Parsha Shoftim: A Torah About the Mundane

Here comes the judge! This is what this week is all about.   You see, this week’s parsha (Torah portion) is called Shotfim which means, “Ones who judge.”  The parsha starts out by talking about the judges and policemen that we appoint for ourselves.  These folk are to judge the nation righteously, and not take bribes because bribes blinds eyes and perverts the words of the righteous. Justice is what we are to pursue in order to live and settle the … Continue reading

Parsha Shoftim: The Judgement of Torah

Don’t judge a book by its cover.  Don’t be so judgmental.  Judge fairly.  Ladies and gents, here comes the judge… The name of the this week’s parsha (Torah portion) is called Judges (or Shoftim in Hebrew), and it is a seemingly haphazard, hodgepodge, patchwork parsha.  Let’s see what kind of theme we can find in it! It starts out talking about appointing judges and how they should be honest.  It then talks about idolatry and how to find someone guilty … Continue reading