צֶדֶק צֶדֶק תִּרְדֹּף לְמַעַן תִּחְיֶה וְיָרַשְׁתָּ אֶת־הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יְהוָֹה אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לָךְ
Dev. 16:20- Justice, only justice shall you pursue, that you may live, and inherit the land which the Lord your God gives you.
1) Summarize in detail what your commentator says this verse means. Make sure you mention which commentator you have, and put at least one sentence in quotes that is directly from the commentary itself.
2) Write a story, example or scenario in which the explanation of your commentary is illustrated.
Emphasis is used everyday. Emphasis can be used with explanation points, using a louder tone, or even to the extreme use of explicitives. Even the Torah puts emphasis on its text! There is a theory that the repetition of ‘justice justice’ or ‘Tzedek Tzedek’ may be more than just emphasis. The first point is by F. Adler. He gives the quote “Justice is the awe inspired respect for the personality of others, and their inalienable rights”. This means that in order to obtain justice you can't break justice. An example of this would be if a bully steals your bike, you shouldn't beat him up to get it back. in the path of getting your justice, you broke another person's justice. The second gives perspective of the word justice. The perspective is that justice is a quality, not necessarily the best quality but a very good quality. The paragraph goes on to state that in order for one to reach divinity you must be righteous and have justice in your life. The next perspective states that justice is a synonym for respect. They go on to state that one must show justice or respect for every person no matter what they have done in life. They list specific types of people that should get respect or justice. these people are the female heathen, prisoner of war, the delinquent, even a criminal condemned to death. It even requires to show justice to the dead. Even in a human worthy by death by hanging it says not to leave his body out overnight because leaving a body out overnight is disrespectful. It also says that to obtain justice one must have a harmony of respect from group to group. This harmony has four components. These components are charity, philanthropy, bringing out the best in others, and love. In a similar idea that one must give respect to get respect, one must live with justice to receive justice. Throughout the reading we are taught the ways of in which Judaism wants us to obtain and uphold justice.
ReplyDeleteDaniel and Bruce
9)
ReplyDeleteSimcha Bunim of Peshischa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simcha_Bunim_of_Peshischa) says: "...needs to live in justice and not in lie.". Simcha Bunim's explaination of "justice, justice you shall pursue" is centered around the "pursue". If you are going o be the type of person who strives to pursue justice, you have to live honestly. You can not lie and be dishonest.
An example is when you are in court and you are trying to give someone justice and you say your facts truthfully.
Delete8) Rabbi Chaim Azuli says: that the reason you say “Tzedek Tzedek” twice because it is supposed to make it twice as important. By making it twice as important you are expected to quickly give justice because you are quickly giving it.
ReplyDeleteHe says, “You will think to you that twice, justices, if you pursue if you will hurry and you will quickly give it”
In his comment he says that by seeing the word justice twice you remember it and it make it important. By saying it twice you are putting greater power on what you should do. When saying that you should have justice twice you are making it twice as important for you to do.
The commentary begins by explaining that there are two people arguing over the reason why “tzedek” is repeated twice. Ibn Ezra gives three explanations for the verse of “tzedek, tzedek tirdof.” The first explanation states that one “tzedek” refers to one making a profit and the other tzedek refers to one losing their money. So, someone can either make or lose a profit depending on the enthusiasm of their justice. The second reasoning for the repetition of “tzedek” is the determination of where you will find justice: in the present life or in the next world. The third explanation is very simple. “Tzedek” is repeated to emphasize the strength and importance of justice. Righteousness is a quality that one should practice and appreciate during their Jewish lifestyle. Righteousness results in inheriting “the land which G-d chooses.” A scenario to the first explanation is when someone may have a great opportunity to find his righteousness, he will be rewarded with receiving a profit. However, if he fails to find his righteousness, we will lose his profit.
