Shoftim: judging

Shoftim:  judging

It is Elul, the Hebrew month of reflection, preparation for the  coming days of judgement.  It is like studying for the test: the best thing you can do is write your own hard questions.

This weeks parsha speaks to many aspects of judging. It begins with the appointment of judges and the admonition against bribery.  When we judge our own behavior we need to be careful of bribery. misleading others for gain, misleading ourselves for momentary pleasure.

The parsha deals with judging leaders: the criteria for a king or a prophet  The king and prophet must be of the nation.  Their thoughts and language must be understood.  Their values must come form the same core.  When we decide upon how to conduct ourselves, the sources should be from our heritage, not advertising media.

The killer on the run is judged by the council of the refuge city.  He is judged on intention.  Things happen. But the Talmudic tradition on this is more complex.  Some things are pure accidents, and do no require escape to the refugee camp. The semi- imprisonment that protects from the Redeemer of Blood is required only if some element of care was ignored. The unintentional in shogayg  also means lack of attention to the details that would maintain the safety of others. The attachment of the ax to the handle should have been checked and secured.

The parsha ends with the eglah arufah, the stubborn calf, the calf that is killed in a manner to render it useless.  This is a ritual done by the elders to expiate the guilt of the community for allowing a murder in its jurisdiction. The talmud says that if the leadership does not adequately maintain the roads ( to the refugee camps), all of the spilled blood is on their hands.

Failure to be careful is negligence, the most banal of evils