The Torah is not merely a book of religious narrative, rules and values. It’s our book and it’s at the root of our ancient society. When our ancestors were preparing to live as a nation, it was not enough to take care of our spiritual needs. It was necessary to establish a society with a leadership system and a military. It was necessary to create a legal structure and a mechanism for enforcing the laws. Judaism is a religion of laws and those laws are not limited to ritual laws. They’re intended to encompass all areas of life, both the sacred and the profane. In fact, when Judaism and Jewish Law are allowed to permeate the mundane aspects of our lives, we elevate those areas into the realm of the sacred as well. In that way, all areas of a Jewish life are holy and sacred.
This week’s Torah portion is called Shoftim/Judges and is about the creation of the legal system in our ancient society. This process began in the book of Exodus, but throughout the Torah we learn more and more about the civil and religious laws and their enforcement and enforcers. This week’s reading begins with the command that we are to appoint judges and magistrates in all of our gates (areas/domains). The text then describes that the justice which they are responsible for enforcing is one of absolute justice. No favoritism and no bribes are permitted at all. It then builds to the famous line found in Deuteronomy 16:20: צדק צדק תרדוף/Justice justice you shall pursue. There can be no doubt of the centrality of the value of justice to our people. The Talmud will expand our vision of a just world through legislating tough and exacting standards for legal cases and the people who adjudicate them. It will expand the limits and powers of witnesses and hold them liable for their testimony.
Justice is founded on the principle of fairness and blindness. Our goal as a society must be one of a legal system that is blind to any advantages and/or disadvantages. Our goal must be to see every single litigant, plaintiff and defendant as equal in every single way. While this goal is real, the reality is we are never able to 100% attain such a fair system. Justice is not fully blind and never can be and so we do the best we can. There is no disputing that in the past our country has struggled with fair and equal enforcement of our laws. Minority groups didn’t receive justice in the same way the majority group did. There’s no way to dispute that those with means have historically been able to secure favored standing in the eyes of the courts.
We can only continue to work to do better and to be better. We learn from our history and we find a way to build a better society influenced by the good and the bad of the past. In discussing the past, it’s important to recognize that words matter. Take the 1906 Atlanta Race Riots. The term riot evokes images of violence and destruction but 26 (probably more) African-Americans were murdered over the course of the “riot.” A movement has arisen to call it what it was – a massacre. The results of the massacre were a much more segregated Atlanta and a black population that was scared to fight for their rights or to be involved in the political system that governed how they would live their lives. Click here to read more.
I learned about this event a few weeks ago at the Center for Civil and Human Rights when I was invited to a lunch and was asked to speak to the assembled group. Hilary Druckman, Director of Programming and Engagement, attended with me. I learned we’re still working to come to terms with this painful past today. The purpose of the lunch was to engage different groups to build a better, diverse and more connected community in Atlanta and beyond. One of the tools in our “toolbox” is something they have coined “Equitable Dinners.” We have agreed to host one on Sunday, September 18, 2022, here at OVS. There will be facilitators for each table, good food to eat, and a performance of a one person play about the power of the individual and words. We'll be hosting members of OVS and others from the general Atlanta community. We hope you’ll be able to join us that evening. Click here to learn more.
The work of building a just world began with the Torah, and as the Torah is eternal, we must recognize that this work has never ended and never will end. We must each play our part in building a more just society for those around us. We must each pursue justice for everyone. We must each see that we have a role to play in future of our world and take our place at the table. Click here to register for the Equitable Dinner at OVS.
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Hearshen
Candlelighting time on September 1 is 7:43 pm.
Masks are strongly encouraged inside the building. Kiddush will be served in the tent.
BIRTHDAYS
Sunday Daniel Rice David Friedman Michael Rechtman
Tuesday Casey Gabbai Elizabeth M. Benator Irvin Alhadeff
Friday Angie Weiland
ANNIVERSARIES Monday Howard and Erica Amato Krisel
Tuesday Jonathan and Ally Habif
Meldados
Shabbat Bertha Habib
Sunday Ruby Shefsky Patterson Joseph Gueron
Monday Ronald Snyder Esther Benbenisty
Tuesday Jean Lereah
Thursday Morris R. Galanti Maurie K. Smith
Friday Alice Solomon Pinhas Azoulay
OVS is proud to partner with JF&CS. Food donation barrels are located in the lobby at OVS.
