By Alex Bolotovsky, CEO of J Leaders
Parsha in a Nutshell
Shoftim (“Judges”) lays out the blueprint for leadership in Israel: appoint judges and officers, pursue justice, set boundaries for kings, support the Levites, and heed prophets (Deut. 16:18–21:9). The parsha balances authority with accountability. Leaders are necessary, but so are limits.
Digging Deeper
1. Justice Isn’t Optional
“Tzedek, tzedek tirdof (Justice, justice shall you pursue)” (Deut. 16:20). The double emphasis isn’t for poetry, it’s for emphasis. Justice isn’t a nice-to-have, it’s the foundation of legitimacy. A leader who bends fairness erodes trust. Moses makes it clear: without justice, the whole project falls apart.
2. Power with Guardrails
Shoftim also describes what a king cannot do (amass excessive horses, wives, or wealth (Deut. 17:16–17)). Instead, he must write his own copy of the Torah and keep it by his side (17:18–19). The idea is power checked by humility and accountability. Even kings are students of something and have to answer to something bigger than themselves.
Leadership Takeaway
Real leadership isn’t about having power; it’s about how you harness it. Leaders earn trust by pursuing fairness relentlessly and grounding themselves in values that outlast their ego.
Weekly Leadership Challenge
- Practice double-justice: Before making a decision this week (big or small), run it through the “justice, justice” filter: is it fair and does it feel fair to others?
- Name your guardrail: Kings had to write down their guiding text. What’s one line, an idea, quote, or value, you’d carry with you as a grounding principle? Write it down and keep it visible this week.
- Flip the power script: Notice where you have influence, at work, in your friend group, in your family. Use it to elevate someone else.
Shoftim pushes us to ask: am I chasing power, or am I pursuing justice? The answer shows up in how we act when no one is watching.