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Shabbat Shoftim
Deuteronomy 16:25:19
Candle Lighting Time: Friday, September 5, 2008 7:02 P.M.
In this week’s Torah portion, we are commanded to appoint honest and fair
judges wherever we live. “You shall appoint magistrates and officials for
your tribes, in all the settlements that the Lord your God is giving you,
and they shall govern the people with due justice. You shall not judge
unfairly: you shall show no partiality; you shall not take bribes, for
bribes blind the eyes of the discerning and upset the plea of the just.
Justice, justice you shall pursue…” (Dt: 16:18-20)
A criminal was caught in a lawless act, arrested, and brought into court.
The judge asked him if he had a lawyer and he replied: “no.” So the judge
said, “I will assign you one.” To this, the accused man replied: “Well,
thank you, your honor, but what I really need is a good witness.”
We are God’s witnesses. Our most famous prayer is the Shema. In the
Torah, the last letter of the word shema, the “ayin” and the last letter of
the word echad, the “dalet” are written larger than normal. Together they
form the word “eid”, “witness.” In the words of Isaiah, “You are My
witnesses.” (Is. 43:10) How do we witness that God is God and His Torah is
true? The answer lies in the next verse of the Shema. “You shall love the
Lord your God…” The Talmud interprets this to mean, “you shall make God
beloved”; i.e., to behave in an exemplary manner so that others will
appreciate the beauty of Torah and come to believe in God (Yoma 86b) If a
person transact fairly and honestly and communicates courteously and
pleasantly, people will come to respect God’s Torah.
God’s kingdom is more in need of witnesses than of lawyers or even
judgers.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Gary Greene
Services Schedule:
Friday night 7:00 p.m.
Shabbat 9:00 a.m.
Mon. & Thurs 6:30 a.m.
Sun. -Thurs night 7:30 p.m.
Announcements
Shabbat, September 6 There will be a special Kiddush honoring Murray and
Gloria Ostrin.
Shabbat, September 13 We celebrate the Bar Mitzvah of Alan Golman
Shabbat, September 20 Helen and Stanley Shnapp are sponsoring the Kiddush in
honor of their 50th wedding anniversary.
Slichot services tonight The
doors open at 10:00 p.m. with a program. Slichot services begin at 11:30
p.m.
Sunday, September 21 Marathon’s Spectacular Yard Sale at Deepdale Pool.
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