Shoftim

Judges at the Gates

Rabbi Laura Duhan Kaplan

Place judges and officers in all your gates. - Devarim/Deuteronomy 16:18

Why does the Torah instruct the Israelites to pair "judges" with "officers" and to place them at the "gates"?  Hassidic Torah interpretation assumes the answer to this question holds a teaching about spiritual development.

The Ba'al Shem Tov teaches: "Judges" and "officers" refer to twin inner qualities: love and awe. If we wish to develop awareness of Divinity moving through the world, we must cultivate both qualities: awe at the wonders of the universe, and love for our fellow creatures. We place these twin qualities at the "gates" where all our thoughts and feelings enter consciousness.

Yaakov Yosef of Polonoye teaches: Every person has the obligation to sit in judgment of his or her own actions.  That is how we continue to learn and grow. First judge yourself, and only then, using the same yardstick, judge others.  Do not be lenient with your faults while judging harshly the same faults in others; do not overlook your own mistakes while demanding perfection of others. 

The Sefat Emet teaches: A person is led in whatever direction he or she seeks to go. Some want to seek the truth. Such a person can learn to become his or her own judge and officer. Others find their minds are not whole enough yet to seek the truth, and hope to find teachers along the way. Over time, every person can work to develop her or his own inner judges and officers.

Return to Reb Laura's "Taste of Torah" list.

Return to "Teachings from Our Rabbis and Friends" list.

---

[ Home ]	[ Asiyah ]	[ Yetzirah ]	[ Briyah ]	[ Atzilut ]	[ Calendar ]
	( Doing )	( Feeling )	( Knowing )	( Being )