Torah Commentary - Shoftim

The Torah Portion, Shoftim, focuses on justice, leadership, and moral responsibility. Conquest, with God's help, and settlement in Canaan are just the beginning. If the children of Israel are to endure as a strong, ethical community, there must be leaders to guide them in the fulfillment of God's commandments - judges, Levite priests, kings, prophets, military officers. God is, of course, the ultimate Leader and sets the limits of power for those who would rule in God's name.

A judge must not take a bribe. (Deuteronomy 16:19)
A king "...shall not get himself very much silver and gold." *(Deuteronomy 17:18)
A levite priest "...shall not have a legacy among his brothers. YHWH: He is his legacy, as He spoke to him."* (Deuteronomy 18:2)
A prophet - "...he'll speak to them everything that I'll command him."* (Deuteronomy 18:18)
An army officer must let soldiers in certain circumstances leave the group poised for battle. (Deuteronomy 20:5-9) and must try to make peace with an enemy city before attacking it. (Deuteronomy 20:10)

Cities of refuge for one who murders accidently and execution by stoning for one who engages in idolatry are both considered just processes in Shoftim.
There is even a process for bringing a "daunting" legal problem "...to the place that YHWH, your God, will choose."* (Deuteronomy 17:8), where a decision will be made by the Levite priests and the judge.

Shoftim includes several especially teachable verses - succinct, meaningful, memorable lines which inspire questions and prompt discussion.
"judgement with justice"* (Deuteronomy 16:18)
"Justice, justice you shall pursue"* (Deuteronomy 16:20)
"so you shall burn away what is bad from among you"* (Deuteronomy 17:7)
"On the word of two witnesses or on the word of three witnesses a case shall stand up."* (Deuteronomy 19:15)
"life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth"* (Deuteronomy 19:21)

In the classroom or study group, ask participants to read a text sheet with these verses in English (and Hebrew, if possible). Also provide each group with a Torah Commentary book. Assign a specific verse to small groups and direct the groups to consider:
What is the context for the verse in Shoftim?
How will the legal or social concept expressed in the verse, impact the Israelite community in Canaan?
Relate the verse to the religious, social, political, economic life of today's Jewish community in America. If, in the opinion of the group, the verse isn't relevant to modern American Jewish life, explain why.

Who would like to begin?!

One further comment - Did you know that Torah study has definite health benefits? Recently, I attended a lecture by a doctor, an expert in geriatrics. He spoke on "Ten Steps to Successful Aging." There it was - Step#5 - "Challenge your mind - use it or lose it!" The suggestions for mental challenges included "Take a class," "Learn something new," "Join a book club."
What better book than the Torah?!
Take one Portion and join me at Jewish Educators' Village, each week.
To your health!

*From Commentary on the Torah by Richard Elliott Friedman.