THE CHEVRA Shabbos Parshas Young Israel of Fair Lawn The Morris J. Kraut z’l Torah Center Shoftim www.yifl.org שבת פרשת שופטים Rabbi Eli Belizon Avi Zanjirian President that in addition to not judging unfairly, the dayyanim must not take bribes? August 17, 2018 Rashi explains that one may not take a Yomim Noraim Seats bribe “even to judge righteously.” Rashi An email has gone out about may mean to say that although the dayyan ו אלול תשע"ח Shacharis 7:00 AM purchasing seats for yomim noraim. intends to rule fairly, he must not receive Mincha 6:15 PM Please visit before September 2nd payment to issue that correct ruling. Candle Lighting 6:27/7:33 PM https://www.yifl.org/form/HH2018 Alternatively, he may mean that a dayyan should not take money from someone who Repeat Shema 8:14 PM might be at a disadvantage in order to Membership Directory issue the fair and proper ruling, in his August 18, 2018 The YIFL Hospitality Committee favor. is compiling its first annual The verse concludes, “sedek sedek tirdof ז אלול תשע"ח leman tihyeh” (justice, justice shall you Chevra Mishnayos 8:00 AM membership directory. If you pursue, that you may live). Why does the Shacharis 8:45 AM would like to advertise your business, please contact Leah verse repeat the word sedek? Sof Zman K”S 9:34 AM Rashi cites the gemara (Sanhedrin 32a) Blumenthal or Stacey Zanjirian, by which explains that one must go to the Groups for ages 6 & up emailing [email protected]. most qualified judges- “sedek sedek” - the Kiddush following davening The cost of an ad is $75, payable best of the best. In addition to Rashi’s (Everyone is reminded to help out and via check or through the shul interpretation, we will offer a number of clean up after your children.) website. enlightening, and edifying explanations. Some suggest the following idea, based Boys’ Mishnayos 4:00 PM upon an interesting passage from the Rabbi Belizon Contact Info gemara. The Talmud (Rosh Hashana 4b) Seder 6:45 PM Rabbi Belizon will be away early says: One who says this coin is for sedaka Mincha 7:20 PM this week and can be reached via so that my child will live, or that I shall WhatsApp. merit the world to come, behold, he is a sadik gamur (completely righteous).” Seudah Shelishis Tosafot ask, isn’t the highest level of Maariv following a shiur by Parshas Ha’Shavua religiosity, as we see from the Mishna in Rabbi Ari Pruzansky Parashat Shoftim – Lessons Pirke Avot (1:3) to serve God without expecting reward? Tosafot explains that in Learned from Sedek Sedek Shabbos Ends 8:41 PM this case, even if the child dies, he did not Tirdof regret his pledge. We would like to offer another explanation. One should always Sunday Rabbi Eli Mansour strive not to embarrass the recipient of sedaka. If a person would like to give a Shacharis I 7:30 AM In this week’s parasha, Parashat Shoftim, poor person money- he should find a way Shacharis II 8:30 AM the Torah instructs the dayyanim, to give him money without embarrassing religious judges, to judge properly. “You him. In this case, the person gave sedaka shall not judge unfairly: you shall show no to the poor person under the pretense that Monday-Friday partiality; you shall not take bribes, for he gave sedaka for his sick child. The Shacharis 7:00 AM bribes blind the eyes of the discerning and Talmud says that in this case, the person is Night Seder (M-Th) 8:45 PM upset the plea of the just” (Devarim a sadik, as his true intention is to give the 16:19). No Sanhedrin Chabura poor person sedaka without embarrassing The Torah teaches that the dayyanim must Maariv (M-Th) 10:00 PM him. not judge unfairly, and then commands The Hida suggests another explanation. that they should not take bribes. What He explains that when the Talmud says does the Torah mean to add by teaching that one should not perform a misva to receive a reward, it refers to misvot that he person’s view. He may be the wisest of make matters worse, they approached is obligated to perform. If, however, he men and the greatest of scholars, but if unsuspecting Jews and encouraged them performs misvot which he is not obligated he takes a bribe he may be blinded to the to do a ‘mitzvah’ by taking Tephillin to perform, “lifnim meshurat hadin,” he truth. [Devorim 16:19] and delivering them to people who may do these misvot in order to receive The prohibition against accepting bribes needed them in the foreign country. The reward. Based upon this, the Hida explains is immediately followed by the person thought he was doing a great that the Talmud here refers to a person prohibition against planting