בס''ד
For anyone with a discerning eye and an interest
in the truth, apparent questions on the Torah are generally very easy to come
by. This week’s Parsha begins with
something of a bonanza of difficulties that require resolving. The Torah tells us “Judges and officers you
shall give for you in all your gates” which leads to the following questions,
just to name a few. Firstly what is the meaning of giving the Judges for
you? Secondly, why is the word “for you” in the singular, when surely it is
intended for the general populace? And thirdly why is the word “gates” used, a
word apparently meant to imply cities, rather than simply the word cities?
There are many
that explain that parallel to the simple understanding of the Posuk being a
commandment to ensure a functioning legal system, there is also a deeper
connotation being insinuated here of a need for us to make sure that we all
individually establish a personal system of judgement for what we allow
ourselves to experience. This is what we
give singularly to ourselves, a means by which we carefully discriminate
between what is beneficial to us and what will have a damaging effect. The word “gate” is utilised here perhaps
because this is where this safeguard must come into effect, at the entrance to all
that we potentially would come in contact with.
It is not best employed to drive away those dangers we are already
involved in, but to ward off the risks to our spirituality before they can do
us any harm and should be used as such.
There are multiple lessons to be gleaned from
this idea, such as to understand the importance of pre-empting ruinous
influences by setting up defences to block detrimental things from coming into our life before
they have a chance to cause damage. Yet
if we look even more carefully, we might notice that we are asked to set up
judges, plural, which may be to teach us another most important idea. Shielding ourselves is essential to our
growth, but every circumstance and context must be judged individually. What must be opposed at one time, may in fact
be necessary at another. What would be
injurious to one person, may be entirely vital for another and harmful for it
to be suppressed. To know where and when
to apply restraint requires a deep understanding of the Torah and its ideals,
which may necessitate the counsel of those who live constantly according to its
guidance. Our guard must be up
throughout our lives, but the key to its success lies in multiple judgements
of its application according to each particular context.
*May the
peacefulness of Shabbos grant us clarity in all we do*
לעילוי נשמת לאה בת אברהם
לרפואה שלימה: שרה יעל בת
ברכה אסתר
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