Tzedek
What does tzedek mean?
Justice
What is strange about these words from the pasuk that is troubling to the rabbis?
Why does the word "justice" repeat twice.
According to Yitro, in total how many judges would be appointed?
78,601
Who was Yitro?
Moshe's father in-law
What are 2 of the 4 characteristics that Yitro sets as criteria for a judge?
Powerful men,
men who fear God,
honest men,
men who hate money
What is another word for "justice"
righteousness, law, fairness, fair-play
How does Rashi explain why these words repeat twice?
They repeat to tell us to keep looking for a fair court.
Assuming a population of 600,000 people, how many judges would be appointed over groups of 10 people?
600,000
What was the problem that Yitro saw?
Moshe was the only judge to decide BY's disputes. He would wear himself out, working day & night.
According to Rashi, who are 'powerful men'?
Rashi says “powerful” here means, “rich”
Give two words that are related to the word "justice" (i.e. words that come from the same family of words)
just, judge, judiciary, judgement
How does Ibn Ezra explain why these words repeat twice?
(Ibn Ezra gives 3 different possibilities)
Tzedek tzedek repeats to teach us that we should run after justice no matter what.
Tzedek repeats to teach us to pursue justice every single day of our lives.
3. Tzedek tzedek repeats to teach us that justice is one of the most important mitzvot.
Assuming a population of 600,000 people, how many judges would be appointed over groups of 50 people?
12,000
What was another problem that Yitro saw?
BY would have to wait so long to have their disputes resolved.
Howo does Chizkuni explain 'a person who fear only Hashem'?
According to Chizkuni, a person who fears Hashem cannot be scared or intimidated or bullied or influenced by another person.
What is bribery?
Paying for a favor without deserving or earning it
How does the Sforno explain why these words appear twice?
According to the Sforno, a judge should have two qualities: fairness & righteousness.
(Although he adds that the most important quality is fairness)
Assuming a population of 600,000 people, how many judges would be appointed over groups of 100 people?
6,000
What solution did Yitro suggest?
Make a judiciary system of courts, with lower courts deciding easier cases.
How does Rashi explain 'honest men'?
Rashi means that a judge who keeps promises is trustworthy, and then people will respect whatever they say.
Explain the expression: "justice is blind"
When a court is just, it doesn't look at the qualities of the people in the trial, i.e. whether they are rich or poor, it looks at the truth and fairness.
How does Rabbi Bachya explain why the word "justice" repeats twice?
R. Bachye says tzedek repeats twice because there are two ways to be righteous:
- by being righteous in word
- by being righteous in deed
What is an appellate court?
A higher court to go to for more difficult cases.
What amazing event occurred in Parshat Yitro, which we read in shul last week?
Hashem gave the Jews the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai
How does Rashi explain people 'who hate money'?
Rashi is saying that a person who accepts a judge’s ruling to pay someone money, that person could also become a judge.