Shabbat Shalom.
Today, I stand before you, not just as Eliza, but as a young Jewish woman. As I celebrate my Bat Mitzvah, I want to share with you some thoughts on this week’s Parsha, Shoftim.
Shoftim, meaning ‘Judges’, is in the last book of the Torah, called Devorim, and it teaches us about justice, fairness and leadership. It reminds us to pursue justice and maintain integrity in all our actions.
In the book of Devorim, Moshe has been teaching the Jewish people how to live in Israel as a holy nation. Parsha Shoftim which translates as Judges talks about the Justice system in Israel.
The portion starts with the mitzvah that the Jewish people have to appoint judges and officers for every tribe and in every city of Israel, in order to uphold the laws of the Torah. They are not only expected to appoint judges, but they are commanded to be passionate about having a high-quality justice system, as the verse in the Torah says:
“Righteousness, righteousness shall you pursue, so that you will live and take possession of the land that Hashem, your God, gives you.”
One of the laws for judges is not to take a bribe. We have just read that the Jewish people had to set up righteous justice systems. Wouldn’t a judge not taking a bribe be obvious???
Rashi, a medieval commentator, explains that a Jewish judge is not allowed to take a bribe even in order to judge a case favourably, because any bribe will blind the eyes of the righteous.
In the Talmud, the sage Samuel was given a basket of small fish as a gift by a man. Shortly thereafter, the same man had a legal case coming before Samuel. Despite the gift being relatively small and common, Samuel withdrew himself from judging the case. He declared that he could not remain impartial because even accepting a minor gift might unconsciously influence his judgment. Samuel understood the importance of ensuring a fair and unbiased judgment.
This story highlights the Talmudic principle of “shochad” (bribery) and the strict measures judges must take to avoid conflicts of interest in order to uphold a fair justice system. A fair justice system makes people want to take their problems to court because they know that a fair judge awaits them.
This idea of judging and making decisions without any self-interest can be applied across the board. As an avid football player and fan, I can see how important this is. I would never want a bias referee, especially when England is playing or I am playing. The game is only as good as a good and fair referee. As a student, sibling, child and friend, I would always want people to treat me without bias. I hope I can be a person that can treat others without bias and self-interest. This is a really important message to me as I go on my journey to become a young Jewish adult.
Nowadays, there is a lot of discussion of what fairness actually means. Does it mean that everyone deserves to get the same as each other? Looking out into the world Hashem has given everyone their unique circumstances in life. No two people look the same, think the same and have the same journey to take in this world.
The Torah laws are given to us to guide us to live a life of truth and meaning. When it comes to judgement, we have seen that a judge must have a pure and honest heart when issuing a ruling. This applies to us in our lives, our hearts need to be pure and unbiased and away from self-interest to be able to know and live the truth that is already within in our hearts.
Parasha Shoftim begins with the words –
“Judges and police at all of your gates…”.
Whilst this can, of course refer to the gates of every city and community, when speaking to Rabbi Hachenbroch in the lead up to today, he pointed out that this can also refer to the gates of our own body; our mouths, eyes and ears. Just as in any city there are forces of good and evil that struggle for control; the same applies to the city that is our body – we have forces of good and evil.
As I step into adulthood, I need to be aware that I, like every person, has to act as both a judge and a policeman. First, as a judge, we must check out if a certain desired behaviour is correct or not according to Jewish law and try to act accordingly. If the evil inclination does not wish to obey, we must act as a police officer forcing it to comply. Now that I am a responsible adult, I must ensure that I act as both Judge and Police of myself to ensure that I live my life in the best possible way.
I love playing sports – football, cricket, hockey, and netball. Sport, like Judaism, values dedication, commitment, and teamwork. It teaches us to rise to challenges, to maximize our talents, and to pursue our goals with determination. I will aim to use these values, both on the field and off.
One of my favourite sporting moments was when my teammate scored the winning goal in the final seconds of our district final football match. It was a moment of pure joy. A testament to the hard work and dedication of our team.
In the lead up to my Bat Mitzvah, I volunteered at Jewish Care. This was my way of giving back to the community, and upholding the Jewish values of caring for others. I remember one particular day when I was paired with a Holocaust survivor. She shared her stories of resilience and faith, and it was a humbling experience. It taught me about the strength of the Jewish spirit and the importance of remembering our history.
I also spent time over Purim at Jewish Care and I really enjoyed the partying, singing, dancing and celebrations. It was so special to spend such a joyful festival with different people who had such interesting stories to share with me.
Looking ahead, I aspire to continue growing and learning. I hope to use my passion for sport to inspire other young girls to pursue their interests without hesitation. I would like to continue my work with Jewish Care, as it has shown me the importance of community and giving back. I hope to make a difference in people’s lives, just as the women in my life have made a difference in mine.
I am blessed to have inspiring women in my life. My grandmothers, Rhoda and Brenda, have shown me the strength and resilience of Jewish women. They have taught me what it means to be the matriarchs of a family. And my aunts, too, have played a significant role in shaping me into the young woman I am today. My sister, Annie, was so passionate at her Bat Mitzvah when she gave her Dvah Torah and she has inspired me to try and do the same. My mother, Louise, is my role model. I hope to emulate her kindness and her strength, not to mention her organisational skills!
I have been very lucky that I have been able to learn for my Bat Mitzvah with another amazing woman, Rebbetzen Batya Rosenblatt. She has taught me so much about being a Jewish woman and I want to thank her for all her time, help and patience with me over the past year. Like my other female role models, my hope is that I can emulate her as I continue my journey as a Jewish woman.
The role of women in Judaism is profound. Women are the mainstay of the home, shaping its character and atmosphere. They are tasked with instilling Jewish values in their children and ensuring our traditions continue. I am grateful to the women in my life for fulfilling this role with grace and dedication.
In conclusion, the Parsha Shoftim teaches us about justice, leadership and integrity. It reminds us to pursue justice in all our actions and to lead with fairness and righteousness. I strive to embody these values in my sports activities and volunteering. And I am inspired by the women in my life to continue our traditions and pass them on to the next generation.
Thank you for listening, and Shabbat Shalom.