Shoftim — judges (Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9)
Be fair, judges –
whether appointed or elected.
Hold the line.
Pursue, don’t pervert justice
whether it’s traffic citations
or human rights or
human…be human, judges –
your words make the path
and there are no
left and right turns on the path.
Only forward. Don’t go
backwards, judges –
blood has been spilled
to get us where we are.
Don’t step on the blood.
Don’t make it personal, judges –
whether it’s courts of laws
or poetry contests or
pie eating contests or
American Idol. (But mostly
courts of law. Forget I
said the other things, Judges.)
They’re sending you the
biggest choices to make.
Make them with
all the weight on you.
Everything depends on
your gavel
your judgments
your good sensibility.
Rick Lupert, a poet, songleader and graphic designer, is the author of 30 books including “Begin the Beget” and “God Wrestler: A Poem for Every Torah Portion.” Visit him at www.JewishPoetry.net
