Parashat Shoftim

This week's Parasha is Shoftim, which means judges and begins with the command for the Jews to set up a court system. There are many different aspects to this mitzvah, but a very special point was made by Rabbi Pam of blessed memory in his book, "Rav Pam Speaks" (by Artscroll-Mesorah, All Rights Reserved)

They shall judge the people with righteous judgment. (6:18)

Rashi explains that the Torah requires that a system of justice be established, with honest and righteous judges who are qualified for the task and who will sense justice correctly. Midrash Tanchuma on this pasuk says that judges have an additional task. They have to intercede on behalf of the Jewish people before Hashem and seek to find merit for them before.

The Midrash gives an example of a person who was chosen to be a leader due to his great love for his people and his ability to defend them before Hashem. This was Gideon, who was appointed to fifth Judge of the people (about 160 years after the death of Joshua bin Nun) and who led them for forty years. As described the navi, the Jewish nation had fallen into the wayd of sin and was punished by being subjugated for seven years by the Midianites. The Midianites wreaked havoc on the Jewish homeland, uprooting and stealing the crops, destroying the topsoil, creating a state of poverty and hunger.

The fearful suffering of the Jewish people finally brought them to teshuvah. A heavenly angel was sent to appoint Gideon, who was until then a virtually unknown figure who commanded little respect. He would now be the one to rally the people to fight their enemies. The angel of Hashem appeared to Gideon and said to him, "Hashem is with you, O mighty hero,

 Gideon said to him, "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." Then Hashem turned to him and said, "Go with this strength of yours, and you shall save Israel from the control of Midian. Behold, I have sent you."

            Rashi explains that Gideon mentioned the exodus from Egypt because the angel appeared to him on Pesach. Gideon told him, "Yesterday, my father recited the Hallel and he read to me how Hashem had taken our people out of Egypt. But now Hashem has forsaken us! If our forefathers were righteous, then He should save us in their zechus. If they were not deserving, then just as He saved them despite their lack of zechuyos, so too should He save us even though we are sinners." To this the angel replied, "Go with this strength of yours! In the merit of having defended your people and pleaded favorably on their behalf before Hashem, you have been chosen to save them from the Midianites."

            It would seem that Gideon should have been punished for his bitter, almost heretical reply to the angel; "Why did Hashem forsake His people and fail to protect them from their enemies?" Yet, it was precisely this advocacy that Hashem wanted to hear from him, which earned him the privilege of becoming the nation's savior. Gideon did not say that his people were tzaddikim. He told the truth. They were sinful. But, he said, even if they were unworthy, they should be saved just as Hashem had rescued their equally unworthy ancestors more than two centuries earlier. Hashem replied that these were the words of vindication He had been waiting to hear. And as the navi describes, Gideon went to war with a group of 300 hand-picked men who miraculously defeated the massive Midianite forces for 135,000 soldiers, thereby restoring peace and tranquility to Eretz Yisrael for decades to come.

            Gideon's defense of his people serves as a model for how every Jew should attempt to speak favorably about his fellow man. Klal Yisrael and Reb Yisrael have their faults and weaknesses. It is not hard to criticize Jews and highlight their shortcomings. But that causes deep distress to Hashem. No father wants to hear a bad report about his child, even if it is true: vice versa, a father is extremely appreciative of a person who can find good things to say about his child. So too, Hashem is grateful when a person defends the Jewish people before Him even if they are lacking in merits. Jews must look for opportunities to praise the accomplishments for their fellow Jews. Who can estimate the far reaching effect this advocacy will have in heaven and the blessings it will bring upon the Jewish people!

            It is no coincidence that this crucial lesson is alluded to in Parashas Shoftim, which is usually the first Shabbos of the month of Elul. Elul is a time when all Jews seek merit or themselves and pray that Hashem judge them favorably and overlook or justify their many shortcomings. If a Jew wants Hashem to see the merit in his own failures and mistakes, shouldn't he try to do the same for his fellow Jews?

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Haber