From TorahVort.com
Shoftim
Shalom and Chodesh Tov. We have entered in to another detailed packed Parshah this week. The Torah reading this week deals with fundamentals of Jewish leadership, including the establishment of Jewish courts and a number of laws relating to judges. It was the Great Sanhedrin’s responsibility to make sure that a Jewish court of law functions in every town of Eretz Yisrael as well as in the cities where one may live. The judges were aided by policemen (Shotrim), who enforced the Judges decisions. A potential candidate to be a judge was tested in three departments; Intelligence, Capacity to Judge and Torah knowledge, if he possessed all of these and passed a test, the Torah Sages would select the man as a judge. The Torah warns a Judge not to accept a bribe, even when intending to Judge truthfully, a Judge is not allowed to act favorably toward one of the litigants, a Judge is not allowed to listen to one of the litigants argument before the other has arrived and amongst other things a judge has to devote enough thought to a case. Judges or leaders are required to prevent wrongdoings in the community, they should seek truth and justice and reject falsehood, be G-d fearing, have a good reputation and be liked by their acquaintances for their pleasant conduct. We also learned more about the judicial courts if we cast our minds back to parshat Yitro and there is a reminder at the start of Devarim. The Torah reading then deals with the appointment of a Jewish king. A King is allowed up to 18 wives and this was seen done by King David as he had 18 wives. The King had to carry a Torah scroll around with him and had to be knowledgeable in Torah. The first ever Jewish king was Shaul, we learned about his appointment in the book of Samuel. Unfortunately many of the Jewish Kings throughout Biblical history did not adhere to all the commandments, including, Achav, Menashe, Rechavim, Yeravim Ben Nabot and even King Solomon transgressed the three main commandments of a King, as he acquired too much wealth, horses and had 1000 wives!! The Torah then progresses teaching us that we are to eliminate the Canaanite nations when we were to enter the land as they performed many abominations in the land. The Parshah then stresses the importance of listening to a prophet and doing what a true prophet says. Their were many great Jewish prophets including, Yirmiyahu, Isaiah, Amos, Joel and many more. We then once again learn about the mitzvah of separating the cities of refuge, if an inadvertent murder takes place in a city, we learned about this also in Parshat Masei. Three cities were to be separated when entering the land of Israel. The Parshah then relates that we are not allowed to be superstitious, we did also learn about this commandment in the book of Vayikra, in parshat Kedoshim. For example, one can’t believe in lucky charms or specific dates, such as ‘Friday 13th’ or one should not for sure perform any witchcraft either. This was in fact the practice of many of the gentile nations. Hashem does not want us to practice the abominating practices of the other nations, as we are Hashem's people. The Torah then discusses how the Jews are meant to react if a war was going to break out as an enemy was about to attack us. The Torah stresses how one should have total faith in G-d when going to war and mentions that if one is nervous due to his own transgressions, he should leave the army camp. The Torah reading concludes with the mitzvah of the ‘egla arufa’ (the calf whose neck is broken), which involves both Kohanim and Judges. I would like to wish Miriam Bat Rachel a Refuah Shelaima and dedicate this week's Dvar Torah to the memory and anniversary of the passing of Chaim Ben David.
