By:  Chaya Sora Jungreis-Gertzulin

This week’s parsha opens with the pasuk, “Shoftim v’shotrim titen lecha b’chol sh’arecha, Appoint judges and officers in all your gates.” (Devarim 16:18)

The Torah is instructing the Jewish nation to appoint judges and officers in every community. To establish a righteous court system, thereby ensuring justice.

The Torah uses the singlular “lecha – for yourself”, and not the plural “lachem – for yourselves”, to emphasize that each one of us has the responsibility to integrate Torah values in differentiating between what’s right and wrong.

Furthermore, the Torah uses the expression “B’chol sh’arecha – in all your gates.” Both Rabbi Chaim Vital (1543-1620) and the Sheloh HaKodosh (1565-1630) teach that there is a deeper meaning to these words. While the literal translation of sh’arecha is gates, it can be understood to be referring to the seven openings, the seven gateways to the mind. Two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, and the mouth. We know that what we see, what we hear, and even what we inhale, can affect us, mind, body and soul.

How careful we must be with the messages that enter our “gates”. Our eyes, seeing – the images and videos we watch, the newspapers, magazines and books we read, all have lasting influences. Our ears, hearing – to be careful not to listen to words of loshon harah, gossip or slander.  Our mouth has a double closure – teeth and lips, stressing how important it is to be careful that our words aren’t the cause of pain, embarrassment or aggravation to others. As Shlomo HaMelech wrote, “Movess v’chayim b’yad haloshon – Death and life are in the hand of the tongue.” (Mishlei 18:21). The stakes are high. Words can either make or break a person. Our tongues can build others up, or they can tear them down.

“And it shall be when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he should write ‘Mishneh Torah, a copy of the Torah’ “. (Devarim 17:18) Rashi quotes the Gemora (Sanhedrin 21b) that the king, in fact, maintained two Sifrei Torah. One was to be kept in the king’s “Beis Genizo, his private treasure collection, and another was to be with the king “shenichnas v’yotzei, on his comings and goings”, to accompany him on all his missions. As the Torah states, “It shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life” (Devarim 17:19).

Just imagine the kings of Am Yisroel, great and learned individuals, well versed in all areas of the Torah, yet the Torah instructs that even they must have a personal Sefer Torah with them at all times, to be a constant reminder of their connection to HaShem. A reminder that they are part of HaShem’s holy nation and have an obligation to live a life of kedusha, holiness. Even the king needs the Torah to be at his side as a protection from the many negative influences and values that he may encounter.

If the kings must have a Torah at their side at all times, how much more so does the typical man. If it was necessary in ancient times, how much more so do we need the words of Torah to accompany us on all of our comings and goings in the modern world.

My parents created a home that was filled with Torah ideals. A home like the geniza of the king that had Torah within. The walls were lined with bookcases, containing sifrei kedusha, books whose contents were teachings of our rabbis and sages. The living room, dining room, and family room were all filled with bookshelves. There was one wall where my mother hung paintings of all the zeides, our ancestors going back many generations, all with a hadras panim, a saintly countenance. The message my parents wanted to impart to us was clear: Torah values and the constant influence of our holy ancestors were always to be right before us.

I remember inviting a friend over for Shabbos. Friday night as we sat in the living room, she was very quiet. When I asked her why, she responded that she was looking at the portraits of the zeides on the wall. She felt their presence, she sensed their holiness, and as a result was being extra careful with her words.

I grew up in a very secular community, an area my parents chose to settle in to bring Torah to the unaffiliated. At the same time, our parents imbued us with a Torah life. They gave us a strong foundation that served us well. I grew up knowing that I was the Rabbi’s and Rebbetzin’s daughter, with an obligation to be a role model for others, having Torah values at my side with all my “comings and goings”.

It’s never too late to create a Torah home. To have our own geniza, treasure trove. Boruch HaShem, we live in a world where a plethora of so many books of Torah content and teachings are so readily available. Armed with Torah at our side, the task of being our own personal judge is made so much easier.

We are now beginning Chodesh Elul. May we all have the inner strength to be our own “shoftim v’shotrim”, our personal gatekeepers, and in that merit may the coming year be one of much mazel, gezunt, berachah, and hatzlachah, for each of us, our familes and for all of Am Yisroel.

This article was written L’zecher Nishmas / In Memory Of HaRav Meshulem ben HaRav Osher Anshil HaLevi, zt”l and Rebbetzin Esther bas HaRav Avraham HaLevi, zt”l