Welcome to the Mussar HaTorah Podcast for Parshas Shoftim. Join us as we explore the weekly Parsha, uncovering valuable insights and striving to become the best versions of ourselves through Mussar teachings.
I was in Chicago this past week for a niece's wedding and my brother-in-law has a sefer that caught my eye, Rav Pam on Chumash. This is from that sefer and is sponsored l'zacher nishmas Henoch Moshe Zev ben Laib whose yahrtzeit is 2 Elul and in honor of my niece and new nephew who were married last Thursday.
At the beginning of the Parsha, Moshe charges the people with the command:
"They (the judges) you established) will judge the people with righteous judgment." (16:18)
Rashi explains that the newly established justice system has to be with judges who are honest, righteous, qualified for the task, and will dispense justice correctly.
The Medrash Tanchuma adds that judges are also responsible for interceding on behalf of the Jewish people before Hashem and finding merit for them before Hashem. The example the Medrash gives is the Judge Gideon. During his time Israel was being subjugated by the Midianites bringing the people to a state of poverty and hunger. This suffering brought about repentance by Israel leading to Gideon being appointed as Judge by an angel. After the angel told him the news of the appointment Gideon had a very sarcastic reply:
"I beg you, my lord, if HASHEM is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all His wonders of which our forefathers told us, saying, 'Behold HASHEM brought us out from Egypt? for now HASHEM has deserted us and He has delivered us into the control of Midian." (Shoftim 6:12-14)
Rav Pam says that Gideon should have been punished for this almost heretical reply to the angel. However, it was exactly this advocacy Hashem wanted to hear from him that earned him the privilege of becoming the savior of the nation. Gideon didn't try to say the nation didn't sin. He told the truth that the people had sinned. However, he said that even if they were not worthy, Hashem should save them just like Hashem saved their equally unworthy ancestors.
Rav Pam continues that this was the kind of reply Hashem wanted to hear and Gideon's defense serves as a model for how every Jew should attempt to speak favorably about his fellow man. We all have our faults and weaknesses. It's easy to criticize a fellow Jew and highlight their shortcomings. However, doing that causes deep distress to Hashem. No parent wants to hear a bad report about their child, even if it is true. On the other side of the coin, a parent is appreciative of a person who can find good things to say about their child. Hashem is grateful when a person defends the Jewish people before him even if they are lacking in merits. Jews must look for every opportunity to praise the accomplishments of their fellow Jews. Is anyone able to measure the far-reaching effect such advocacy will have in Heaven and the blessings it will bring on the Jewish people?
A ben Torah is trained not to judge the matter on its surface but to delve deeply into the reasoning behind puzzling statements or opinions. He knows how to take apart and carefully analyze a statement or train of thought and justify conflicting assertions and opinions.
Shouldn't this Talmudic training be applied to everyday situations in life when the questionable actions of a person or community can be seen in different ways but still be judged favorably?
It's not a coincidence this important lesson is alluded to in this week's parsha which is usually read the first Shabbos during the month of Elul. Elul is a time when all Jews seek merit for themselves and pray that Hashem judges them favorably. If a Jew wants Hashem to see the merits in their failures and shortcomings, shouldn't they try to do the same for their fellow Jew?
This month let us start working toward judging everyone more favorably and may we be zoche to be judged favorably by the King of Kings.
Have a wonderful Shabbos.