ReplyDeleteRashi explains how important righteousness is, thus it is repeated. If someone is seeking justice, they should aim high for their standards. One must seriously attempt to create righteousness or justice in their lives. Rashi continues to say that “judges” make great lives good for those who live in Israel. A question we asked was, who are the judges, especially in modern times. We concluded that the judges are G-d and his angels. He sends his messengers down to protect us (if we live in Israel) if we act for justice. One who makes an Aliya to Israel is attempting to find justice and righteousness in Israel so that they may properly inherit the land. What better way to find passion about their Judaism then to travel to Israel to discover it?
Rikki and Jake
DeleteTo expand on the scenario about Ibn Ezra, if someone makes an effort to keep the commandments and connect with G-d, they will find their righteousness. Due to their deep enthusiasm to find their righteousness, they will be rewarded with a receiving a profit for their own personal, home life. However, on the flip side, if one does not make any effort to connect to his Judaism, he will not find his righteousness. He is more preoccupied with his home and work life, and will not open up to his religion. Because of this, G-d will have no interest in providing this man a profit, and instead, will take away his money instead.
DeleteIn the scenario of Rashi's commentary, a man who has survived the Holocaust may blame G-d for taking away everything he has ever loved: his family, friends, values, morals, etc. In order to reestablish his righteousness and justice, he will travel to Israel (or make an Aliya) in order to reconnect with G-d, so he will no longer have to blame Him for all his losses. The influence of Israel can easily manipulate the Holocaust survivor's mind so he can once again find his justice. Constantly being surrounded by a deep passion for Judaism, the survivor can once again find the DEEP spirit and passion to keep to his righteousness and justice.
An example of what my commentary said in my life is when a teacher hands out a project and they say twice that it is important and due soon.
ReplyDeleteSpharnu focuses on the concept of justice. The word, "justice," is repeated twice to emphasize it's importance. The Jewish people were expected to be righteous and to respect justice. Only the most trustworthy of men could be chosen to sit in judgement over the Jewish people. The Jewish people had to have perfect trust in them in order to accept their judgement over them. These judges would have to be without corruption, never taking bribes or taking sides. Their souls and bodies would have to be dedicated to God and justice. These judges must never resort to lies, theft or trickery. They have to be above suspicion. A judge has to be righteous, meaning he has to obey the laws by God. He also has to be just, meaning obeying the laws of the land. He has to have both of these attributes together to be perfect of body and the soul.
ReplyDeleteAn example would be a judge sitting in judgement over a man who has stolen land. Then that man bribes the judge by offering him part of that land. A true judge would never be corrupt enough to accept the bribe, and would then decide to punish the man.
7,8) One should appoint kosher judges, to fairly judge the nations. In order for the nations to bring justice, they must have judges that are fully kosher in order to save the land.The judges must judge with justice and fairness.If one is not in a place of justice, you shall run after justice and pursue it. tzedek tzedek is pronounced twice, to show that one should reinforce justice, or so that one may win or lose when it comes to justice. A scenario for this is in court, only fair righteous judges should be placed in such high power and they should judge with justice. No judge shall ever judge un-fairly, for justice is important in order to save the land.
ReplyDeleteThis comment is said my ramban.
Deleteand Rashi
DeleteSam and Dylan
ReplyDeleteשפת says that the meaning of "Justice justice shall you pursue", means to stay away from lying. In the commentary it says that " Truth is the foundation for everything". Meaning that a person should never tell a lie, and only tell the truth. Justice to שפת means that you shall only do justice by telling truth, and not doing the injustice of telling a lie. This telling of the truth is suppose to relate in court trials where you are suppose to not tell a lie to convict someone who is innocent. This act of telling the truth and nothing but the truth is said to have been an act created by rabbis. This act of not lying is not valid in the commentary and tells you to stay far away from a lie, but it is said in Judaism that lying is only valid for two reasons. One reason to tell a lie is to save a life, and the other is to your wife during her wedding day (which means that if she asks if her dress makes her look fat, you say no). Thus, making lying valid only on certain occasions. Still according to the texti lying is unjust, and the truth is the bases for life. The text also states that צדק צדק תרדף is " A reference to the next world, a world filled with life." , which means that the truth is the basis for a new world that will be more abundant with life.