Shoftim

Embark on a journey of Jewish learning and discovery, exploring the depth of our Shoftim resources, where tagged items including audio, programs, and podcast episodes await your exploration.

The Haftarot: How to Profit from the Prophets (Parshat Shoftim)

Dr. Moshe Sokolow

Class

Shoftim: Words are Not Enough

Rabbi Jay Kelman

"The hand of the witnesses should be against him first to put him to death, and the hand of the nation at the end" (Devarim 17:7). Giving testimony in a court of law, especially in capital cases, is an awesome responsibility. The Talmud…
Article

Scholar in Residence: Rabbi David Silber

Rabbi David Silber

  Shabbat morning parsha shiur (8:00 am): Parshat Yitro  Drasha before laining: Matan Torah Shiur after Kiddush (aprrox 11:20): The Covenant of Sinai Pre-Mincha shiur 4:30pm: David's Census Seudah Shlisheet: Setting Up the System of…
Program

Shoftim: Nothing to Fear

Rabbi Jay Kelman

The basic duty of every government is to provide security and protect its citizens from both internal criminal activity and external enemies. Parshat Shoftim, which contains the mitzvah to appoint a king, thus also contains the mitzvot of appointing…
Article

Shoftim: Enabling Evil

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Evil does not exist in a vacuum. A culture is needed for evil to be nurtured, in which it can grow and develop. And when that happens, aveirah gorreret aveirah; one misdeed leads to another, greater sin. Perpetrators of corporate…
Article

Shoftim: Church and State

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Judaism has long understood that politics and religion are a dangerous mix. Political office was destined for those from the tribe of Judah and the religious functions of the state were carried out by the kohanim and levi’im. The Ramban…
Article

Shoftim: To Tell the Truth

Rabbi Jay Kelman

"Tzedek tzedek tirdof, justice, justice you shall pursue in order that you may live and inherit the land that the Lord your G-d is giving you" (Devarim 17:20). Perhaps the most important ingredient for a functioning society is an honest,…
Article

Shoftim: Seeking Justice

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Almost always, wrongdoing requires that people work together to perpetrate such. As has been accepted in the legal systems of Western countries, it is the enablers, more than the perpetrators themselves, who are viewed with greater opprobrium. Those…
Article

Shoftim: Ignoring Justice

Rabbi Jay Kelman

This week's d'var Torah is dedicated in honour of the upcoming wedding of Estie Roz and Avner Zeifman. May they share much happiness and built a bayit ne'eman b'yisrael. Mazal-tov to the extended families. The hallmark of democratic…
Article