Parshat Shoftim שֹׁפְטִים
August 14-15, 2026
2 Elul 5786
Annual Torah Reading: Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9
Triennial Torah Reading: Deuteronomy 16:18-18:5
This Shabbat we read Parashat שֹׁפְטִים (Shoftim). Moshe continues his final instructions to בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (B'nei Yisrael), focusing on the civil, judicial, and spiritual leadership required to sustain a just society in the Land of Israel.
In this parasha, Moshe outlines the appointment of judges and officers, the duties of the king, the rights of the Kohanim and Levites, the laws regarding prophets, cities of refuge, and the conduct of warfare, concluding with the ritual of the Eglah Arufah (the unworked heifer) for an unsolved tragedy.
Below, we look at the core themes of this week through three unique lenses.
1. Pursuing True Justice
Insight inspired by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
The central imperative of this week's portion commands us: "Justice, justice shall you pursue, so that you may live and inherit the land which the Lord your G-d gives you" (Deuteronomy 16:20).
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks pointed out that the double use of the word "justice" (tzedek, tzedek) carries a vital moral lesson:
"The Torah repeats the word 'justice' to teach us that we must pursue justice only through just means. A good end never justifies an unjust process. To create a righteous society, the path we walk to achieve justice must be as pure as the goal itself." Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
Moshe reminds us that institutional law alone cannot guarantee a moral society. Justice must be actively sought, guarded, and practiced by every individual in their daily dealings.
2. Leadership and Humility: The King's Torah
Insight inspired by Rabbi Adin Even Israel Steinsaltz
In detailing the laws of Jewish monarchy, the Torah commands that the king must write a personal copy of the Torah and keep it with him at all times: "It shall remain with him, and he shall read from it all the days of his life, so that his heart does not become haughty over his brothers" (Deuteronomy 17:19-20).
Rabbi Adin Even Israel Steinsaltz observed that true authority in Judaism is inseparable from humility:
"The Jewish leader is not above the law, but its primary servant. The purpose of power in the Torah is not self-exaltation, but responsibility. When a leader carries the Torah with them constantly, they are reminded that they answer to a higher moral authority than their own ego." Rabbi Adin Even Israel Steinsaltz
Whether in positions of communal leadership, professional authority, or within our own families, true influence comes from self-restraint and devotion to shared values.
3. Judges at the Gates of the Self
Insight inspired by the Shelah HaKadosh and Chassidic Thought
The opening verse of the parasha commands: "You shall appoint judges and officers for yourself in all your gates" (Deuteronomy 16:18).
The Shelah HaKadosh and other commentators note the singular phrasing "for yourself" (lecha), offering a personal, spiritual reading of the text. Every human being possesses personal "gates," the eyes, ears, mouth, and hands, through which the outside world enters and our inner thoughts express themselves. To live a holy life, we must place internal "judges" at our own gates, exercising mindfulness over what we absorb, what we listen to, and what words we allow to cross our lips.
As we progress through the month of אֱלוּל (Elul), this instruction serves as a timeless call for self-reflection and personal accountability in preparation for the High Holidays.
הַפְטָרָה: Haftarah Reading
יְשַׁעְיָהוּ (Y'sha'yahu) 51:12 to 52:12
We read the fourth of the seven Haftarot of Consolation (Sheva d'Nechemta). The prophet יְשַׁעְיָהוּ (Y'sha'yahu) delivers G-d's comforting response to Israel's fear and suffering, calling upon Jerusalem to awaken to her ultimate redemption:
"I, yes I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you should fear a mortal human who dies, or a son of man who is treated as grass?" (Y'sha'yahu 51:12)
The prophet calls for renewal, foretelling the joyous return to Zion and the restoration of justice:
"Awake, awake! Clothe yourself in your strength, O Zion! Clothe yourself in your garments of splendor, O Yerushalayim, the holy city!" (Y'sha'yahu 52:1)
Questions to Contemplate
How can I ensure that the means I use to resolve conflicts in my personal or professional life are as ethical as the outcomes I desire?
In what ways can I establish better "judges at my gates" this Elul, guarding what I absorb from the world and how I speak to others?
Compiled by Rav Baruch Shamash