Some Morning Thoughts on Shoftim
Good morning,
I jotted some thoughts down on this week’s Torah portion, Shoftim, shared them on Social media, and thought I would also share them here.
Today, we find ourselves in Parashat Shoftim. This portion opens with a powerful call: "Justice, justice shall you pursue." The Torah doesn't just suggest justice; it demands it, repeating the word "justice" as if to say, Don't just seek it—chase it down, make it your mission and your way of being in the world.
Parashat Shoftim reminds us that justice is a communal obligation. It's about how we structure our society, how we treat one another, and how we hold systems of power accountable. The month of Elul asks us to examine our personal lives and the world we help create. Are we lifting up the voices of the marginalized? Are we dismantling the barriers that keep people from living with dignity and respect?
This month is our opportunity to align ourselves with the divine call for justice that is relentless and that challenges us to move beyond complacency and comfort. It's about recognizing that justice isn't just a legal principle; it's a spiritual imperative, a way of walking through the world that demands we see and respond to the pain of others.
As we prepare our hearts for the High Holy Days, let this month of Elul be a time of awakening. Let us recommit to the pursuit of justice in all its forms, knowing that in doing so, we are building a world that reflects the very best of who we are and who we can be.
May this Elul bring us closer to the justice we are called to create, and may we enter the new year with a renewed sense of purpose and possibility.
Update:
Over the next few months, I have more music to be released, and I decided to change my music name on all platforms to "Rabbi Sandra" instead of "Rabbi Sandra Lawson," so now my branding is the same everywhere. It will take a few days or weeks for this to catch up on all platforms. Apple, for some reason, doesn't like to change artists' names, so you may see them listed under both names on Apple.
Dear Rabbi Sandra,
As we are called to pursue Justice as a wayt of living, so must we also think of "Justice" in the broadest possible terms. Are we caring for the poor, the outcast, and the vulnerable? Do we focus our efforts on uplifting them and alleviating their suffering? Justice goes way beyond judging others, finding them guilty, and punishing them.