בס"ד

At the conclusion of this week’s Torah portion, Shoftim (Judges), the Torah introduces the Jewish commandment of the Broken-necked Heifer. When a murdered person is found lying in an open field and the identity of the killer remains unknown, the leaders and judges of the nearest town must perform a public ritual. They lead a young heifer to a valley and declare: “Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see.”

This act serves as an atonement and brings urgent public attention to the unsolved crime, ensuring justice is pursued. At first glance, this raises an obvious question: Why should the town elders and judges have an atonement for a murder committed in secret? The killer alone committed the heinous crime and deserves full punishment. What does the local court of justice have to do with a violent act that happened out in an open field?

The answer reveals a foundational principle that applies to all humanity: mutual responsibility. The elders are not accused of a crime, but as leaders and educators, their responsibility is to teach moral and ethical living to the entire community. The underlying principle of this commandment— that a community and its courts bear responsibility for bloodshed, is universal. Dinim is a core Noahide law requiring societies to enforce the Seven Laws and maintain moral order. The duty to establish courts of justice—is not merely about punishing criminals after a crime occurs. It requires creating a fair moral society that is based on Divine justice.

The formal leadership and society bear some accountability when violence occurs under their watch. A truly healthy community actively watches out for the vulnerable, supporting them before they fall. Every nation should strive to appoint righteous judges and leaders whose focus is to educate and make sure that the Seven Noahide laws are observed.

Today, by studying and living by universal divine ethics, every person helps build a just world founded on mutual accountability. By studying the Seven Noahide Laws and applying them in daily life, Noahides contribute directly to a world governed by Divine justice. Establishing upright leadership, supporting moral education are the foundational steps toward making the world a dwelling place for the Creator.




מאת הרב משה ברנשטיין

מקורות:

Deuteronomy 21:1–9: Babylonian Talmud, Sotah 45b–46b.
Maimonides (Rambam), Mishneh Torah, Laws of Kings and Wars, Chapter 9, Halacha 14: Likutei Sichot, Vol. 9 (Shoftim). Ramban Genesis 13.wer in the world besides the Creator. This is the path to bring about the repair of the world and the blessing of the true and final redemption.



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