Parashat Shoftim
Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9 

By Jen Smith, Guest Torah Blogger  

In this week’s Torah portion, Shoftim, we encounter a central commandment: Tzedek, tzedek tirdof – Justice, justice, shall you pursue. (Deut. 16:20) 

There is no doubt that the value pursuing justice is the cornerstone to the Torah’s vision of how to build and sustain a moral and ethical society, but there is much more hidden just below the surface. Taking a closer look, we can uncover a new layer of timeless spiritual wisdom as well. 

The Torah rarely repeats words in a series or sentence without reason, so why does the same verse repeat the word, Tzedek (justice) twice?  Our sages provided many explanations, but from a mystical standpoint, this repetition suggests a duality that mirrors the two realms in which we live: the Material and the Spiritual. 

In the material world, justice is mostly understood through laws, courts, and governance (meaning the application of fairness policies across society). Our rabbis teach us that the second tzedek refers to our internal, introspective spiritual justice. This type of justice is personal as it relates to taking an honest account of our own lives. Are we living our lives justly? Do we balance our physical needs with our spiritual goals? Or, are we stuck in the ego-driven dynamics of the modern world, or can we see God’s divine plan through the mundane? 

Jewish mystic tradition often speaks of the need to harmonize the yesodot, or the foundational elements of our being. In the Kabbalistic understanding, justice (tzedek) is not only a principle of human interaction – it is also a spiritual force within the sefirot, particularly within Gevurah, or the divine aspects of judgment and strength. This balance of Gevurah (strength, boundaries) and Chesed (loving-kindness) lies at the heart of our spiritual work. 

When we pursue justice in the world, we must simultaneously pursue justice within ourselves, ensuring that our motivations align with God and community, instead of personal gain or ego. The Zohar, a mystical Jewish text, teaches that true justice is rooted in balance. A world of Gevurah alone is too harsh, just as a world driven only by Chesed would lack the personal accountability needed to thrive. From this we can deduce that the repetition of Tzedek in the text emphasizes our inextricable dual pursuit of both justice for the community as well as inner spiritual harmony. 

In the contemporary world, we are inundated with various calls for justice in our modern society – social, economic, and environmental justice – and the application of justice in each of these realms is vital to the sustainability of our local and global Jewish communities. Yet, the Torah also challenges us to remain humble when applying justice, recognizing that each that we, too, are fallible. This balance is critical within the context of our modern world:  How do we engage in activism and social justice within the humble framework of spiritual awareness? 

Moreover, the need for personal justice remains ever-present. In an era of digital overload, the noise of the world can drown out the still, small voice inside us. We can lose sight of our own spiritual balance while pursuing causes within the material world. Shoftim reminds us that we should pursue justice in our courts of law, but those pursuits are incomplete if we do not simultaneously seek justice within our soul. 

At the heart of this pursuit is a call to accountability both communally and personally. The Torah established systems of checks and balances, including judges, officers, and even the creation of cities of refuge. These structures ensure that justice should be carefully measured. Likewise, in our own lives, the systems our Torah puts in place must also apply to our own spiritual accountability. Whether it’s through regular self-reflection, meditation, or prayer, the need for spaces where we can honestly reflect, and in some cases course-correct, has never been more important than it is today. 

Ultimately, Shoftim calls us to elevate our pursuit of justice to a spiritual practice, requiring us to recognize that every action is composed of both physical and spiritual dimensions. It invites us to continually review our paths, ensuring that we apply justice that is infused with compassion, humility, and an awareness of a greater spiritual reality. 

This is a powerful message for the modern Jew! In a world of divisiveness and tension, the Torah reminds us to balance strength with love, and to pursue justice while nurturing our spiritual connection. Whether through social action, communal engagement, or personal growth, Shoftim reminds us of our responsibility to embody the dual nature of Tzedek. 

“Tzedek, tzedek tirdof – justice, justice shall you pursue.” This Shabbat, may we be inspired to renew our commitment to pursue justice both communally and personally. After all, it is our commitment to and pursuit of justice and kindness that ultimately provides the best conditions to invite holiness and God’s divine plan to guide us for generations to come. 

Shabbat Shalom.