Parshas Shoftim Messages 5778

בּ"ה

Parshas Shoftim:

‘Judges and officers you shall put for yourself in all your gates…’ (Devarim 16:18)

Various Gedolim explain:  We, personally, must appoint “judges” at all of our “gates”.  Meaning: We must judge what goes out from or comes into (depending) our mouth, nose, eyes, ears, etc.

As an example, before we say something, let us think how it may affect people.  Perhaps it will hurt someone’s feelings! Prior to employing our senses, we must contemplate what Hashem would want us to do.

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‘Judges and officers you shall put for yourself (תתן לך)…’ (Devarim 16:18)

Asks HaRav Moshe Feinstein zt”l; here, with the appointment of authority, why is the word לך, for yourself, used?

But it is to teach, says Reb Moshe, that the judge and the officer that you will appoint; this will be a gift to you, that you will learn from them how to conduct yourself with righteousness and with justice, and in all the traits and the way of the Service of Hashem Yisbarach.  And it turns out that it is a gift from you to yourself.

(Darash Moshe)

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‘Righteousness, righteousness you shall pursue’ (Devarim 16:20)

Says Rebbe Simcha Bunim of Peshischa zt”l:  One must pursue righteousness with righteousness.  Righteous things cannot be sought with the wrong means.  Both what you are seeking and how you seek it need to be righteous.

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‘Righteousness, righteousness you shall pursue’ (Devarim 16:20)

The fact that the Torah says ‘righteousness’ twice teaches us a valuable lesson:  So many of us strive for righteousness.  But what if, when we try, things get in the way, may Hashem help us?  Or perhaps it feels very far away from us? What should we do?

The verse tells us: ‘Righteousness, righteousness’ -- righteousness and holiness may not come right away, but keep trying.  Twice, thrice, and many more times. You will get there, with the aid of Hashem.

Parshas Shoftim falls out in the month of Elul:  A person might, Chas V’Shalom think that since they have gone through so many Eluls and have tried to change, but have always gone back to their old habits -- how are they going to become better?  Will now be any different?*

But we must take to heart the above message and keep trying.  Because, as we are taught, if the Torah says it, you can do it.

(Tal U’Matar).

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* See HaMeoros HaGedolim pages 153-154.

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Maaseh:  One time, when HaRav Yisroel Salanter zt”l was with his students, one of the important baalei batim (pl. of baal habayis; head of household) entered to ask him a question.  Around the beginning of the conversation, Rav Yisroel sighed a very, very deep sigh, and those near him did not know the reason why.

Afterwards, Rav Yisroel explained: “At the moment that the respected baal habayis came before me, I saw and I was very embarrassed, for the sleeve of my garment at that time was torn.  But afterwards, I raised a kal vachomer (a fortiori) in myself:  If before flesh and blood [i.e. a human being], the shame covered my face because of a light tear in the sleeve of my garment, how great and bitter will be the shame in the World to Come, if all the tears and stains that are in the Soul are not fixed while there is still time!”

(HaMeoros HaGedolim)

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A Gut Shabbos to all!