We like to describe the United States as a nation of laws. We often mean a few things by this. That no one is above the law, regardless of financial status, social standing or political power.
Of course, in practice we know this is not true–that a rich person can usually get a better outcome than a poor person in the courts. White collar crime is punished less harshly than violent crime. As Woody Guthrie wrote, “Some will rob you with a six-gun and some with a fountain pen.” But we treat these categories of criminals differently. This preferential system of justice creates cynicism and alienation.
Our Torah portion recognizes this problem, when Moses said, “Justice, justice shall you pursue.” (Deuteronomy 16:21). Commenting on this verse, Nahmanides (14th Century Spain) wrote, “This teaches us that we must pursue justice, justly. Judges should be blameless and ordinary citizens should pursue justice whether it serves their personal interests or not.”
In other words, judges and citizens should avoid corruption at all costs. Corruption corrodes trust and eats away at a society’s strength.
That is as true today, as it was 3,000 years ago.
If we followed the words of our Torah, perhaps our fellow citizens would be less cynical and more trusting of our social institutions.
Shoftim, Deuteronomy 16:18 – 21:9 – Parshat Ha Shavua for Shabbat, Saturday, August 22, 2020
August 21, 2020 by Dean Kertesz •
We like to describe the United States as a nation of laws. We often mean a few things by this. That no one is above the law, regardless of financial status, social standing or political power.
Of course, in practice we know this is not true–that a rich person can usually get a better outcome than a poor person in the courts. White collar crime is punished less harshly than violent crime. As Woody Guthrie wrote, “Some will rob you with a six-gun and some with a fountain pen.” But we treat these categories of criminals differently. This preferential system of justice creates cynicism and alienation.
Our Torah portion recognizes this problem, when Moses said, “Justice, justice shall you pursue.” (Deuteronomy 16:21). Commenting on this verse, Nahmanides (14th Century Spain) wrote, “This teaches us that we must pursue justice, justly. Judges should be blameless and ordinary citizens should pursue justice whether it serves their personal interests or not.”
In other words, judges and citizens should avoid corruption at all costs. Corruption corrodes trust and eats away at a society’s strength.
That is as true today, as it was 3,000 years ago.
If we followed the words of our Torah, perhaps our fellow citizens would be less cynical and more trusting of our social institutions.