parsha bit: Shoftim

[cellio]

This week's parsha contains the directive "tzedek tzedek tirdof" -- "justice, justice you shall pursue". The rabbis ask why "tzedek" is repeated and give various explanations. Rabbi Ashi says that the first "tzedek" is the justice of following the law strictly, and the second is the justice of compromise. For example, when two ships seek to use the same narrow passage at the same time, they might have equal claims under the first tzedek but must compromise under the second (lest they both sink). Compromise is not merely pragmatic but commanded. (Sanhedrin 32b)

Comments

[cellio]

Thanks for the recommendation; I hadn't heard of this book before. I liked the Rabbi Small books.

[kerryp.livejournal.com]

There actually are three in the series:

(1) The Unorthodox Murder of Rabbi Wahl;

(2) The Final Analysis of Dr. Stark; and

(3) An Eye for an Eye.

I have read (1) and (3), and am waiting for my copy of (2) to come from the an alibris sender. I enjoyed both books. (1), above, is the first in the series, and I recommend starting there, if you read them.

Enjoy!

P.S. I really enjoy reading your Thursday commentary on the Parsha, and even read it each week to my partner. Thank you and Shabbat Shalom.

[cellio]

Thanks for the book info.

Thanks also for the comment on the parsha bits. Always nice to know that people enjoy stuff I post. :-) (These are little teachings I deliver in the morning service when I lead. I've been doing parshat hashavua for almost two years; come Simchat Torah I don't know if I'll keep on this path or switch to something else, like teaching a mishna a week from some tractate of talmud or something like that. I'll probably stick with the parsha for another year, but I want to get a sense of what the congregation wants, too.)