Parshat Devarim is always read on the Shabbat right before Tisha B’Av.

 I charged your magistrates at that time as follows, "Hear out your fellow men, and decide justly between any man and a fellow Israelite or a stranger. 17 You shall not be partial in judgment: hear out low and high alike. Fear no man, for judgment is God’s. And any matter that is too difficult for you, you shall bring to me and I will hear it." 18 Thus I instructed you, at that time, about the various things that you should do. [Devarim 1:16-18]

This week is Parashat Devarim, the beginning of the final book of Moses.  Devarim can be translated as words, matters or things.  Devarim is a history lesson a final summary of Moses to Israel about where HaShem has brought us from.

In the portion above he reminds us not to be partial in judgement.  We must be fair to rich and poor, the Isrealite and the sojourner.

How can we apply this to our lives today?  Are we fair in our judgements?  Are we quick to judge others?  Do we look down on the poor and lowly, but exhalt the rich and famous?

In this week’s Haftorah portion Isaiah echoes this sentiment. “Wash yourselves clean; Put your evil doings Away from My sight.  Cease to do evil; 17 Learn to do good. Devote yourselves to justice; Aid the wronged. Uphold the rights of the orphan; Defend the cause of the widow.”

Our Rabbi Maran Yeshua also reminds us in the Besorah HaTovah (Good News) Matthew 7:1, 2 "Judge not that you be not judged.  For with the judgment that you judge, you shall be  judged; and with the measure that you mete, it shall be measured to you.  This is probably one of the most misquoted verses in scripture.

According to the Webster’s Dictionary, to judge means "to discern, to distinguish, to form an opinion, to compare facts or ideas, and perceive their agreement or disagreement, and thus to distinguish truth from falsehood." Therefore, when you say that your neighbour is a "good person," you are passing a judgment (forming an opinion) just as much as when you say that the thief is a "bad person."

The problem is not in judgement itself, but it is how we make those judgements.  What Moses and I believe Yeshua were ultimately telling us is that when we make judgements, they should be based on truth and fairness, not favouritism and partiality.

How can we aid the wronged if we can never judge who was wronged?  How can we devote ourselves to justice if we can never make judgements in the first place? I think it is important to remember the words of the prophet Micah (6:8)

He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does HaShem require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)

As long as we look for justice in a manner of kindness and humility we will remain in the path of HaShem.