PARSHAS SHOFTIM

Parshas Shoftim – Where Am I Holding?

The Passuk at the beginning of this week’s Parsha says:

“Shoftim v’shotrim titen lecha b’chal shearecha” – appoint judges and assemble a police force for yourself in each of your cities.

Rav Moshe Feinstein asks why the word “lecha” (for yourself) is included, as the instruction of the Passuk would seem clear without it. What then is the Passuk teaching by adding this word?

Rav Moshe explains that the word “lecha” adds a personal responsibility to act as a judge and police for yourself. It obligates each person to introspect and analyze, like a judge, whether their actions are proper, and to police themselves to ensure they are fulfilling their obligations, even penalizing themselves when necessary.

The obligation also includes:

• “Shelo lehatos mishpat” – not to skew judgment. This means not overlooking one’s own good deeds or judging oneself too leniently but rather viewing oneself as a simpleton to truly assess where one stands.
• “Shelo likach shochad” – not to accept bribes. This means not allowing the pleasure of feeling righteous to blind oneself to the reality of one’s spiritual state.
• To have a system of checks and balances by seeking the advice of a Talmid Chocham, as batei dinim (Jewish courts) are meant to do.

We are at the beginning of Elul, and the theme of the month is just this: self-judgment and accountability. We should all heed the sounds of the shofar and take advantage of the short time ahead of us.

Have a wonderful Shabbos!

Rabbi Anton