Ari Goldwag - Shoftim - Finding the Center

you're listening to the weekly partial podcast with Ari Gold Wegg recorded with the Shems never-ending assistance in remapping Misha's rail 5778 2018 this week's parsha is partial shelf Tim I'd like to share with you two par shows two sections in the parsha that are side-by-side in the Torah and I want to understand why are they placed side-by-side what does it teach us verse says chapter 17 verse 8 like this keep all aiming over la mouche but when there will be something which will be too hard for you to be able to understand the answer a question in judgment a question in Halawa in Jewish law being dumb Adam maintained the Dean being a girl Anita did receive a special rock all kinds of different discussion sets of that's to do with blood so that's to do with judgments the different arguments that a person has with his neighbor etc Vacanti Valley Salem a commercial harsh on the caja boy so there are local courts in the different sections of the Land of Israel but let's say those courts cannot come to a satisfactory decision so the Jew is enjoined to go to Jerusalem and that was where the base I'm ENGLISH the temple stood and also the great courts of the Jewish people were there on the Hara bias in the Temple Mount verse 9 who busalacchi animal of embellish a flashier year by ma-ma'am Turan joins us to come to the coin to the priest to the Levite to the judges that will be in your times with Arash the vuo huh then you shall seek and they will tell you it's the varnish but that which is correct according to torah law verse 10 RC Sathyan Abacha give it aluminum acaba who you shall do that which they tell you from that place sure you crash ambush will be chosen by God because it was a few hundred years from the time of Shah Bano from 10 that Moses wrote this until Jerusalem was discovered by King David as being the the appointed place of God the Shamar Colossus the Kaliyuga and you shall keep and do all that I teach you verse 11 opiate era Shahrukh Laval Amish pleasure lava tossa based on the toilet they teach you and the judge and the judgment that they say to you so shall you do loss a sermon at Dover I'll show you go home in a small do not turn away from them that which they say don't turn to the right and don't turn to the left okay there's two more verses here I'm not going to read those two verses but I want to point out a few points here that are remarkable and interesting we need to understand the first point that I want to understand is its of course we're going to the place which is the appointed place the special place the place that God is going to show to choose right but the way that the verse phrases it I want to read this verse again and you shall do that which they tell you from that place that a Shem will choose very strange way of speaking it sounds like something happens you get when you get to Jerusalem and sounds like you get a judgment which is from God you ask the human being but you get a judgment which is from God there's something special about the judgment that takes place in Jerusalem there's something special about the way that the judges are guided in Jerusalem that's what it sounds like so that's the first point I want to point out the second point that I want to point out is that the verse tells us that you should not turn away from what they say neither right nor left now that's a very interesting language Rashi does explain it and the Ramban talks about it as well the Posche upshot is or the the jarash the first level shot is if they even have to tell you something is your left hand which you know is your right in and your right hand is your left hand even if they tell you the opposite of what you think so we're enjoined to listen to our common listen to our sages to follow their judgment to understand and recognize that they are basing their words in the words of Torah and they have special guidance from a shrimp that's the push-up shot but I want to stand something deeper why does the verse say don't turn to the right don't turn to the left why doesn't you say don't turn away from that which they say what's this idea of turning to the right and the left what is the concept here okay so let's hold on to that for a moment and I'd like to move on to the next verses which speak about the Mitzvah the obligation the commandment to appoint the king over the Jewish people first says in verse 4 in 4 verse 14 chapter 17 verse 14 he servile arts a sham like a ha nice in law when you shall come into the land that I Hashem Hashem your God is giving to you this is emotional man was speaking he reached up your shaft about Martha seeming like my left a hologram assured cos I and you're going to say I want to plate you're gonna live there you're gonna inherit the land and you're going to say I would like to place upon me a king like all of the nations who are around me there was 15 same decimal a Carmela can show you crashing like a cowboy you shall surely place upon yourselves a king that a sham will choose not sure you crush on the kapha I shall choose the kappa haaha the simulacra mela the king of the Jewish people has to be a Jew he has to be one of your brothers sook Allah says Allah ich nach ring you can't use someone you can have someone to be your king who is a non Jew sure laughs people who is not your brother okay so what I want to point out over here there are two things