EimaTimes

Every leader, even Moshe, comes across situations that leave them at a loss for words. Many of the times when Bnei Yisrael rebelled, Moshe went to God to find out what he should do. When daughters of slofchod inquired as to their inheritance rights, Moshe wasn’t sure what to respond – he had to consult with God. But what are the rest of us who don’t have direct lines to God supposed to do?

In this week’s parasha, Moshe explains what future leaders should do when the law isn’t quite clear, and justice is difficult to determine.

Moshe states that you should “come to the Kohanim, Levi’im, and the Judge in those days, and inquire; they will tell you the judgment.” (Deut 17:9)

The Ramban explains the reason we needed to have a process for determining a ruling. If there were no system to resolve disputes in Torah interpretation, there would be different groups of Jews who practiced different religions all called Judaism. To prevent this, the Great Sanhedrin was given ultimate authority over even the greatest of scholars.

But there’s a line in the verse that seems superfluous. Why did Moshe write that you should “go to the judge in those days”? What other judge would you go if not the one alive at the time?

Rashi answers that even if the “Judge in those days” isn’t as smart as the ones who came before him, you must heed this one, for he is all you have. We are expected to trust that God gave us our own leaders to address the needs of our generation.

We must find the balance between the need for consistency of practice, and an evolving Jewish Law to fit each generation. All too often, Jewish groups fall to the extreme either by modeling every aspect of their lives after centuries old practices, or rejecting traditionalism in exchange for every Modern desire.

It is our charge to find the appropriate “Golden Median” and create a vibrant and traditionally rooted society.