Feature Tidbit
for Parashat Shoftim

The Big Partnership

Most mitzvot are G-d telling us what He wants us to do. He commands and we are obligated to do. Some mitzvot have a specific additional dimension to them. (Rereading these first sentences, I see how oversimple they sound. Let's try again.)

There are many different reasons that we have attached and attributed to the mitzvot. Among everything else, we can see a series of mitzva-topics in this week's sedra that point in a specific important direction — our partnership with G-d in running our affairs and lives. Specifically, there are three different types of partners that we have had and should have. Judges (Sanhedrin), King, and Navi (prophet). Each one makes us (through these representatives) partners with G-d.

The legislation, rulings, and teachings of the Sanhedrin represent the Word of G-d, explaining to us what He wants of us. So too (but differently), the prophet is he who will tell us the Word of G-d. This was the deal we struck at Sinai when we panicked and requested NOT to hear G-d's Voice anymore.

And then there is the king. Very powerful ruler of the people.

But remember: G-d is Melech Malchei HaM'lachim, the King of Kings. He is the True Judge, too. And, in principle, He does not need a prophet to tell us things. So on these three levels, He has formed a partnership, so to speak, with us.

The mitzvot (many of which are in this parsha) are the terms of the partnership agreement. In order for there to be truth and confidence in the system of justice, in order for the pasuk - for from Zion shall come forth Torah and the Word of G-d from Yerushalayim, to so, we must not prevert justice, must not take bribes, must not appoint our judges for the wrong reasons, must examine all situations very carefully, follow carefully the laws of witnesses, etc. etc.

In order for the Navi-partner to hold up his side of the partnership, he has to say only what G-d tells him to say. He must be a True Prophet.

We in turn have obligations as silent partners, so to speak. No matter how perfect the judges of Sanhedrin are, the system won't work unless we live up to our end of the arrangement. We can't offer bribes, nor bear false witness, swear falsely, etc. This is our contribution to the partnership.

With a Navi, we may not over-test him, we must listen to what he says, and conversely, may NOT listen to one who we know to be false.

The king has rules and we have rules vis-a-vis the king. It is all geared to make the partnership work.

Could not G-d have done it all by Himself? Yes, but that is not what He wanted for the world. He wanted us to take over responsibility for much of the justice system. He retained certain jurisdiction for Himself. And He is the perfect backup justice system for when something goes awry in ours.

He might not have originally wanted to communicate with us through a prophet (so to speak), but He went along with that aspect of the system.

And the king idea can always go one way or the other, as our own history has shown.

You cannot become a partner without doing your share of the work and taking a share of the responsibility. That's what these mitzvot are telling us. The plan can work or it can backfire on us.

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