The first sentence of this week’s Torah portion says it all: “Judges and [law-enforcement] officers shall you establish for [yourselves] within all your borders.” Judges to interpret and oversee righteous application of the law. Law-enforcement officers — cops — to keep the peace and enforce the order.
There is so much more to the Torah beyond the important laws regarding birds one is forbidden to eat, acts forbidden on Shabbat and the particular agricultural species that one is bidden to take in hand on Sukkot. Beyond all that, there are laws of ethics and morality, civil reward and civil punishment, and practical laws governing every aspect of real life.
Read Full Article »