Shoftim addresses the importance of creating a network of judges and officials who will judge the people with justice and compassion.
The Hasidic rabbis realize that an extra word, "lecha" meaning "for yourself" is included in the first line of the Torah portion. Why is this word located in the Torah portion if it is gramatically unnecessary?
The rabbis teach that it is to remind us that we must first begin with ourselves. We can't judge others until we first look closely at ourselves. At this time of Elul, we are reminded to judge ourselves with the same yardstick we use to judge others.
No comments:
Post a Comment