Li¤h ̈a §W ¦l L §l o ¥z y p Li¤w y l¡` 'd x¤W£` Li ¤x ̈r §W l ̈k §A L §l o ¤Y ¦Y mi ¦x §h y W§e mi ¦h §t y W :w ¤c¤v h©R §W ¦n m ̈r ̈d z¤` Eh §t ̈W§e (jh zy)
You shall appoint magistrates and officials for your tribes, in all the settlements that Hashem is giving you, and they shall govern the people with due justice.
Æd¤i §g«¦Y o©r³©n §l s ® y C §x ¦Y w¤c2¤v w¤c¬¤v /:K« ̈l o¬¥z y p Li¤w y l¡` 'd x¤W£` u ¤x ½ ̈` ̈d z¤` ́ ̈Y §W ©x ̈i§e
Justice, justice shall you pursue, that you may thrive and occupy the land that Hashem is giving you. (16:18-20)
x ½ ̈g §a¦i x ́¤W£` Æm y ew ̈O©A Li¤w y l¡` 'd i ́¥p §RÎz¤` ¹L §xEk§f l8k d ̧¤` ̈x¥i d¿ ̈p ̈X©A mi ́¦n ̈r §R W y e ́l ̈W :m« ̈wi ¥x 'd i¬¥p §R z¤` d²¤` ̈x¥i ` ̄ y l§e z y e®M ªQ©d b ́©g §aE z y e2r ªa ̈X©d b¬©g §aE z y e²S ©O©d b ̄©g §A
Three times a year—on the Feast of Unleavened Bread, on the Feast of Weeks, and on the Feast of Booths—all your males shall appear before Hashem in the place that Hashem will choose. They shall not appear before Hashem empty-handed,
x¤W£` Li¤w y l¡` 'd z©M §x ¦a §M Fc ̈i z©p §Y ©n §M Wi ¦` :K ̈l o ©z ̈p
but each with his own gift, according to the blessing that Hashem has bestowed upon you. (16:16-17)
There is often some thematic connection between the concluding posuk of one weekly parsha and the opening posuk of the following parshas. The end of Parshas Reah speaks about bringing the Korbanos when the Yidden appear in the Beis Hamikdash the three Yomim Tovim. Parshas Shoftim enters into the Judges to pursue due justice. We have to understand the connection of these two subjects. Another interesting point to the connection, is that the similar phrase K« ̈l o¬¥z y p Li¤w y l¡` 'd x¤W£` that Hashem is giving you, is repeated in both Mitzvohs.
To explain this, we dive into the Gemarra (Beitza 16a)
l8M z ©` ̈v y ed¥n uEg ,mi ¦xER ¦M©d m y ei c©r§e d ̈p ̈X©d W` y x¥n y el mi ¦aEv §w m ̈c ̈` l¤W ei ̈z y ep y ef §n oi ¦z£g y eR z©g ̈R m ¦`¤W ,d ̈x y eY cEn §l ©z §l ei ̈p ̈A z ©` ̈v y ed§e a y eh m y ei z ©` ̈v y ed§e z y ez ̈A©W . y el oi ¦ti ¦q y en si ¦q y ed m ¦`§e , y el
A person’s entire livelihood is allocated to him during the period from Rosh Hashana to Yom Kippur. During that time, as each individual is judged, it is decreed exactly how much money he will earn for all his expenditures of the coming year, except for expenditures for Shabbos, and expenditures for Yomtov, and expenditures for the school fees of his sons’ Torah study. In these areas, no exact amount is determined at the beginning of the year; rather, if he reduced the amount he spends for these purposes, his income is reduced and he earns that much less money in that year, and if he increased his expenditures in these areas, his income is increased to ensure that he can cover the expense. Therefore, one may borrow for these purposes, since he is guaranteed to have enough income to cover whatever he spends for them. According to most commentators, this relates to all Mitzvohs that a person is guaranteed to have enough income to cover them, as Hashem will make sure that the budget falls in line.
As we approach Chodesh Elul, and begin the Teshuva Process, in order to have Hashem decree a good verdict on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, the Torah is reminding us that everything is allocated to him from Hashem. All with a precise account. The Torah is stressing by the Korban, as one might hold back from bringing a better animal, therefore, the Posuk states Wi ¦` :K ̈l o ©z ̈p x¤W£` Li¤w y l¡` 'd z©M §x ¦a §M Fc ̈i z©p §Y ©n §M but each with his own gift, according to the blessing that Hashem has bestowed upon you.
Give with your whole heart and give Hashem the satisfaction of a beautiful present. Remember, that all blessings are from Hashem, and He gives you measure for measure.
Then we come to the judges, that Hashem commands them to judge with justice. Not once but twice. The first Posuk w ¤c¤v h©R §W ¦n m ̈r ̈d z¤` Eh §t ̈W§e they shall govern the people with due justice. Then the Torah reiterates stronger w¤c¬¤v s ® y C §x ¦Y w¤c2¤v Justice, justice shall you pursue. This brings us to the Gemarra Sanhedrin 8a:
`Ed mi ¦w y l`¥l h ̈R §W ¦O©d i ¦M": “For the judgment is God’s.” Hashem, says: It is not enough for the wicked judges, that they take money from this person and they give it to that person unlawfully, but they even trouble Me to return the money to its rightful owners. As proper justice is ultimately in the hands of God, He takes responsibility to bring about the rectification of the errors of unfit judges. Therefore, the Torah gives the reason L §l o ¥z y p Li¤w y l¡` 'd x¤W£` that Hashem is giving you.
Everything is in the hands of Hashem, and with precise details. Rely on Hashem and follow His commands and you will merit :K ̈l o ©z ̈p x¤W£` Li¤w y l¡` 'd z©M §x ¦a §M according to the blessing that Hashem has bestowed upon you. Shlomo Hamelech advises us: Mishlei 10:22 : ` « y l§e xi®¦W£r«©z `i ́¦d 'd z ́©M §x ¦A D« ̈O¦r a¤v ́¤r s2¦qFi .(cwwf wh hkan) Hashem's blessing will enrich you, and he adds no sorrow with it. If we follow this, we can approach the Yom Hadin with tranquility and confidence.
No one touches your money!
(Yehuda Z. Klitnick)
