Shoftim

📜 The Story

'Shoftim' means 'judges.' The parsha begins with the command to appoint judges and police in every city, so that there will be real justice. Moses says the famous words 'Tzedek, tzedek tirdof,' 'Justice, justice you shall chase.' It is not enough to judge fairly. We have to go after justice.

The parsha warns judges never to take a bribe, because a bribe blinds the eyes of even wise people. It also says not to plant a tree next to God's altar, not to set up a stone pillar for worship, and not to bring an animal with a blemish as an offering.

The parsha teaches the laws for a king of Israel. If the people want a king, he must be Jewish. He may not collect too many horses, too many wives, or too much silver and gold. He must write his own Torah scroll and read from it every day, so he does not think he is better than everyone else.

Moses promises that God will send prophets like him, and warns the people not to turn to sorcerers or fortune tellers. The parsha also tells them to add more cities of refuge for someone who killed by accident. It says two or three witnesses are needed to punish someone. And a witness who lies gets the same punishment he tried to bring on the other person.

The end of the parsha has the laws of war. A man who just built a house, planted a vineyard, got engaged, or is afraid, does not have to go to battle. When an army surrounds a city, it may not cut down the fruit trees. This rule is called bal tashchit, 'do not destroy.' And if a murdered person is found in a field and no one knows who did it, the leaders of the closest city do a special ceremony called eglah arufah.