Parasha Shoftim (Judges): Exercising Judgment and the Knowledge of Good and Evil

August 29, 2014 This week’s Torah reading, called Judges (Shoftim in Hebrew), discusses the issue of justice according to a Biblical perspective. God commanded Moses to instruct the people of Israel to appoint shoftim (judges), a word derived from the word shafat, meaning to judge or to govern, and shotrim (officials or official books, and in modern Hebrew, police officers) to rule at the gates of the cities so that justice would prevail. These appointed leaders were expected to judge the people with fairness, equality and wisdom. They were forbidden from perverting justice in any way, such as showing favoritism or taking bribes.

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Parasha Shoftim (Judges): The Hebrew Link Between Justice and Righteousness

August 9, 2013 The very first word of the Parasha reading is shoftim (judges), which is derived from the word shafat (to judge or to govern). In Hebrew, justice (tzedek) is closely tied to the idea of righteousness and holiness. In fact, the words righteous (tzadik) and charity (tzedakah) are related to justice (tzedek). It only follows, then, that God, who is holy and righteous, is also just.

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Parasha Shoftim (Judges): The Hebrew Connection Between Justice and Righteousness

August 24, 2012 In Hebrew, justice (tzekek) is closely tied to righteousness and holiness. In fact, the words righteous (tzadik) and charity (tzedakah) are related to justice (tzedek). It only follows, then, that God is a God of Justice. He is called the Lord our Righteousness (YHVH Tzidkenu), the Righteous God (Elohim Tzadik), and Righteous Judge (Shofat Tzadik).

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