Shoftim


 

“Justice, justice shall you pursue” (Deut. 16:20)

 

            The Hebrew word Tzedek (meaning “justice”) is repeated twice in the above verse.  Judaism teaches nothing in the Torah is superfluous.  Every dot, dash, and word repetition has a purpose and reason.  Why, then, is the word “justice” repeated?

 

            The contemporary Torah scholar Pinhas Peli writes, “the word “justice” is repeated twice to teach us that when pursuing justice we cannot remain one-sided. . . .It is, indeed much more difficult to find a way between two claims, both of whom have justice on their side, than to decide a priori which of the two sides is absolutely just and must be aided.”

 

            Talmudic law understood this to mean that when two litigants come before a  court of law the case must begin with a presumption of justice on both sides.  Each litigant believes his/her position is just and right. 

 

 

            Another interpretation of “Justice, justice shall you pursue” suggests the word “justice” is repeated twice to emphasize that regardless of the difficulty, one must never give up the pursuit of justice and peace.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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