26 Aug SHOFTIM- JUDGING FAVORABLY, BEING JUDGED FAVORABLY

Toward the beginning
of Parashat Shoftim,
the Torah famously
commands, “Sedek
Sedek Tirdof” –
“Justice, justice shall

you pursue” (16:20).
The plain meaning of this verse is that the
Torah commands judges to reach their
decisions honestly and fairly, with the
objective of pursuing justice for all litigants
who come before them.
The Midrash Tanhuma, however, adds a
deeper layer of meaning, explaining that the
Torah here commands leaders to advocate on
behalf of the Jewish Nation. In the Midrash’s
words, “She’yiheyu…Melamdin Alehem
Zechut Lifneh Ha’Kadosh Baruch Hu” –
“That they should speak of their merits before
the Almighty.” According to this reading,
“Sedek Sedek Tirdof” means that leaders
should “pursue” the piety of Am Yisrael,
searching for their merits, and then plead on
their behalf before Hashem.
Interestingly enough, the Midrash proceeds to
state that the greatest example of this quality
is Gidon, one of the judges, who led Beneh
Yisrael to victory over the nation of Midyan,
as we read in the Book of Shoftim (6). During
Gidon’s time, the Midrash comments, the
people had few Misvot to their credit, through

which they could earn G-d’s salvation from
the nation of Midyan which was oppressing
them. Gidon, however, advocated on their
behalf before G-d, and for this reason, an
angel appeared to him and appointed him
leader. The Midrash adds that, as we read
in the Book of Shoftim (6:14), the angel
assigned Gidon his mission by charging,
“Lech Be’chohacha Zeh” – “Go forth with this
strength.” Gidon’s “strength,” the Midrash
explains, was the power of his finding merit
in Am Yisrael during that time. Despite the
people’s low spiritual stature, and their failure
to observe the Misvot, Gidon nevertheless
saw their inner goodness and advocated on
their behalf before G-d. It was in this merit
that he succeeded in leading Beneh Yisrael to
victory over the nation of Midyan. This was
the “Koah” – the strength – with which he was
able to save the people.
The question arises, however, as to where
and how Gidon advocated on Beneh Yisrael’s
behalf. Nowhere in the text of the Book
of Shoftim do we find Gidon speaking of
the people’s merits. To what, then, does the
Midrash refer?
The answer is found in Rashi’s commentary to
the Book of Shoftim (6:13), where he explains
Gidon’s response to the angel. The angel’s
first words to Gidon were “Hashem Imecha”
– “G-d is with you!” Gidon then asked, “If,

indeed, G-d is with us, then why has all this
befallen us? And where are all His wonders
which our forefathers told us about…” Based
on the Midrash, Rashi writes that the angel
appeared to Gidon on the first day of Pesach,
and Gidon was referring to the story of Yesiat
Misrayim which he heard his father relate the
night before. Gidon noted that G-d brought
Beneh Yisrael out of Egypt despite the fact
that they were steeped in Egyptian paganism,
and were not serving G-d properly. Hashem
understood their plight and saw their inner,
inherent goodness despite their wrongdoing,
and redeemed them. Gidon thus argued that in
his time, too, Hashem should save the nation
despite their low spiritual level, because their
core essence was still pure. He pointed to the
generation of the Exodus as an example of
how Beneh Yisrael are worthy of Hashem’s
miraculous assistance even when they act
wrongly, because deep in the inner recesses of
their hearts, they are devoted to Him. Gidon
thus insisted that Hashem assist His beloved
nation also then, as they suffered under the
oppression of Midyan.
The Hafetz Haim taught that the best way to
earn a favorable judgment on Rosh Hashanah is
to judge our fellow Jews favorably. If we want
Hashem to tilt the scales in our favor, despite
our many misdeeds and deficiencies, then we
should tilt the scales in other people’s favor,
despite their mistakes, flaws and failings. If

we view other people critically, looking to
find fault, searching for reasons to complain
about them and disrespect them, then, Heaven
forbid, we will be viewed the same way as we
stand trial on Rosh Hashanah. If we want to
be judged favorably, then we must follow the
example set by Gidon, who insisted on finding
the good in Am Yisrael even in their state of
spiritual lowliness.
During this month of Elul, in preparation for
Rosh Hashanah, let us accustom ourselves
to seeing only what is good about all our
fellow Jews, and about the Jewish Nation as a
whole. Instead of criticizing and complaining
about Am Yisrael, let us indulge in the singing
of their praises, and focus our attention on the
countless merits that Am Yisrael have. We
will then, please G-d, be worthy of a favorable
judgment for ourselves and for the entire
Jewish Nation, Amen.