Parsha Shoftim

​By Richard Sison | 2018

​Introduction

Parsha Shoftim, addresses basic issues pertaining to the leadership of the Jewish people. It begins with an instruction regarding judges, and later gives rules pertaining to kings, prophets and kohanim (priests).

Many commandments are covered in this week’s reading. This particular parsha provides a constitution like format, which is a basic societal structure for the Israelites. It sets out instructions with regards to the selection of judges, a provision pertaining to kings, rules about the Levites, dealing with prophets, cities of refuge, witnesses, war, and unsolved murder victims, among other things.

Justice, justice shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the L-RD thy G-d giveth thee. 
​
Deuteronomy 16:20

The message