26 Shevat 5786
Erev Shabbat Kodesh
Parashat Mishpatim/Sheqalim - Mevarchim
This is the question so many people are asking in our days. Justice is hard to find, but the righteous soul craves it like water in the desert.
The Midrash ha-Chefetz begins its commentary on Parashat Mishpatim with an exposition on the Jewish concept of mishpat (justice): “Scripture says about justice, ‘Hashem, Master of Legions, will become exalted through justice’ (Isaiah 5:16). Great is justice, which He gave only to Israel who are especially beloved by Him, as it says ‘He tells His word to Jacob, His laws and His justice to Israel (Psalms 147:9). Great is justice, which hastens the redemption, as it says ‘Preserve justice and carry out righteousness, because My salvation is soon to come and My righteousness to be revealed’ (Isaiah 56:1). Great is justice, for which the mashiach is praised, as it says ‘he will judge the destitute with righteousness’ (Isaiah 11:4)”.
...The Lekach Tov continues: “Praised is the Name of the Supreme King of kings, the Holy One, blessed be He, that He created His world with justice, and built the foundations of the world on justice, and established His Throne with justice. He judges all and judges alone… And he commanded His servants to judge in righteousness… ‘Hate evil and love good, and at the gate establish justice’ teaches us that one who judges righteously is called good, while one who perverts justice is called bad. ‘Judge in your gates with truth, justice and peace’ (Zechariah 8:16) teaches that the prophets warned Israel about judges… None of the prophets added anything to…or took anything away from the Torah which Hashem our God gave us by the hand of Moshe our Master, and indeed the final prophecy ever was, ‘Remember the Torah of Moshe My servant…’ (Malachi 3:22)”.
...And it is in the merit of justice that we inherit the Land of Israel. As Moshe would tell us forty years later, in his final days: “So now, O Israel, hear the laws and the judgements which I teach you today to do, so that you will live and you will come and inherit the Land which Hashem, God of your fathers, gives you” (Deuteronomy 4:1). And again: “Justice, justice shall you pursue, so that you will live and you will inherit the Land which Hashem your God gives you” (ibid.16:20), on which the Midrash says: “If you pursue justice, you will live and inherit the Land; and if not, you will not inherit it” (Tanhuma, Shoftim 8).
[Excerpted from Parashat Mishpatim: By justice we inherit the Land of Israel by Daniel Pinner in 5774.]
~ SHABBAT SHALOM UMEVORACH ~
Such a tempting target for Iran.
ReplyDeleteTwo U.S. Carrier Strike Groups To Operate Simultaneously In The Middle East: The United States has ordered the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford from the Caribbean toward the Middle East. The USS Gerald R. Ford is the world’s largest and most advanced aircraft carrier and is expected to arrive in the region in the coming weeks, where it is expected to operate alongside existing U.S. naval forces.
The United States currently has the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group operating in or near the Middle East. The strike group includes guided-missile destroyers and support vessels that provide air power, surveillance, and rapid strike capabilities. (Source: Israel Realtime Updates)