PARSHAT SHOFTIM SUMMARY: Moshe tells Bnei Yisrael to appoint judges and officers in their cities. A bribe of even an insignificant sum is forbidden. Trees are not to be planted near Hashem's altar, as was the way of idolaters. Blemishes in animals designated for offerings and other points of disqualification are listed. The Great Sanhedrin is to make binding decisions on new situations according to Torah criteria to prevent the fragmentation of the Torah. A very learned scholar who refuses to accept the Halachic decisions of the Sanhedrin incurs the death penalty. A Jewish king may only have possessions and symbols of power commensurate with the honor of his office, but not for self-aggrandizement. He is to write for himself two sifrei Torah, one to be kept with him wherever he goes, so that he doesn't become haughty. Neither the kohanim nor the levi'im are to inherit land in the Land of Israel, rather they are to be supported by the community by a system of tithes. All divination is prohibited. Hashem promises the Jewish People that He will send them prophets to guide them, and Moshe explains how a genuine prophet may be distinguished from a false one. Cities of refuge are to be provided for someone who kills accidentally, in order to escape the blood-avenger from the family of the deceased. However, someone who kills with malice is to be handed over to the blood-avenger who may exact his revenge. Moshe cautions Bnei Yisrael not to move boundary markers to increase their property. Two witnesses who conspire to "frame" a third party are to be punished with that same punishment that they conspired to bring upon the innocent party. A kohen is to be anointed specifically for when Israel goes to war, to instill trust in Hashem. Amongst those who are disqualified from going to war is anyone who has built a new house but not lived in it yet, or anyone who is fearful or fainthearted. An enemy must be given the chance to make peace, but if they refuse, all the males are to be killed. Fruit trees are to be preserved and not cut down during the siege. If a corpse is found between cities, the elders of the nearest city must take a heifer, slaughter it, and wash their hands over it, saying that they are not guilty of the death. (From: Ohr Somayach web site)

A story is told of a coachman who once had a venerable Rabbi as his passenger. Seeing a vegetable garden, the hungry coachman stopped the wagon and climbed down to eat something. As he was reaching down , the Rabbi shouted, "Be careful, someone is watching." The frightened coachman ran back to the wagon, and after looking around said to the Rabbi, "Why did you frighten me? I do not see anyone." To this the Rabbi replied, "Hashem is watching." (From: VeDibarta Bam by Rabbi Moshe Bogomilsky)

"You shall trust wholeheartedly in the Lord, your G-d." (18:13) The Chafetz Chayim used to say, "The Torah obliges us to trust wholeheartedly in G-d, but not in man. A person must always be on the alert not to be cheated." The Chafetz Chaim devoted his life to spreading the principal of brotherly love, the prohibition against speaking against others, and the commandment to judge people favorably. Though he was not the least bit cynical, he was also not naïve. He understood the world and human weaknesses.

Many times he would warn his students that whenever they made a deal with someone, they should get every last detail in writing. Even the most honest person can forget. When publishing his books, the Chafetz Chaim would have all the details of the arrangements with the printers in writing before the work was started: the quality of the paper, type of binding, etc. Precisely because of his great love for people, he did not want to get involved in a dispute later on. We must learn from this. Those who fail to do so will regret it, as many can bear witness. (From: Love Your Neighbor by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin)

…What should we expect from our leaders? And do we really need leaders in the first place? Yes, we do need leaders. On our own, we may lack the vision, direction, and strength to reach our goals…A leader provides a new perspective, inspiring us to expand our narrow field of vision. When we are preoccupied with our self- interests - be they petty or great - a leader sends out a wake - up call, alerting us to seek the true priorities in life…Genuine leadership must give people a long-term vision that imbues their lives with meaning; it must point them in a new direction and show how their every action is an indispensable part of a purposeful whole….A true leader wants nothing more than to give people pride, to make people stand on their own, as leaders in their own right. Instead of trying to blind us with his or her brilliance, a true leader reflects our own light back to us, so that we may see ourselves anew…(From: Towards a Meaningful Life adapted by Simon Jacobson)

-King Solomon

The Tzemach Tzedek related: The Baal Sehm Tov was very fond of light, and said, Or ('light') is the numerical equivalent of raz ('secret'). Whoever knows the 'secret' containd in every thing can bring illumination."(From Rebbe's Hayom Yom,elul 6).