here and these are both yeah the same points the same two points one point here is I'll show you Hanukah Hawaii just like we spoke about Jerusalem as being the place that where the temple is and where you're instructed to go in order to get the Word of God and order to get the the judgment of those who are inspired by God so - when it comes to the king who is the king he somebody who I sure you've conical he is chosen by Hashem he's uniquely chosen by Hashem don't see more what that means that's the first point now the second point is very interesting also remember we spoke about right and left so here the verse refers to and there are been about hi speaks about at length we're going to see it inside that the the nation's you're gonna you want to choose a king why Graham artists you like melancholic I'm not sure so I want a place upon myself a king like all the nations that are around me now around it's not exactly the same as right and left but we'll see that it is it is very much the same all around me right there's a reference here to the surroundings the surroundings to my right and to my left are the surroundings because the king we want to choose a king the problem is here the question here is is this a good thing that we're choosing a king is it amidst is it an obligation so the remainder Makai also speaks about this the Ramon speaks about this and it depends on the way that we choose it there's a negative way of choosing it saying that we want it to be we want a king like all of the nations around us that's a negative thing that's not supposed to be that's not the correct way that we're supposed to do things we're supposed to request a king because that king will guide us in the way of God that Kim will guide us to do God's will so it really depends on us there are bhai says depends how we choose that king if you choose a king the shame shall mine for the sake of heaven so that we can better serve God so then that's great if we choose a king because we want to be like all of the other nations around us then that is a negative it's not a good thing okay so we see that there are really two different approaches there is vivos i which is like the nations around me which is negative there's your men who small turning right or left which is negative turning away and then there's I sure you've crashed on look at the other side of it which is that which a Shem chooses we're doing it because that's what a Shem chooses we're going to shine because that's the place that a Shem has chosen yeah that's the general gist of what I want to say what I want to speak about and of course what I want to try to see how it applies to us I'd like to share with you I'd like to read to you from the Rambam a little bit and I like to read from you read to you from the Ravana bhai okay in speaking about and speaking about the going to Jerusalem going to the judges who are in Jerusalem or near to be some English on the Temple Mount so what is the chat we asked why is it the diverse tells us you should do that which they tell you from the place that ashram chooses it doesn't seem the words don't seem to work together so we said that somehow going there is different than any other place Rambin says Kira Hashem I'm a sure same Akash a village as I've asked acid off it's specific you go there you go to Jerusalem you go to the sages who are there on a Temple Mount the Quran and the priests the Levites why because they have a special relationship blossom they are those who serve God excuse me in a unique way they have a shrew Safina they have a special divine inspiration so we do what they say we know little niche memorize something I'm not sure he says they are automatically saved from making a mistake that doesn't mean that they never ever make mistakes right you also have a kabbalah we also have a tradition that they do make mistakes and yet Pushpa who God knows that he places the information the Torah in the hands of human beings the highest place the place where there's the least mistakes is the place where the Sheena resides the divine presence resides and that is in Jerusalem now I want to understand I want to understand what is the concept of don't turn away right and left don't turn away from the right and left so there's the Pushpa job which we mentioned before but there's a deep shot and that deep shot is actually to be found in this in the story and the commandment of the king of appointing a king now reading about how I want to read this you inside it's it's just fabulous it's beautiful Kahala gonna share sweet voice i I want a king and keep in mind here we're gonna try to understand what is the concept of all around me to the right to the left which is negative forces turning turning away from the show let's see Tom see us I what's the idea of the nations that are around with no shirts Israel who are calves I'm sorry schemata you said something the Rebbe no Mekhi which at first glance we don't understand art Israel is the central pillar of of the physical world which could also mean is the very center of the world it is the center right and it doesn't necessarily mean in a physical sense though that might be true you can understand how that could be true in a physical sense but let's leave that for the moment it's saying that air to throw the Land of Israel you shall I'm Jerusalem the Jewish people are in the center column what is the center column what