“Justice, justice, shall you pursue” These words from Parashat Shoftim are among the most famous in the Torah, reminding us that a society cannot survive without law, order, and justice. But Parashat Shoftim goes further: it calls on us to embrace restraint, responsibility, and respect for the blessings God has given us. These are timeless principles that remain as urgent today as when they were first spoken.
When I was young, I remember the former generation in their homes and noticed the stacks of little notepads by the phone. They never bought them. Instead, they cut up used paper—letters, flyers, even the backs of envelopes—and bound them neatly with a rubber band. To them, throwing away usable paper was unthinkable. My aunt, too, had a habit of saving every scrap of food. If a piece of bread went stale, she would make breadcrumbs. Leftover chicken became soup stock. She would say: “Nothing God gives us should be wasted.”
At the time, I thought these were simply old-fashioned habits. But as I grew older, I realized they were a living expression of a mitzvah found in Parashat Shoftim: Bal Tashchit — “do not destroy.” The Torah commands us not to cut down fruit trees even in wartime, teaching us to preserve what gives life, even in difficult circumstances. Our grandparents, without quoting verses, lived this value every day. Their small acts of conservation were, in truth, acts of faith and gratitude.
Parashat Shoftim outlines the responsibilities of leaders: judges must be impartial, kings must not indulge in wealth or excess, and even soldiers must show discipline. The Torah teaches that true strength comes not from power or possessions, but from self-control, humility, and a sense of higher duty. The king is warned not to gather too many horses or wives, lest he forget God. The judge must not accept bribes, because truth cannot be bought. The soldier must be courageous but also merciful, sparing fruit trees and offering peace before battle. This is not weakness. It is the deepest kind of strength: the ability to use power responsibly and to act with justice and compassion. For those of us who hold dear the values of tradition and responsibility, Shoftim speaks directly to our lives:
Guard your blessings. Waste and excess dull our sense of gratitude. Preserving resources – whether food, money, or family traditions – is not only practical, but also sacred. Value moral order. A society without fair judges, respected leaders, and strong families cannot stand. Parashat Shoftim reminds us to uphold systems of justice and authority rooted in God’s law.
Parashat Shoftim’s message is simple but profound: justice and restraint are the foundation of a strong, God-fearing society. The former generation notepads and my aunt’s careful kitchen may seem like small things, but they reflect the heart of the Torah’s teaching. If we want our children and grandchildren to inherit a world of stability, faith, and blessing, we must show them—through both great actions and small habits—that nothing God has given us should be wasted, and that justice and discipline are the truest form of freedom.
“Justice, justice shall you pursue — so that you may live and inherit the land which the Lord your God gives you.”
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Refael Cohen