Shoftim
What are you taking in?
Reflection on parashat Shoftim by Michal Fox, Or HaLev Teacher
שֹׁפְטִים וְשֹׁטְרִים, תִּתֶּן-לְךָ בְּכָל-שְׁעָרֶיךָ, אֲשֶׁר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לְךָ, לִשְׁבָטֶיךָ; וְשָׁפְטוּ אֶת-הָעָם, מִשְׁפַּט-צֶדֶק. דברים ט"ו, י"ח
“Appoint judges and officers (shoftim v’shotrim) for your tribes in all the settlements that God is giving you; and they shall govern the people with justice.” (Deuteronomy 16:18)
Rabbi Shabtai HaKohen, sometimes known as the Shach, in his commentary on the Torah says this is a teaching not only about how to create a just society but a personal spiritual teaching as well. He says `to appoint judges and officers (shoftim v’shotrim) at all your gates` is an allusion to all the gates of the body: the eyes, ears, nostrils, mouth; that we should have judges and officers appointed at each of these places so that we don't do anything with them that's not aligned with our own divinity and holiness.
The shotrim are the parts of us that can make outward decisions: what do I allow myself to see? What do I allow myself to hear? How do I speak?
Before them come the shoftim.
They are our inner discernment. The part that can pay attention and bring awareness to the effects of our own actions and to how different exposures affect us. If I'm listening to traffic or the television or an argument or birdsong, how do these different sounds that come into me through my ears impact me? What are the words that I'm speaking and what influence are they having on other people and on the environment around me?
This week, while you're sitting and also while you're just going about your day, you might try to bring that level of awareness.
What are the noticeable effects of the choices you're making? How are the things which you are taking in impacting you? Are there different choices that might be more aligned with the will of the creator and source, with your best self, your highest purpose? Are there even small steps or corrections we might make? Try something different and see what happens next.
Blessings on your journey. May it be a week of discernment and holiness.