Torah: Deuteronomy 16:18 - 21:9
Haftarah: Isaiah 51:12 - 52:12 (Fourth Haftarah of Consolation)
4 Elul 5773 / 9-10 August 2013
Dedications and Calendar of Events follow.
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Exercising Judgment
“Judges and officers shall you appoint for you in all your gates that the Lord your God is giving you for your tribes; and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment.” Deuteronomy 16:18
The commentary Toldot Yaakov Yosef understands the word “l’kha”, “for you”, to mean “for yourself”. He says, “First, judge yourself. And to that extent by which you judge yourself, also judge others. But you may not be lenient with yourself, forgiving yourself, and yet be strict and meticulous with others, expecting from them that which you are unable to fulfill. In all your gates - in all the measurements of yourself.” (The concluding sentence is a pun - the Hebrew word for “gate” is “sha’ar”, for “measurement” it is “shi’ur”)
This is a nice lesson, but is there anyone who would not say it is obvious? It’s hypocritical and unfair to judge others more harshly than we judge ourselves. We learned that in kindergarten! So why does he teach it here?
We have just entered the month of Elul, the final run-up to Rosh Hashanah. Jewish tradition teaches that in Elul, we are to engage in “cheshbon hanefesh”, literally “an accounting of the soul” - self-evaluation. It is also a tradition that during Elul, the shofar is sounded each weekday, to remind us that Rosh Hashanah is coming. Why do we need a reminder? We can read a calendar!
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Exercising Judgment
“Judges and officers shall you appoint for you in all your gates that the Lord your God is giving you for your tribes; and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment.” Deuteronomy 16:18
The commentary Toldot Yaakov Yosef understands the word “l’kha”, “for you”, to mean “for yourself”. He says, “First, judge yourself. And to that extent by which you judge yourself, also judge others. But you may not be lenient with yourself, forgiving yourself, and yet be strict and meticulous with others, expecting from them that which you are unable to fulfill. In all your gates - in all the measurements of yourself.” (The concluding sentence is a pun - the Hebrew word for “gate” is “sha’ar”, for “measurement” it is “shi’ur”)
This is a nice lesson, but is there anyone who would not say it is obvious? It’s hypocritical and unfair to judge others more harshly than we judge ourselves. We learned that in kindergarten! So why does he teach it here?
We have just entered the month of Elul, the final run-up to Rosh Hashanah. Jewish tradition teaches that in Elul, we are to engage in “cheshbon hanefesh”, literally “an accounting of the soul” - self-evaluation. It is also a tradition that during Elul, the shofar is sounded each weekday, to remind us that Rosh Hashanah is coming. Why do we need a reminder? We can read a calendar!
When the obvious is unpleasant and goes against our nature, we tend to avoid
it. We need teachers to remind us of our assignments, and we need
trumpets to rally us. Thus, Hillel taught, “Do not judge your fellow
until you have arrived at his place.”
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Richard A. Flom - ZSRS '00
Congregation Beth MeierRabbi Richard A. Flom - ZSRS '00
Studio City, CA
http://www.bethmeier.org
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"For the sake of Zion I will not be silent; for the sake of Jerusalem I
will not be still" Isaiah 62:1
----------------------------------------------Beth Meier Calendar:
Candlelighting: 7:28 pm
Friday: Family Shabbat Evening Service - 7:30 pm. Bar Mitzvah of Beck Saunders. Mazal tov! Join us for a soulful service! Oneg Shabbat follows.
Saturday: Shabbat Morning Service – 10:00 am. Bar Mitzvah of Beck Saunders. Mazal tov! Kiddush luncheon follows.
Tuesday: Lunch and Learn - Noon. Our discussion of Rambam’s Hilkhot Teshuvah continues. Lunch provided. Donations accepted.
Friday, 16 August : Shabbat Evening Service – 8:00 pm.
Saturday, 17 August: Shabbat Morning Service – 10:00 am.
Sunday, 18 August: Congregation Beth Meier Membership and Religious School Open House – 10:00 am – noon.
DON'T FORGET TO SUBMIT YOUR FORMS FOR MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL AND HIGH HOLY DAY TICKETS.
This d'var torah is offered in memory of my sister-in-law, Janis Devorah Kronzek, whose yahrzeit is this Tuesday, 7 Elul. Y'hi zecherah liv'rakhah.
This d’var torah is offered in honor of Beck Saunders, becoming a bar mitzvah this Shabbat. Mazal tov!
This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Dov Nechemya
Hakohen ben Rachel Chaya Sarah, Eve Beatty, Howard Ehrlich, Jerry Forman, Beth
Goldstein, Pamela Huddleston, Rose Jordan, Sara Lanxner, Frank Marcovitz, and
Phil Raider.
Please let me know if there is anyone you would like to add to this
list, or if anyone's name may be removed from this list.
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