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A Fuchs Mizrachi Stark High School Publication


Candle Lighting: 7:45
Havdalah: 8:55
Note: The Halachic times listed here are from www.myzmanim.com.
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A Fuchs Mizrachi Stark High School Publication
Raising the Moral Bar
By Zak Fleischman 11
th
Grade
In Parshat Shoftim just like in all of Sefer Devarim we are reviewing halachot which will be pertinent to moving to
Eretz Yisrael. In this parsha we not only discuss shoftim, but we also discuss the cities of refuge the Arei Miklat. The
Arei Miklat are cities in which accidental murders may flee to and live there peacefully. These cities were to be set
up in all parts of the land, from the South in the Negev to the Northern Mountains and from the Sea to past the Jordan
where Reuven, Gad, and half of Menashe resided. These cities were established to protect the accidental murders
from the the avenger of blood. These avengers were close family members who were allowed to kill the
murderer.
Why would it be allowed to kill an accidental murderer, the man had no intentions to kill someone, why does
he deserve death. In order to get death from beit din one has to have the intention to kill and be warned sufficiently
from witnesses. This halcha of seems to go against basic halachic principals. We are commanded to seek
justice, this isnt justice this is pure revenge.
Rav Shandal explains that we do not strive to be the we should not wish to kill another human being.
Rather the idea and institution of the family executioner was so deeply entrenched in the ancient culture of Canaan it
was normal practice and it was expected to happen. The torah allows for the Avenger of Blood to exist because we
do not wish to incriminate people for a crime which they did not realize was a crime. We must teach that revenge is
not correct, we must strip it from our systems, but that is a long and arduous journey and may not even be possible.
The torah sets up a system of which limits our revenge and gives time and refuge to those who deserve it. The
idea of is not an ideal; it is the base line of what is socially acceptable. The torah places it here to stop us from
sinking further into revenge but also to issue a challenge. Can we do any better?
Seeking Justice for the Nation
By Ziva Bibbins 11
th
Grade
"Tzedek, Tzedek tirdof- Justice, Justice you shall pursue"(16:20) This is a well-known verse that commands us to
seek out righteousness and justice in our lives. What this means is that if someone damages property, a country, a
group of people or even an individual, one must pay and fix what they have damaged. Rashi explains that this pasuk
teaches us to seek a strong court, so we will be able to deal with these damages properly. As a reward, we will be
able to survive and live in the land of Israel. We see that seeking justice is directly correlated to our survival as a
nation. This lesson reflects the time period we have just entered. As we are in the month of Elul, a time where each of
us reflects back on our year, and strives to become a better person, we need to proactively pursue justice, and help
our fellow brothers and sisters in their lives, to keep strong in faith and prayer for positive and blessed days ahead.
Shabbat Shalom and Shanah Tova U'matukah.]

The Kings Book
By Rabbi Binyamin Blau
While our parsha Parshat Shoftim - covers a wide range of topics, in the midst of them all we find a fascinating
discussion about the appointing of a Jewish king. Hashem informs the people that there will be a time when Klal
Yisrael will have a monarch and He then precedes to give limited guidelines as to how this king should function.
Essentially the king is given three restrictions and just one obligation. He may not amass too much money, possess
too many horses, or marry too many wives. On the positive side, he must write a sefer torah and keep it with him at
all times.
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A Fuchs Mizrachi Stark High School Publication
Many questions merge from this brief description: The first query is the significance of these three areas of concern.
Why single out these items if we are simply warning the king not to live a life of excess? Secondly, why is this
relevant to the rest of the people; isnt it a rule only for the king? Finally, what is the deeper message of the one
positive command namely that he write a sefer torah and have it with him continuously?
The Shem Shmuel suggests that three items mentioned symbolize the areas of life that a king must control to be
successful. He must harness his intellect, his spirit, and his physical prowess. Since one needs to devote brainpower
to create money grabbing schemes, the limit regarding accumulating funds speaks to the issue of intellect. The
restriction of owning excessive horses curbs the kings haughty spirit. Finally, the prohibition against having multiple
wives is designed to curtail his physical desires. In other words the kings limits reveal the need for him to control
and properly channel his personality.
While these rules are indeed designed specifically for a monarch, the message behind them applies equally to each
one of us. We too must control our intellect, spirit, and body and direct our lives to the proper path of service to our
creator.
In that vein, we may explain the one positive commandment as well. By always having a sefer torah with him, the
king is constantly reminded of his connection to Hashem and the manner in which he is required to channel his
energy and live his life. While we do not carry a physical torah with us, we too must be cognizant of the need to
properly channel all of our energies into a life of Torah and mitzvot.

Shabbat Table Discussion Questions:
By Ely Meyers, 10
th
Grade
1. Why does the Torah feel the need to explain why bribery is bad and not the other laws? (16; 19)\

2. Why does Hashem allow Israel to make themselves a king because it is like their surrounding nations? (17;
14-15)

3. Why is a goel hadam allowed to kill the accidental murderer if it's not halachicly his punishment? (19; 1-7)

Email us at FMSshemesh@gmail.com with your answers or submit them on our website, fmsdvartorah.weebly.com, and you could be featured in next week's
edition!








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A Fuchs Mizrachi Stark High School Publication

Brought to you by:
Staff:
Editors in Chief- Yael Blau, Yosef Coleman, Rivka
Coleman
Associate Editors- Eli Meyers and Etan Soclof

Faculty Consultant-Rav Rick Schindelheim

Distribution Manager-Rivka Coleman

Faculty Manager-Mordechai Blau

Head Writers-Avi Hartstone and Zak Fleischman

Layout Manager- Zak Fleischman
Student Writers:
o Alan Soclof
o Ben Jaffe
o Ian Lorand
o Ilan Senders
o Joey Senders


o Lizzy Soclof
o Michael Brenis
o Miriam Pincus
o Mordechai Blau
o Sarah Pincus
o Yonah Bar-Shain
o Zach Zlatin
o Ziva Bibbins


!
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