August 19, 2023; 2 Elul, 5783
Parsha
In this week’s Parsha, Rashi explains that the words, “Justice, justice you shall pursue…” (Devarim 16:20) is an admonition to the litigants of a court case to pursue a fitting and proper Beis Din - a “Bais Din Yafeh” – a beautiful court. This is also what is stated in the Sifrei on this verse, “Go after a good and proper Beis Din - pursue the court of Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakhai and pursue the court of Rabbi Eliezer.”
It is clear from the unqualified language of the Sifrei, that in all cases, the litigants must pursue a Bais Din Yafeh. This would apparently include a scenario where the judges in the litigants’ city are scholars and righteous men. Even in this case, there is still a commandment incumbent upon the litigants to seek out a court of even greater scholars....