Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 26 Av, 5783

We are in  a new Parsha!  After this week, we have 6 parshot to go before we return to the beginning!  These are exciting times.

As we transition out of the month of Av, and into the final month of Tishrei, we start the Parsha “judges.”  As we prepare for Rosh Hashanah, I am struck by how we may need to begin a process of reflection and judgment on how our 5783 has transpired.  How did it begin? What did we discover got us stuck and enslaved this past year? How were we freed from that? What direction did we go? How did we integrate this learning in our lives (remember the counting of the Omer process!).  What directions for our lives were we given? What matters and counted?

We don’t often judge.  But it is time to reflect and judge, for the sole purpose NOT to get stuck – but to set our intentions on 5784. And, being a math guy? I can’t help but notice that 5+7 = 12, and 8+4 = 12.  Double 12!

What do we want to work on for 5784?

What do we want to “put do death” next year within our lives? What have we witnessed about ourselves that we want to “die” next year?  These are all things to consider as we head towards Rosh Hashanah.

What are your thoughts?

Here is my commentary from a year ago:

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 1 Elul, 5782

As we wind down the year of 5782 towards Rosh Hashanah in the month of Tishrei, this month is a month of Introspection. We can reflect on our journey this past spiritual year – and take stock of the liberation we have experienced! And at the same time reflect on more liberation to come!

Let’s dig into a new parsha, Shofetim; which means “judges.” This is the time we must reflect and judge ourselves. I love this quote from the chumash I’m reading:

“What power does a judge have without law enforcement? It is not enough to have won your inner battle, acknowledging what is truthful and just. You must be your own personal police; enforcing your ruling in practice.”

We must reflect inward to live out our values. When we veer from our values – we get off track. To live for our values we must be aware of them. How aware are we of our values?

This Parsha is going to focus us on Justice.

Again, the context continues to be Moses giving his last lecture before the Israelites go into the promised land. He starts this Parsha by setting up the judicial system.

He first sets up appointing judges and police officers. For each tribe.

Moses warns the people; “do not pervert Justice , do not show favoritism, do not take a bribe, even if the bribe is to ensure judging correctly. Pursue Justice.”

Moses then tells the people there are structures and offerings that are prohibited;

• don’t plant an idolatrous tree. Don’t plant trees near the altar of God.
• don’t set up monuments
• do not offer an ox or sheep that has a blemish

He then tells people the punishment for idol worship is death. But there is an interesting process:

• if they are found guilty of death they should ONLY be put to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Only one witness is not enough to put someone to death
• Those who witness it, should be the first to put him to death.

Think about this. To be put to death; there had to be multiple witnesses. The witnesses would be the ones to put the person to death. That’s a pretty solid system TBH. Because the crime would have needed to be such that a witness would be willing to do that. Otherwise, they would be guilty, but not be put to death.

Moses then says; if the local courts can’t figure something out; they should bring it to the high court. Those judges will rule once and everyone needs to trust it.

This is establishing an authority system in the promised land. So let’s chew on this. They were free. They were going to be liberated in the promised land. And they STILL needed a court system. This tells me that although we are liberated, our journey is not complete. We will still commit injustice. We will still do “wrong.”

This brings me some comfort TBH. When we make mistakes, God has already taken care of it.

What are your thoughts?