does this mean Rahzel machine cos i this is the this is what the verse means when it says the nations that surround me he cannot read say cellulase I saw all of the lands surround artists role in in Turkish of like that which it says in the verse this is the concept of the verse those who shall I'm this city of Jerusalem betray haggarium some Tia you see we saw Arad says I placed it among sore in the midst of the nations and it's surrounded by by lands by countries okay so Jerusalem is the center Jerusalem is the center in Kenya throughout Dartmouth life Shivam Oh mice Maki Phoenix our ends so that means that the Jewish people live we reside um in the center or in the midst of the 70 nations that surround the Land of Israel Museum our catalog or my sure see voice I the verse was referencing that when it says that I want a king like all of the nations that are surrounding me that is either the nations surround the Jewish people the nations of the world the 70 nations with a nice gear mm l have a loss column Ozzy this is what we find that King David references also when he says colum Suva Seamus sham key amylum all the nations surrounded me and I am with the name of God that's essential here this is important to understand the nations are around us we are in the middle we are in the middle the Jewish people are in the middle in a spiritual sense line of Israelis in the middle in a spiritual sense we have the name of God that's in the middle that's what's in the middle is the shame of Shem though he illusion Charlie Sorel darts a cute Asia Duncan and this is the advantage this is that which causes the Jewish people to stand out we are Mitsuyo Nimoy why are we why do we stand out what makes us special Shaima Kevon mk- cavalry Shamala shall come shall israel we correspond to the center line above correspond to the center line above which is the the portion of the people of Israel receiving saram McKeithen I say find that just like the Jewish people we have 70 nations that surround us okay which by the way and I don't want to get into exactly what this means that we've spoken about it at length previously but the Jewish people is the kernel we are the nation that includes all the nations right we are the nation that is the the crown of the nations but we are inside where the center so to above we correspond and we reflect the light of uncle-ish more who've God himself because God is also referred to give you alcohol as it were he sits on his throne and there are seven disarmed there are seventy princes which is a reference to the Malakand the angels which correspond to the seventy nations they surround God as well they surround his throne we measured our shoe this is true how do we know because this is something that our car cause I'll tell us how powerful the shooting might look my second kiss a boy oh boy oh no vowel the shining we find that it says in regards to him God mixed that the languages by the Tower of Babel it said so he said to the 7d angels that surrounded him let's up their languages originally they spoke only in one language of course which was the language the language of Hebrew because Hebrew is the language of the Jewish people we are the center we are that one language which is at the center and all the 70 languages surround you know make a mixed up version of Hebrew ok the thing cause there is a generation okey so called swashb an item allow me my name is smiley here's what we see that the surroundings are also right and left how because of the it says I saw Shem this is a verse I believe it's a Malakand huff BAE's you Tess first Kings chapter 22 verse 19 I saw that a sham was sitting on his throne and all of the heavenly hosts were standing about him to the right and to the left okay so you see that to the rain to the Left corresponds to and is the exact concept of around surrounding the nation's surround the angels surround Hashem as it were but in there to the right and to the left okay and that's what it means we are in the center and those who are hominoids who are the torah sages those who are in jerusalem are in the center don't turn away to the right or to the left don't turn away and get out of the central place the tower keeps us in the center the Jewish people are in the center land of Israel is in the center the nations of the world are all around the sheets ice the opinions the the all of the different ways of viewing the world which are the 70 different versions of how to view the world there is all around but there's only one central true version of reality and that's bequeath to the Jewish people and that's something that only we have the Jewish people are we are the ones who reflect that which I Seamus which God is ultimately the ultimate truth is the source of all reality that all an all truth an almighty analytically I mean I look alive Oh find out those to the right those to the left the 70 and abel assurance armies are the 70 different angels that are appointed over the net seventy nations and there I'll Kosovo okay look the Kaka bear double devotion of armor that's why King David explains he leaves that what Amaya do I don't trust on the other my ado huh the known man which is a reference to the 70 the seventy nations which make up the outer aspect of man Filipina diva shame assume sorry all mice it's the you have the diva which are the seventy mala him you have the nation's themselves you have their