Parshas Shoftim 5768
September 6, 2008

   A SPECIAL SECTION FOR THOSE WHO
  PREPARE FOR SHABBOS

OLD HEBREW EXPRESSION STATES: THOSE
WHO PREPARE FOR SHABBOS EAT ON SHABBOS 

This week Dov and I traveled to another community to attend the wedding of Sholom Yachnes and Chaya Hiller. It was a lovely wedding. Beautiful sunshine filled the day and the kallah and chosson each shone as they were escorted down the aisle by their parents. The dancing was spectacular and neither chosson nor kallah sat out a single moment. The chosson’s brothers danced with energy and skill as well as with flaming batons. On the women’s side of the mechitza the dancing included hats, costumes and much fun. We wish the chosson and kallah as well as their parents and families continued naches. 

VOICES FROM THE EZRAS NASHIM

Under normal circumstances I would skip this section of the web page today. Our travels kept us on the road for part of the week and preparations for this Shabbos are not yet complete. At the same time I cannot let Parshas Shoftim pass without a personal comment.

It has been a special gift to have heard Adin Steinstoltz, Alan Dershowitz and Antonin Scalia each speak on the topic of this Parsha in addition to drashas by various rabbaim over the years. Many times there has been a focus in the discussions on why the phrase “justice, justice shall you pursue” repeats the word justice. What exactly is justice?

For us as human beings justice must be the equal application of the law to all people regardless of who they are. Sometimes this creates harsh remedies. In today’s world the parent who murders the drunk driver who killed their child may receive a more severe penalty than the drunk driver. We want to ask, “is this fair?” Justice, however, does not look at fairness. It looks only to whether each individual is treated the same under the law. The drunk driver has committed a crime which resulted in the loss of life, but the parent turned murderer has committed a more serious level of murder in the deliberate taking of a life. We are nonetheless troubled by the outcome in situations such as these. We look not for justice, but for rachmanus. For the trier of fact to recognize that, not all those who have committed a wrong act should be punished the same way. But we are people. We are not the Supreme Judge who can truly see the inner heart of each of us to know when rachmanus should replace din. And so it seems to me that the pasuk reminds us that we can only do justice and that we must leave the application of rachmanus to the Abishter.

Elk’s Menu for Parshas Shoftim
Friday, September 5, 2008—5 Elul 5768

Whole Wheat Challah (baked in the merit of a child for a childless couple)
Watermelon and Kiwi Fruit Cup
Minestrone Soup
Salmon en Croute with Caramelized Onions
Pasta with Vegetarian Sausages
Sweet Rice Kugel
Eggplant Stuffing
Israeli Salad
Lettuce Salad with Fine Herbs and Homemade Dressing
Iced Banana Cake

Kiddush Menu for
Saturday, September 6, 2008—6 Elul 5768

Egg Salad
Tuna Salad
Smoked Whitefish Platter
Herring
Matjes Herring
Chickpea Salad
Chumus
Crackers
Cookies

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