Parshas Shoftim: Jewish Justice Means No Bribery
Earlier this week, a friend asked a question: “Why is it so hard for women to cover their hair once they are married?” Cynically, another mutual friend responded to her: “Well, you can get permission from the rabbis to do anything – even uncover your hair – if you only have enough money!”
That attitude may work well in the secular world, where it does seem that money can buy anything. In some parts of the United States, convicted criminals can even pay extra to be put in nicer jails where no hard offenders can be kept. And who can forget cases like that of OJ Simpson or the recent Zimmerman trial, which caused riots in the United States just a few short weeks ago? In those cases it seemed like those with money, in positions of power, or in a higher social standing get special treatment.
But that is not how it works in Jewish law. My friend’s response may be inspired by the secular world that surrounds her, or by corruption that unfortunately influences even religious individuals from time to time (we are all human beings with our faults, after all, observant or not!), but it is certainly not inspired by Torah.
In fact, the pursuit of justice plays a staring role in this week’s parsha. ”Justice, justice you shall pursue,” we are commanded. And to this end, judges are warned very harshly to avoid bribery. It’s not the only time we see this reminder, either. It shows up again in commentaries, in the Gemara, and even in Pirkei Avot (Ethics of Our Fathers). This reminder is everywhere. A judge is to avoid a bribe even if it is not tangible – merely holding open the door for a judge could be considered enough to sway his/her opinion!
In a religion so stringent about the importance of avoiding bribery for judges, clearly rabbis, who judge the meanings of the laws in our times, are no exception. Indeed, every single one of us must work to pursue justice in our own ways, whether it is when trying to bring peace between two neighbors or when trying to settle a dispute between our children. This is the beauty of our faith – it exhorts us to raise ourselves above the standards set by the society around us – it demands of us that we raise ourselves to a higher and more spiritual level of behavior. And in doing so we not only improve the world around us, but we improve ourselves as well.
Shabbat shalom!
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