EXERCISING JUDGMENT

 

Parashat Shoftim

Torah: Deuteronomy 16:18 - 21:9
Haftarah: Isaiah 51:12 - 52:12 (Fourth Haftarah of Consolation)
Elul 2, 5783 / August 18-19, 0223

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This d’var torah is offered in memory of Lynn’s sister, Janis Devorah Kronzek, whose yahrzeit falls on Thursday, Elul 7 (August 24). Y’hi zikhrah liv’rakhah – her memory is a blessing.

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This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Chanah Bella bat Kreina and Devorah bat Feigel.

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Lunch and Learn meets Mondays at 12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live. We're continuing to read and discuss the Midrashic collection Ein Ya'akov. On Monday, August 21, we'll be at BT Shabbat 114a, page 181 of Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition) Volume 1 – "אמר רב אחא בר אבא אמר רבי יוחנן"  - "R. Acha b. Abba in the name of R. Jochanan said:" 

Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition) is available for on-line reading or as a downloadable PDF at: https://hebrewbooks.org/9630   
A pointed Hebrew text version with different pagination is available at Sefaria: 
https://www.sefaria.org/Ein_Yaakov?tab=contents  
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Rabbi Van Leeuwen has a blog which you should read at: 
https://rebjasonblog.wordpress.com/blog/ 
 
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Rosh Hashanah is four weeks from this Shabbat! Please submit your Membership/High Holy Day forms ASAP! And your Book of Remembrance forms! And check your mail for our High Holy Day bulletin!

My Cheshbon Hanefesh Worksheet 5784 Edition is now available at my blog:

https://rav-rich.blogspot.com/2023/08/cheshbon-hanefesh-worksheet-personal.html  

Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source.

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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 Tol’dot Yaakov Yosef (the first Chasidic work ever published) understands the word “l’kha”, “for you”, to mean “for yourself”. He says, “First, judge yourself. And to the extent to 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” – a 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 natural tendencies, 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.” (Pirkei Avot 2:5)

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Richard A. Flom

Rabbi Emeritus, Temple B’nai Hayim
.אֵיזֶהוּ חָכָם? הַלוֹמֵד מִכָּל אָדָם
Who is wise? The one who learns from every person.
Ben Zoma - Pirkei Avot 4:1
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