Parshat Sho'f'tim

Explanations of this week's ParshaPix -

Okay. This week's ParshaPix is taken straight from last year. It has a lot of nice elements to learn and teach with.

Start in the upper-left corner with the gavel and sheriff's badge, representing SHO'F'TIM and SHO'T'RIM.

The scales of justice are tipping over, representing the perversion of justice, not only a violation of a prohibition in the Torah, but an act that destroys the underpinnings of society. Without a justice system that we can have confidence in, we each might as well find a cave on a beach somewhere to live in a hermit's isolation. Society must have a fair justice system to survive and flourish.

The crown in the second row, obviously stands for the mitzvot related to kings. This includes the writing of a Sefer Torah, as depicted by the quill and scroll in the middle of the second row.

The gift box at the right side of the row stands for the gifts of the Kehuna, several of which are mentioned in the sedra.

Next line has a negation sign on a pair of arrows pointing to the right and left. This is multiplied by 2. This refers to the two times the Torah admonishes against veering to the right or the left. We are commanded to listen to the pronounce ments of the Sages and not to turn from what they tell us, neither to the right nor to the left. Similarly, the king is warned not to veer from the teachings of the Torah in his rule over the nation.

Then there is a cute rabbit in a hat. This reminds us of a magician, which in Hebrew is KOSEIM, which in Biblical Hebrew was someone dealing in the black arts. Although the prohibitions in the sedra deal with the occult, there is a halachic issue concerning modern-day magic. A magician should be careful to explain to his audience that his tricks are done by using gimmicks and misdirection. He must not give even the impression that there is anything super natural
about what he is doing. There are Poskim (rabbinic authorities) who require a magician to show how at least one trick is done, and to explain to the audience that there  is a potential problem with performing magic tricks, which is resolved in the above way.

The ax in two parts refers to the classic example of SHOGEG homicide, where the head of an ax flies off the handle and kills someone.

Then there are two identical stores, the one with SOON in the window might be guilty of MASIG G'VUL for encroaching on the business of the other store.

Bottom left are three representations of the official excuses to exempt someone from military service in a non-compulsory war. (A milchemet mitzva take the chatan out from his chupa, etc.) Pictured are a house being built, a  vineyard having been recently planted, and an engagement ring. Those within their  first year of marriage are sent home from the recruit ment depot.

And finally, the tree with a face and personality to match, as in "For the man is the Tree of the Field.

[The Sho'f'tim Homepage]
[The TORAH tidbits Homepage][How to use TORAH tidbits]
[About The OU/NCSY Israel Center][About TORAH tidbits]