the ‘mitzvah’. In fact he was involved in the who already fulfilled the misva of sedaka, idolatrous Asheira tree adjacent to the crime of smuggling. and he adds another coin, “sela zu,” with altar of G-d [16:21]. The United States Custom Service got the intention that his son should live. In Reish Lakish derives from this wind of this scheme. They decided to other words, in this case he did an extra juxtaposition of apparently unrelated enlist the help of Orthodox Jewish misva, and not one which he was already commanded to perform. He further pasukim [verses], that one who appoints custom agents to discern the difference explains that the mishna refers to this very an inappropriate judge is equivalent to between honest people carrying case: sedek sedek tirdof leman tihyeh- one who planted an Asheira tree in Israel Tephillin and the smugglers. An your may give sedaka twice, sedek sedek, [Avodah Zarah 52a]. Orthodox custom agent faced with this in order that you may live. Out of all the bad things we might be assignment came to Rav Yaakov We can also explain this verse in the able to conjure up as an appropriate Kamenetsky and solicited his advice. tradition of the mussar. Rabbinic literature simile for an inappropriate judge, why Rav Yaakov advised that the discusses the damage which may come does the Torah specifically link it with unscrupulous smugglers should be dealt from excessive eating. Indeed, the first sin the planting of an Asheira tree? Many with in the severest of terms. in history, the sin of the ets hadaat, came commentaries are bothered by this He said it is bad enough that they are from the desire to eat. Similarly, the rabbis question. What is the connection? dishonest and committing a crime, but to teach that the Jews deserved to be I saw an answer in the name of Rav take one of the holiest items a Jew punished because they benefited from the Chaim Soloveitchik. Rav Soloveitchik possesses and use it as a vehicle to meal of Ahashverosh. Even the ben sorer says that a tree is a work of G-d. It has commit the crime — this is the worst umoreh is accused of eating gluttonously. particular charm and particular beauty. perversion. This can be compared, he We have to be very careful to eat in a A large cedar or oak tree or redwood can argued, to waving the white flag in proper manner, kosher, and in measure. take away one’s breath. What could be a battle only to use it as a trick for follow- The verse says, “zeh hashulhan lifnei greater example of G-d’s handiwork? up attack. Everyone knows that the Hashem.” Today obesity is the greatest However, it is possible to take that white flag is a symbol of surrender. disease in America. The rabbis say that a which one would expect to be a pristine Everyone knows that you can always person who wishes to receive olam haba should control his desire. Interestingly, the example of G-d’s handiwork and turn it trust the white flag. When someone gematria of shulhan equals sedek sedek. into an object of idolatry. There is abuses the white flag, he causes all of The verse teaches- sedek sedek- if one something particularly despicable about society to lose respect for the white flag. breaks the shulhan, the table, in half, and that. It perverts that which is fine and Not only did he commit a crime against control one’s desires, “leman tihyeh” - inspiring and G-d- like into an the enemy by his duplicity. He has then he will live. abomination. There is a certain committed a crime against all soldiers in We can suggest one final interpretation. blasphemousness about such a all generations by misusing the At times, a person might believe that in perversion. international symbol of surrender. pursuit of justice - the ends justify the Who should be appointed a judge? Similarly, using the Tephillin for means. Judaism believes that the means Certainly not the typical man on the smuggling is taking something holy and must also be fair and honest. The verse street. A judge must be a Talmid perverting it. There is no greater crime. may be teaching, by emphasizing the word Chochom, a Rav, a person who looks Such people deserve no mercy. “sedek”, that justice must be achieved in and acts the part and has the respect of Using a tree, for idolatry is a perversion. legal and legitimate ways. the people. One who appoints an Appointing a person who is supposed to inappropriate person to that position — represent the ultimate in integrity, to a Parashas Shoftim: An someone who acts with less than full position where he can be a tool of Inappropriate Judge integrity — is a blasphemous crime.