This week we read Parashat Shoftim, which in Hebrew means “Judges.” It opens as Moses is speaking to the Jewish people as they ready themselves to enter Israel with what I would call “the Laws of the Land.”

 

In the very first paragraph, Moses directs the people to appoint leaders to govern with “justice, impartiality and without bribes.” He ends this paragraph with our most powerful commandment: “Tzedek tzedek tirdof” or “Justice, justice you shall pursue” (Deuteronomy 16:20). Dr. J.H. Hertz, the late chief rabbi of England, said, “These passionate words may be taken as the keynote of the humane legislation of the Torah, and of the demand for social righteousness.” 

 

According to Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, “Tzedek/tzedakah is almost impossible to translate because of its many shades of meaning: justice, charity, righteousness, integrity, equity, fairness and innocence.”

 

In other words, it’s complicated. We as a Jewish people are mandated to seek justice wherever and whenever we see injustice. It is, as Dr. Hertz says, “the keynote of the humane legislation of the Torah, and of the demand for social righteousness.” However, we are a people, a vast people, spanning our country and the globe with different ideas of what justice means and how to pursue this important directive.

 

Never before has this complicated piece of our narrative rang more true, or been more difficult to navigate, than as we as a nation look at the proposed nuclear agreement with Iran, to be voted on by Congress in a few weeks

 

Like most of us, I have taken every opportunity to listen to the proponents of the deal: the president, vice president, secretary and under secretary of state, treasury secretary, energy secretary and many members of Congress. I have listened to the opponents of the deal: the leadership of AIPAC, the prime minister of Israel, the analysts at the Washington Institute, Middle East scholars and, again, many members of Congress. 

 

What I have learned is that everyone on both sides of the argument is well-meaning and sincere in their efforts to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear bomb. But for me the question is, what is the just choice in this situation? Which path should I/we pursue? After careful consideration, for me, the path to justice is to do everything in my power to keep the world safe from a nuclear Iran and to oppose the president’s plan as it stands today. 

 

But even more importantly, “Justice, justice you shall pursue” is an obligation for all of us, regardless of on which side of the issue we fall. I don’t believe remaining silent is an option for us at Federation. Pursue justice. Speak out on this issue and make sure your voice is heard among the many seeking to make the world a safer place with a non-nuclear Iran.

 

Shabbat Shalom,

 

Ann

 

Ann Pava

NWP Board, Immediate Past Chair