Articles in Shoftim
Shoftim: Food for Thought for your Dinner Table
Sunday: Local Judges
“Judges and guards you shall set for yourself at all your gates.” Judges were placed at the gates of every Jewish community both inside Israel and outside. Why were the Jews from abroad not brought to Israel for trial? Why were courts established outside of Israel?
A judge must …
Shoftim: Rabbinic Legislation
Where Does it Say?
The following question is one that rabbis commonly field. The written Torah is G-d’s law, but on what authority do Rabbis legislate new laws?
Its a fair question and it was first posed by the Talmud. Before kindling the Chanukah lights we chant a blessing, thanking G-d for …
Shoftim: Dying for Life
A Horrible Dilemma
A little boy steps into the path of an oncoming train. The child can be rescued, but the rescuer would likely forfeit his life. How do the parents decide who should die to save the child and should should live to raise him?
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Shoftim: Lower is Higher
Man and Bread
Our Parsha declares that “man is the tree of the field.” Our sages comment that the fruit of the tree is man’s primary sustenance. Though our diet contains many foods that are entirely unrelated to the tree, the Torah insists that only “bread can fully satiate the heart …
Shoftim: Judge Thyself
Guarding the Gateways
“Judges and guardians shall you appoint at all of your gateways” (Deuteronomy 17, 18). Every person has seven “gateways” through which impressions enter from the surrounding environment: one mouth, two nostrils, two eyes and two ears. It is our duty to appoint judges and guardians to regulate traffic …
Shoftim: Family Values
Rotational Shifts
The twenty-four families of the Kehunah, priesthood, arranged their service at the Bet Hamikdash on a weekly rotation by which each family served one shift every twenty-four weeks. The week of a festival was naturally more demanding than a regular week but it would also bring more offerings to …
Shoftim : A Refuge from Sin
Should we Forgive?
He is usually a considerate and loving husband but this time was different. During a heated argument he lost his temper and hurled vicious insults at his wife . He was in the grip of rage but never meant to be hurtful. He quickly stopped himself, apologized and …
