Dear Friends,
Among the most compelling three words in the entire Torah are found in the opening of this week’s Torah portion: “Tsedek, Tsedek, Tirdof – Justice, Justice, you shall pursue!” (Deuteronomy 16:20).
The command is so concise, so pure, so demanding, that it stands as arguably the central ethic of the Torah. Whatever we do – pay our employees, keep Shabbat, govern society, offer sacrifices, eat our food – we must do with an eye for the pursuit of Justice. Yes – justice is a concern not merely in the courthouse or the police station, but in every interaction, from schools to playgrounds, cafes to crosswalks, offices to statehouses.
Of course, this week when New Yorkers are settling into the news of Governor Cuomo’s resignation amid sexual abuse charges, we are reminded that we have an abiding command to pursue justice. The verb is not insignificant. Pursuit of justice is necessary. Justice does not fall like rain upon us; it demands a demanding citizenry which will not accept living in a world where injustice abides, or even appears to abide. Irrespective of one’s political leanings, the news of this week demonstrates that Torah was right: the task to pursue justice belongs to the widest cohort of our polity.
Many commentators have pondered the import of the doubling of the word, “Justice.” Some see it as merely a repetition to give emphasis to the command. Whenever a word is duplicated in Torah, as in “Abraham, Abraham!” in the Binding of Isaac vignette, the impact is to add weight to the message. Yet, “Justice” is already so powerful that one could question how its doubling adds to that significance. However, note the contrast in dramatic power in the doubling; compare “Justice, you shall pursue!” to “Justice, Justice, you shall pursue!”
Other commentators have suggested that we split the words, “Justice, justice.” One justice could imply justice for the victim and the other for the accused; another argument could be justice for the home-born and justice for the immigrant; still others argue that it means both justice in a decision and in a compromise; and others have offered that it means justice in a business profit or in a business loss. In any regard, the text compels.
Thus, this week, in the wake of the Governor’s resignation and when Torah proclaims, “Justice, justice, you shall pursue!” we are stirred to do just that: seek and pursue justice in whatever walk of life we live.
Let us pursue!
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Douglas Kohn
Among the most compelling three words in the entire Torah are found in the opening of this week’s Torah portion: “Tsedek, Tsedek, Tirdof – Justice, Justice, you shall pursue!” (Deuteronomy 16:20).
The command is so concise, so pure, so demanding, that it stands as arguably the central ethic of the Torah. Whatever we do – pay our employees, keep Shabbat, govern society, offer sacrifices, eat our food – we must do with an eye for the pursuit of Justice. Yes – justice is a concern not merely in the courthouse or the police station, but in every interaction, from schools to playgrounds, cafes to crosswalks, offices to statehouses.
Of course, this week when New Yorkers are settling into the news of Governor Cuomo’s resignation amid sexual abuse charges, we are reminded that we have an abiding command to pursue justice. The verb is not insignificant. Pursuit of justice is necessary. Justice does not fall like rain upon us; it demands a demanding citizenry which will not accept living in a world where injustice abides, or even appears to abide. Irrespective of one’s political leanings, the news of this week demonstrates that Torah was right: the task to pursue justice belongs to the widest cohort of our polity.
Many commentators have pondered the import of the doubling of the word, “Justice.” Some see it as merely a repetition to give emphasis to the command. Whenever a word is duplicated in Torah, as in “Abraham, Abraham!” in the Binding of Isaac vignette, the impact is to add weight to the message. Yet, “Justice” is already so powerful that one could question how its doubling adds to that significance. However, note the contrast in dramatic power in the doubling; compare “Justice, you shall pursue!” to “Justice, Justice, you shall pursue!”
Other commentators have suggested that we split the words, “Justice, justice.” One justice could imply justice for the victim and the other for the accused; another argument could be justice for the home-born and justice for the immigrant; still others argue that it means both justice in a decision and in a compromise; and others have offered that it means justice in a business profit or in a business loss. In any regard, the text compels.
Thus, this week, in the wake of the Governor’s resignation and when Torah proclaims, “Justice, justice, you shall pursue!” we are stirred to do just that: seek and pursue justice in whatever walk of life we live.
Let us pursue!
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Douglas Kohn
