By Rabbi Dovid Markel
This week’s parsha, Shoftim, begins with the following directive (Devarim 16:18): “You shall set up judges and law enforcement officials for yourself in all your gates that the Lord, your G-d, is giving you, for your tribes, and they shall judge the people [with] righteous judgment.”
On the simplest of levels, this commandment can be likened to the ethical imperative expressed in the Seven Universal Laws given to all mankind, of appointing judges. Without judges and consequence for one’s reprehensible actions, the very fabric of society is in a perilous situation.
Indeed, Avot (1:18) states: “By three things is the world sustained: law, truth and peace. As is stated (Zachariah 8:16), “Truth, and a judgement of peace, you should administer at your [city] gates.”
Without a morality that is enforced upon civilization, man will likely “swallow his neighbor alive,” as expressed in Avot (3:2).
However, embedded within the directive to appoint judges is expressed a personal instruction. In the verse’s statement to place judges “in all your gates” rather than the more simplistic statement in “all your cities,” G-d is turning to each singular individual and charging him with the ordinance to appoint judges.
Kohelet (9:14) expresses that man is referred to as a “small city.” The points of entry, or gates, to that city are his senses. With man’s senses he engages with the world around him rather than remaining apart.
The verse instructs him that he should place judges on those gates to ensure that he not become negatively affected by the world around him.
Every individual must make sure that his eyes only see positive images; his ears only hear words of Torah and not, G-d forbid, slander; his mouth only speak words of Torah, and so too with all other senses.
When man is sensitive to what he allows himself to partake of in the world around him, he will eventually merit as stated (Yeshayahu 1:26): “And I will restore your judges as at first and your counsellors as in the beginning; afterwards you shall be called City of Righteousness, Faithful City.”
May it happen speedily in our time!
