D’var Torah Shoftim

Appoint judges and officials yourself in all your towns that the Lord your God is giving you for your tribes. They are to judge the people with righteous judgment. (Deuteronomy 16:18)
Parashat Shofetim is the Torah portion of the first Shabbat of the month of Elul, which is the beginning of the "season of teshuva (repentance)."
Rebbe Natan, the spiritual heir of Rabbi Naḥman of Breslov, comments on the final words of the opening verse of the parasha, "They are to judge the people with righteous judgment:"
In all judgments between an Israelite and his fellow, when "righteous judgment" is achieved, it has the aspect of repentance, for the matter is returned to its proper place and its roots.
The definition of teshuva (from the root word sho"v [to return]) is return to the proper and root situation, and in interpersonal matters, executing "righteous judgment" constitutes return to the proper and root situation.
Based upon this, we can see the beginning of the parasha as presenting a significant message concerning teshuva on the level of interpersonal relations, which is no less important that repentance between man and God. (David Magence)


Shabbat Shalom!
The Va’ad