Outside the office of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, of blessed memory, there hung a framed poster illustrated by Mordechai Rosenstein with the words: “Justice, justice shall you pursue” (Deuteronomy 16:20). For her, as for so many, these words captured the moral imperative at the heart of a life devoted to law, fairness, and the protection of the vulnerable.
That famous verse is found in this week’s Torah portion, Shoftim, a parashah deeply concerned with the exercise of authority—our expectations for our leaders and, more broadly, for ourselves.
After discussing the appointment of judges and the importance of judging justly, Shoftim turns to the possibility that the Israelites may, at some future time, wish—like other nations—to be ruled by a king. The Torah allows for such a possibility, but immediately sets limits on royal power. Unlike the rulers of other nations, Israel’s king cannot accumulate unlimited wealth, horses, or wives. Power must be restrained and, ultimately, shared. Leadership, in our Torah’s vision, is about accountability, service, humility, and wisdom.
To that end, the Torah insists that the king study Torah regularly: “He shall read in it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to revere the Eternal his God, to observe faithfully every word of this Teaching” (Deuteronomy 17:19).
Shoftim also teaches that leadership must be shared. Judges, officers, prophets, and priests—all have a role. Later, the sages established the Sanhedrin, a legislative body that made room for healthy, respectful debate. No single person has all the answers, and listening to the voices of the community is part of what makes governance just.
Our tradition teaches that each of us shares in this sacred responsibility. In Pirkei Avot we are taught: “In a place where there are no leaders, strive to be one” (Avot 2:5).
We are all called to do our part—from elected officials to ordinary citizens. Each of us helps shape the moral climate of our homes, our workplaces, and our neighborhoods. True leadership is found not only in great courts of law but also in the small, daily choices we make to embody justice, compassion, and holiness.
In the difficult, challenging, sacred work of leadership, God equips us with the overarching values we need to find our way: justice, compassion, holiness. The covenant is not simply a set of directions; it is a conversation, sometimes a negotiation, always an ongoing relationship—and always a shared responsibility.
May Shoftim inspire us to seek and to become leaders who listen, learners who remain humble, and partners with God in the ongoing work of justice and peace.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Yoshi