פרשת שופטים
This week’s Parsha opens with the laws about appointing judges and how careful we as Jews must be to employ adjudicators who are honest, fair, and impervious to any form of bribery. The Torah then goes on to teach us the laws of an Asheira tree, which is a tree planted for the sake of idol worship, and the ensuing laws pertaining to this particular type of tree. We must ask ourselves what the connection is. We know that even those who do not find the Torah’s placing one chapter next to another to be significant in other books of the Chumash, explain that Devarim is different and that the proximity between chapters is always noteworthy. What then is the connection between and Asheira and appointing suitable judges?
The Gemorah in Sanhedrin (7b) says that the Torah is teaching us that anybody who sets up a judge who is unjust is considered to have set up an Ahseira tree next to the holy altar. The Tur bolsters this explanation by pointing out that ‘Asheira’ has the same numerical value as ‘a judge who is unjust.’ However, this Gemorah and subsequently the Tur require further explanation. Surely Chazal could have come up with any one of a dozen analogies of things which are unseemly in the Chumash. Why specifically an Ashira? Why not say that anybody who appoints an unfair judge is considered to have eaten on Yom Kippur or any other faux pas in the Torah?
The Seforno explains brilliantly that an Asheira had an interesting unique aspect to it that the perpetrator did not necessarily believe that his tree was capable of producing some sore of miraculous power, however he planted it anyway reasoning that its beauty and shade would be successful in enticing the masses to come and worship it. He was more attracted to the external beauty then he was the service of foreign deities. Similarly, a person who would set up a judge who did not possess the spiritual qualities necessary was probably aware of this fact, but he did so because he knew that the judge looked the part and could therefore get away with it. The judge probably had a long white scholarly looking beard, and soft hands, and a soft-spoken manner about him which made him appear erudite, otherwise they wouldn’t have chosen him. However, the Gemorah is teaching us that anybody who focuses on these external qualities, and ignores the most important traits, which are the ones the Gemorah teaches us should be found in a judge, is on par with a person who would plant an Asheira.
Truthfully, the concept of serving Hashem from the inside, and not from the outside is a very fundamental notion in Judaism. The Rosh Yeshiva, R’ Shimon Green often says, “Do you want to go to Gan Eden, or find yourself in Gan Eden style? Do you want to look like your serving Hashem and earn the respect of your peers, or do you want to serve Hashem”? This subtle yet critical distinction is absolutely essential in proper Torah observance. The Navi Micha records a fascinating conversation that he had with himself to demonstrate this point. Let us say that there was a particular Jew who felt so indebted to Hashem for all the good He had bestowed upon him, that he came to seek out the Navi to ask him how he could adequately offer recompense to the Master of the World for this perpetual barrage of kindness. His first inclination was to offer up hundreds of fattened oxen and goats during the next festival as a sign of his appreciation. But the Navi quickly discouraged him by patiently explaining to this man that Hashem does not desire grandiose displays, or overt presentations of gratitude, rather all Hashem asks of us is that we do His will properly and walk modestly in His presence. The Navi is attempting to drill home to us the importance of serving Hashem with our hearts, and not by external, insincere displays of service. The Gemorah goes out of its way to explain that the primary time to fulfill this dictum of Micha to walk modestly in front of Hashem is during the commandments of escorting the dead, and of gladdening the heart of a bride and groom. This is to teach us that even during these potentially ostentatious times, when there is a large crowd gathered around the person who happens to be performing these imperative commandments, he must resist the temptation to “show off” his religiousness in front of them, and direct his heart solely to the service at hand. This principle is absolutely vital for anyone who strives to be a true servant of Hashem.
During the month we find ourselves in, the month of Elul, this should be our primary focus. The Rabenu Yonah says that the first step in repentance is recognizing that our heart has not been in the right place and rectifying that. The Gemorah says, “Hashem only asks for our hearts”. This can be compared to two people who enter a taxi, one of them knows his destination, but is not quite sure how to get there, yet the other doesn’t even remember his destination. The first person at least has a hope of succeeding in reaching his objective, even though it may take him a while. We too must utilize this time to remind ourselves of where we are headed and what is truly important to us. This is also the reason we blow the Shofar every day during this month. It is to allow us a chance to recalibrate ourselves, and remind ourselves of our true priorities. The Rambam says that the Shofar is like a wake up call which goes out to all those who are slumbering and need to be arisen. Similarly, the chapter of Tehilim which we recite twice daily is fraught with reminders of how ephemeral this world truly is and how our only true focus should be our spiritual pursuits. “Hashem is my light and my salvation”, and the only one I can rely on. “When a war breaks out, I will not be afraid,” as I know that nothing can help or hurt me without Hashem’s say so. “All I ask for Hashem, is that you let me dwell in your midst all my days,” since I know that in the end, my spiritual achievements will be all that will stand in my stead and vouch for me.
May we all merit to realign ourselves, and recognize what is real and what isn’t, and offer up our hearts to the Creator of the world in genuine service!