The Sedra Shoftim

This week we find ourselves in Parshat Shoftim. While we have merit to live in our land, we must recognize that exile is not just a geographical location, it is a state of being. We have lost so much, and one of the most vital components missing today is the clarity of judgment and divine advice. Our portion begins with the command to appoint judges and officers, ensuring a justice system that governs with true righteousness. The Torah describes a situation where a matter is too baffling for the people to decide. Ibn Ezra explains that baffling means hidden. In ancient times, when the truth was hidden, we could travel to Jerusalem and seek the wisdom of the judges. Today, without the Sanhedrin, we wander without that perfect direction. We pray daily for God to restore our judges as of old, ending the confusion of our exile and bringing us back to the light of the Torah. Shabbat Shalom.