{"id":5172081,"date":"2025-09-01T12:55:49","date_gmt":"2025-09-01T09:55:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/breslev.co.il\/?p=5172081"},"modified":"2025-09-01T13:22:01","modified_gmt":"2025-09-01T10:22:01","slug":"the-power-of-the-police","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/breslev.com\/5172081\/","title":{"rendered":"The Power of the Police"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Editor’s Note:<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0 David has been writing weekly articles for Breslev Israel for quite a while. This week we are blessed to have an article by David and his daughter, Samahti. She came up with the insights in this article as they learned Shoftim with Rashi.<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Judges and officers shall you appoint in all your cities which Hashem, your God, gives you. <\/i>(Shoftim 16:18)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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The beauty of our holy Torah is in every word. When Hashem uses an unexpected word, He is giving us a buried treasure of deep meaning.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Elul begins with the Torah portion called Shoftim <\/i>(Judges).\u00a0The portion begins with the words \u201cShoftim v\u2019Shotrim\u201d<\/i>, judges and officers.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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I can understand the word \u201cjudges\u201d, but \u201cofficers\u201d?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Didn\u2019t that tall handsome Israeli with three stripes on his uniform just remind us that he is a Katzin<\/i>, an officer? Why are we using the word \u201cShotrim\u201d <\/i>instead of \u201cKatzinim<\/i>\u201d?<\/i> Isn\u2019t there an Israeli show called HaShoter HaTov<\/i>. That show is about a cop, not a Colonel!\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Let\u2019s dig a little and discover some of the treasure Hashem is giving us.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Law & Order: Israel\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

An army <\/i>officer (katzin<\/i>) protects the country. A police <\/i>officer (shoter<\/i>) enforces the law.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Two litigants stand before the judge. He interrogates both of them. After questioning, the judge decides which law applies, and based on this law, which side is in compliance. The judge then makes his judgment.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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What happens when a judge rules in a case that a powerful man with powerful friends must give a sizeable amount of money to a helpless pauper? How can a judge force this powerful man to fork over a sizeable portion of his wealth to a helpless plaintiff?<\/span><\/p>\n

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He uses the police to enforce his judgment. This ensures that justice reigns over the weak and strong alike.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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This is the commandment Hashem gives to the Jewish People: Establish righteous judges to decide the law and a police force to execute these decisions.\u00a0<\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Law & Order: Elul<\/span><\/h2>\n

Every Jew can set up judges and police within himself.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Tishrei is when the True Judge makes His decision. We are all facing the death penalty in a capital trial where we are the defendant. The True Judge will make His decision. He will send His officers to carry out His verdict.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Elul is when we are our own judge<\/i>. Now is the time for us to pass all sorts of judgments against our words, our deeds, and our thoughts. It\u2019s up to us to judge ourselves.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Did we speak too much lashon hara? Did we avert our eyes from some of the things the internet forces upon us? Are we lax in some of our daily duties, like praying on time, or waking up on time?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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The King is in the field. He is listening to our pre-trial arguments.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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What if we pass judgments against ourselves? Will that help \u2013 is it enough?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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No.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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That\u2019s only the first part. We must also activate our own internal police to carry out our decisions.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n