Rabbi Howard Morrison

This past Monday, we entered the month of Elul. The period of spiritual preparation for the High Holy Days has begun. In our Parsha today, Shoftim, the plain meaning is dedicated to the establishment of a judicial system in the Land of Israel. For us, Rosh Hashanah, is less than a month away.

Though God will serve as the ultimate Judge on Rosh Hashanah, the month of Elul calls upon us to judge ourselves. The Parsha begins with the words, "Shoftim V'Shotrim titen lecha - You shall place for yourselves judges and officials." A Hasidic commentary suggests that "for yourselves" means to establish judges and officials for yourselves within yourselves. Thus, as we read this Parsha in Elul, now is the time to judge ourselves from within, introspectively.

Each day in Elul, except on Shabbat and the very last day of the month, we sound the Shofar. Maimonides explains, " The Shofar's call says: Wake up you sleepy ones from your sleep and you who slumber, arise! Inspect your deeds, repent, remember your Creator . . . . Look into your souls. improve your ways and your deeds, and let everyone of you abandon his evil path and thoughts (Laws of Repentance 3:4)."

The Shofar jolts us out of our spiritual complacency and prompts us to engage in the process of Teshuva, repentance. The Shofar also demands that we judge ourselves scrupulously. Maimonides continues his discussion of the Shofar's message with the following lesson:

"Accordingly, throughout the year, a person should always look at himself as equally balanced between merit and sin and the world as equally balanced between merit and sin. If he performs one sin, he tips his balance and that of the entire world toward the side of guilt and brings destruction upon himself. On the other hand, if he performs one Mitzvah, he tips his balance and that of the entire world to the side of merit and brings deliverance and salvation to himself and others."

In other words, we must judge ourselves as if our every action has cosmic consequences and that our lives are held in a delicate balance. As we cultivate this inward awareness during the month of Elul, we pave the road for judicious behavior in the new year. 

The Hebrew word for "to pray" is the reflexive infinitive "L'hitpallel," which literally means "to judge oneself." Now is the time to honestly and authentically judge ourselves with critical eyes.

It has often been said that we should be less judgmental of others and more judgmental of ourselves. It is just too easy to judge and blame others for our own misdeeds. The shape of the Shofar calls on us to move from a place of narrowness to a place of openness. In Pirkei Avot, the Ethics of the Sages, we are taught, "Havei Metunim Adam l'Caf Zechut - Judge others favorably."

At the same time, while many people tend to judge themselves accordingly, others overly beat them themselves up with too much self-judgment. Some have a persecution complex.  We need to find the proper balance.

I conclude with the poem entitled, "Judge ourselves gently," by Shakti Gawain in the book "Living in the Light."

"Remember.

If you judge and criticize yourself, others will judge and criticize you.

If you hurt yourself, others will hurt you.

If you lie to yourself, others will lie to you.

If your are irresponsible to yourself, others will be irresponsible in relation to you.

If you blame yourself, others will blame you.

If you do violence to yourself emotionally, others will do violence to you emotionally or even physically.

If you do not listen to your feelings, no one will listen to your feelings.

If you love yourself, others will love you.

If you trust yourself, others will trust you.

If you are honest with yourself, others will be honest with you.

If you are gentle and compassionate with yourself, others will treat you with compassion.

If you appreciate yourself, others will appreciate you.

If you honor yourself, others will honor you.

If you enjoy yourself, others will enjoy you.

Now is a time for fair, balanced, and moderate self-judgment - Be authentic; do not be too soft or too harsh. Be like a reed in your self reflection, one which will bend but not break.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Howard Morrison