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Perhaps the most central theme of
Parshas Shoftim is the responsibilities and authorities of the leaders and
guides of Bnei Yisrael. This position would develop over time, beginning with a
single authority in Moshe Rabbeinu, morphing into prophets and Shoftim, and
eventually splitting into a Beis Din responsible for determining and deciding
all matters related to Torah law, and a king responsible for enforcing the law
and day-to-day needs of the nation. During the time that Moshe was leading the
nation and they could observe his direct pipeline to Hashem, it was easier to
accept his authority and believe he was giving over the correct message.
However, as we moved away from Moshe, and the leaders’ connection with Hashem
became more hidden, it became necessary for the Torah to establish the
authority of the nation’s future leaders.
A clear example of this is found in
Perek 17 Pasuk 11, “עַל־פִּ֨י הַתּוֹרָ֜ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר
יוֹר֗וּךָ וְעַל־הַמִּשְׁפָּ֛ט אֲשֶׁר־יֹֽאמְר֥וּ לְךָ֖ תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֑ה לֹ֣א תָס֗וּר
מִן־הַדָּבָ֛ר אֲשֶׁר־יַגִּ֥ידוּ לְךָ֖ יָמִ֥ין וּשְׂמֹֽאל” “According to the
teaching that they will teach you and according to the judgment that they will
say to you, shall you do; you shall not turn from the word that they will tell
you, right or left.” Rashi comments on the usage of the phrase “right or
left”, that even if they tell you left is right and right is left, you must
listen to them. The Ramban expands on this that even if you believe the
opposite of what Beis Din determines is the halacha, even to the point where it
seems as obvious to you as the difference between right and left, you must
trust and support their decision.
This same concept is seen later on in
the parsha in perhaps an unexpected location. The Torah warns us, “לֹ֤א תַסִּיג֙
גְּב֣וּל רֵֽעֲךָ֔ אֲשֶׁ֥ר גָּֽבְל֖וּ רִֽאשֹׁנִ֑ים בְּנַֽחֲלָֽתְךָ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר
תִּנְחַ֔ל בָּאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לְךָ֖ לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ” “You shall not move back the boundary of your fellow, which
the early ones marked out …in the land that Hashem, your God, gives you to
possess it.” (19:14). As we saw earlier in the Torah, portions of Eretz
Yisrael were divided out to each shevet based on a careful determination of
what each tribe required. While Hashem was the one who determined these
portions, the pasuk attributes it to the “early ones”, which the Ramban
explains refers to Elazar the son of Aharon and his successor as Kohen Gadol, and
Yehoshua bin Nun, the successor to Moshe, along with the heads of each
individual tribe. Why are they given credit for acting on Hashem’s direct
orders? In order to make the same point as before.
The Written Torah is in many ways
incomplete. There are many examples of laws found in the Torah with little
detail to how they are supposed to be done. As a result, it is up to our Torah
experts to determine the true meaning of the Torah and how we are supposed to
practice. However, explains the Ramban, it’s impossible for everyone to come to
the same conclusions when dealing with vagueness and ambiguity. Without
trusting the authorities, the Torah would break down very quickly into several
different versions. Therefore, the Torah itself teaches us that we must trust
in our leaders.
Even if an individual might have clearer
logic, greater intelligence, or perhaps even better intentions, it makes no
difference. As leaders of the Jewish people, they have been blessed with
guidance from Hashem to the point where even though they may not be on the same
level of greatness as Moshe, in our eyes we must afford them the same amount of
respect.
Shabbat Shalom!
Thank you to everyone who participated in this year's SOS program. The program has now ended for the Summer. Stay tuned for next year's!
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