Shofetim- Righteous Justice

Tzedek tzedek tirdof l’ma’an tichyeh v’yarashta et ha’aretz. 

Justice justice you shall pursue, so that you will endure and inherit the land.

This verse is usually translated as “Justice, justice you shall pursue, that you may live, and inherit the land.  You may think the difference in the translation is the word “live,” but the actual difference is in the comma following the first “justice.” 

“Justice justice!”  The ta’amim, the trope or cantillation marks, connect the words.  There is no pause from one to the other.  In doing this, the Torah proscribes for us an absolute.  All of us, from the highest magistrate to the lowest commoner, are to be a just people.

But the word tzedek goes beyond justice.  It’s true meaning is righteousness.  It is possible to translate the phrase, “Righteous justice you shall pursue.”  Justice cannot just be blind.  It must go beyond to be honourable, good, and blameless.  Throughout the Torah we are reminded to remember and care for the needy in our community. How can true justice turn its back to the slave, the widow, or the orphan?

Tzedek tzedek tirdof l’ma’an tichyeh v’yarashta et ha’aretz. 

Justice justice you shall pursue, so that you will endure and inherit the land.

But there is also that second difference, the word tichyeh.  Coming from the root for life, it is usually translated, “you shall live.”  However, it can also mean to endure.  Without righteous justice, our society cannot continue.  This has been proven again and again.  Societies that have allowed justice for the rich and famous, but ignored the common people have eventually fallen.  Without justice and righteousness, any civilization is bound to fall.  From Babylon to Greece, from Rome to Romenia, and we are seeing it in the news today. 

Tzedek tzedek tirdof l’ma’an tichyeh v’yarashta et ha’aretz. 

Justice justice you shall pursue, so that you will endure and inherit the land.

Let us endeavour to deserve it.