention, or justice, may be obvious, but sometimes, we are not aware of what is truly happening.  In any event, we need to be present for our fellow person, to pursue what is needed to rectify a situation, or find a way to improve it – tikkun olam, repairing the world. Together we can make this world a better world to live in. Am Yisrael Chai!  The People of Israel Live!