parshat Shoftim

A wise man once said: "The history of the world is actually the history of the great men of the world." He meant, of course, that the great people are those who move the historic processes and determine their countries' agenda. There is much truth to this saying, but it must be understood correctly – and if it is, that will determine whether we will end up as one of these "great men," or rather trail far behind them...

The Torah prohibits planting trees in the Beit HaMikdash, the Holy Temple. Why?

This week’s parsha teaches the prohibition against having one witness testify against someone, which is a violation of loshon hora.

View this short idea from Baruch Gordon>>

How do we implement principles from this week's Parsha in our beit din network, “Eretz Hemdah- Gazit”?

This week's Torah reading envisions for us an efficient, organized system of law and order, justice, and fairness. The Torah set a very high bar regarding the selection of judges and police. They are to be free of prejudice, bias and personally held agendas and social ideals.

This short little five-word phrase – “You should be tamim with Hashem your G-d” - is one of the most powerful and profound p’sukim in the Torah. But - what does “Tamim” mean?

The parsha of Shoftim is the classic source of the three types of leadership in Judaism, called by the Sages the “three crowns”: of priesthood, kingship and Torah.