Tzedek, Tzedek Tirdof: Justice, Justice shall you pursue (Deut. 16:20)

By Hazzan Jenna Greenberg.

In this most famous verse from parashat Shoftim, despite the doubling of the word “Tzedek,” no word is extraneous in the Torah. This phrase is understood to mean that we should work so hard to create justice that it is as if we are chasing after it. I think that it is fair to say that of all moments in Jewish history, the pursuit of justice has new meaning this week, this month, this year.

Tzedek: On the secular calendar, this Shabbat, September 7th, marks 11 months since the unjust war broke out against our Israeli family and friends, and by ripple effect, against Jews worldwide. We have nearly circled the sun, and yet so many lives have been cut short since that horrific day. Where is the tzedek in this tragedy? When will justice prevail and evil surrender?

Tzedek: And where is the justice in the most recent events of this past week, that 6 more innocent souls were murdered on the cusp of this marking of 11 months since last Simchat Torah? How is it that the most vocal English-speaking Israeli parent of one of these beautiful souls, who has been actively advocating for and pursuing justice fighting for freedom for her son and for ALL of the hostages, has now laid her only son to rest?

Tirdof: How can we continue to help in the pursuit of freedom and justice for all who are still captive? What forms of Tzedek and Tzedaka are you able to give of your time and resources? It is unimaginable that our Tzedaka is still needed in this darkest 11th hour, as we begin the 12th month of this war.

God willing THIS will be the month in which this war ends and our Tzedaka, our righteous gifts toward Medinat Yisrael and Am Yisrael will actually pay off. 

As we hear the shofar each morning of this month of Elul, may its primal cry usher in justice for all, an end to this war, and the reunion of families so that perhaps, bizman karov, soon, our people, our family, will only know peace.