Parashat Shoftim

The parsha begins with the matter of setting up local judicial systems
to supplement the national system.  It then discusses the
establishment of a national government and the choice of a king.  The
parsha continues with a number of warnings against idolatry and
paganism, and then moves on to a miscellany of assorted prohibitions.
It contains brief descriptions of the duties of the priests and the
development of the prophetic personalities.

The parsha speaks eloquently about a simple three-word phrase, tzedek tzedek tirdof, (justice, justice shall you pursue).  It is traditional
that no word is repeated in the Torah unless it has special
significance.  Chazal (Rabbis) have noted that the phrase, tzedek
tzedek tirdof, is found in the same portion of the text as the
admonition to set up a judicial system, and consequently some have
considered that tzedek as used here, refers only to the requirement of
a competent judiciary.   Rather tzedek would not have been repeated if that is all that was meant.  Instead the judges are told to pursue
justice in a just means and to teach that the ends do not justify the
means.

We are living in troubled times.  People have questioned the existence
of Hashem.  Some have said, "God is dead", others that "there is no
God".  Judaism, offers "the pursuit of righteousness" as a practical
method of reducing the perplexities of our modern day, and suggests
that the pursuit of righteousness can serve as an expression of our
faith in Hashem. So when the Parsha says, tzedek tzedek tirdof-"righteousness, righteousness you shall pursue,"  in effect it is saying, "let the pursuit of righteousness be our way of disposing of modern skepticism, so that the pursuit of righteousness be our expression of faith in Hashem."