14 August 2010 | 4 Elul 5770

As a child, I was enthralled with early morning cartoons.  I would sit inches away from the television screen soaking in all the wisdom, nourishment and guidance that production companies like Hanna-Barbera and Krofft Supershow use to prepare for my nimble, impressionable mind.  Any brain cells left were open and willing to listen to product information offered by commercials energizing me to harass my parents until they bought me a certain toy or sugar-packet cereal.  Needless to say, my mornings never lacked mental stimulation.  In the intersection between programs and commercials, every hour or so, the local television station would sponsor a Public Service Announcement (PSA) aimed at their entranced and captured young audience.  A recognizable actor or cartoon character would appear on the screen to spend no more than 30 seconds enlightening our receptive minds about one thing or another.  During one hour the PSA would be about the dangers of drug use and during another hour the PSA would focus on the importance of brushing one’s teeth.  Regardless of the content, each of these snippets would end with the slogan, “Now you know…and knowing is half the battle.” 

As I grew older and experience life away from the television, I encountered many “battles.”  Thank God, I have been lucky enough to steer clear of drugs and always practiced good oral hygiene. However, I have had my struggles and varying successes at combating them. Looking back, I can tell you the following: Although “knowing” is important, it sure doesn’t make up one-half of the battle.  Knowing is just the beginning.  For example, I know I need more exercise.  However, knowing has not brought me anywhere close to the gym.  I know that I need to spend more time with my family.  However, knowing hasn’t driven me home at quitting time.  Knowing, with all of its importance, is not going to get us to our goals, not even halfway.  There must be something else. Thank God we have Torah to tell us.

In Parshat Shof’tim, we read:
Judges and officers you will appoint for yourself in all your gates that God, your God, is giving to you for your settlements and they will judge the people with righteous justice.    (Deuteronomy 16:18)  

   
Both judges and officers will judge the people.  Why do we need both judges AND officers to judge the people?  Couldn’t judges handle the workload on their own?  To understand the roles of judges and officers, we turn to the medieval commentator Rashi for some guidance.  Rashi explains:

Judges: Magistrates who render legal decisions. Officers who compel the people to abide by their instructions by administering corporal punishment with clubs and whips, until they accept the judge’s decision.  (Rashi commenting on Deuteronomy 16:18)

 
Wow!  Is Rashi serious?  Imagine being an Israelite receiving that information for the first time.  After 40 years of wandering through the desert, you now learn that the Promised Land is going to be a police state ruled with brutality and violence.  In truth, we know that the legal system of our ancestors was much more sophisticated than described above.   If our ancestors didn’t listen and implement this judicial system, then who was this commandment meant for?

 
If we look closely at our verse in Deuteronomy 16:18, the language emphasizes the second person, singular – Appoint for yourself; all your gates; God has given to you.  I believe that this commandment is speaking directly to us.  We need to appoint judges and officers for ourselves, within ourselves to help us accomplish our goal; to encourage us to stick with our resolutions; to help us stay on track. 
Although Rashi’s description of officers might be alarming, think about the phrases we use in an attempt to encourage our own commitment to something like an exercise program. We say things like, “I need to get whipped into shape.”  Businesses implement this strategy all the time.  Many companies knowing that they need to perform better will hire consultants or under go an internal audit.  Even as individuals, we see people hiring personal trainers and “life-coaches.”

 
Unfortunately, these methods require money and resources.  However, the idea of establishing judges and officers should not be lost for the rest of us.  This week we learn in Parshat Shof’tim, that knowing the source of our challenges is only the beginning of the struggle, next we need to appoint judges within ourselves to lay down the law and then assign officers to keep us focused.  If we think creatively, there are many ways we can fulfill this mitzvah in our own lives. Although the battles will still wage on, in the end I am confident that we will win the war.

Shabbat Shalom