their their angels alibi Seamus Shem only in the shame of Shem the the name of God which is at the center it's God Himself bukhov I'm sorry how can show you swell the middle line which is the portion of the people of Israel boy yeah Chris is cool and that's what cuts through the center which by the way has to do with the concept of cutting has to do with the bris which has to do with autumn Aveeno with having the whole the the pieces of meat on the animal on either side and him walking through the center he doesn't mention that here but that's what's going on over there as well Bechet mash em kiya me alone right the concept of Mila the concept of the word the concept of the mouth is in the center heart is in the center the the male organ is in the center all these aspects require a Mila they require word a bris Mila a covenant because we need to stay aligned in the center with a coda for who the center is where Hashem is as a word the center is where God inspires us okay so if we careful not to do it the way that the nations of the world do but rather some testimony home Elif sure you've heard the one who is chosen by God the one in whom God's name resides when it's done for the right reasons okay so it's very interesting so we go to the Land of Israel we come to Jerusalem we come to the sages the torah sages who have the Word of God they are inspired because they are the servants of God they are inspired with a Shems word we need stay in the center don't turn to the right don't turn to the left stay in the center which is alignment with godliness which is alignment with Torah which is alignment with all that is good and there's one last point which I want to which I want to read to you and I think this is extremely important and it ties in and and it helps us understand how we can relate to this ourselves because who are we like how do we know that we're aligned with God so obviously to the extent that we study Torah to this extent that we try to follow the Haram and the sages to the extent that we try to follow those who are yearning and are aligned with godliness so that's the first point that's the that's you know that's the reaches kauffman that's the foundation but there's another point I show you crashing like a boy the king has chosen by God no there's all kinds of there's all kinds of ways the king has chosen there's the Navi who chooses him there's you know that's the mean the main way that he's chosen he's posing with at one of a two men but we also have other people who are chosen how do we know the guy who is the guy who was sitting in the judges seat the Sanhedrin the those sages who are there in Jerusalem how did they get there they were also chosen by God I show you cartoon like aha how do I know because this is what the Robina bhai says well allow me Shawn Malthus can call Sharmila school on Menasha my name amazing thing this comes to teach you that kingship being cut becoming a king and every other type of milah every other advantage any place where you see that there's a person who has some kind of leadership role it's from a shemesh m chooses that person but here aha he may ace le and I saw it was chosen from above 1500 Rahzel our sages say I feel the rage guard goose' sure my Mook me lay even if you have somebody who's in charge of dishing out the water and deciding who gets the water from the pit from the well that guy is also chosen by God and that's an amazing thing and this is a point that I'd like to bring home for us to try to perhaps take home with us that everything any time we see that somebody has has a certain level of of leadership so it's important to understand that that leadership was given to him from Hashem bahar sure you gosh I'm like aha boy God chooses that the Jewish people why is it that the Jewish people are chosen to be the leaders of humanity why is it a sham chose that that's done that's all Hashem scared when I could evoke was the one who's in charge of that and that's true in our in our in the you know in our national lives true regards to the world at large it's true for each and every one of us in our individual lives and we need to understand that Kurdish bar who is guiding every single thing even the smallest things in our lives even the even the very smallest things in our lives of course it's up to us to try to get to a higher and a deeper level of understanding what is a shams will for us and we need to find those leaders who are the most attuned to that we also need to recognize that everything every single thing that goes on in our lives is all ultimately I could wish for who God Himself choosing those things I want to bless you and ask you to bless me back some should help us to align into the center to be centered that's the place the Torah is the place RCL is the place Jerusalem is the place the sages our torah sages are the ones the king ultimately the king mashiac will come and he will show us exactly what we're supposed to do about him should help us to be online to be able to accept the guidance to hear the guidance to look for the guidance be able to receive the guidance should help us to recognize that every single thing that goes on in our life ultimately is from him thank you so much for listening I have wonderful Shabbos this podcast was made possible through the gracious donations of listeners like you for more podcasts like this please visit www.gfi.com/webmonitor [Music]