Many times, in conversations with different people, the idea arose that, at least from a rational perspective, the Torah brought to society a series of universal principles and rules, such as the prohibition of stealing, killing, committing adultery, and other guidelines that today in the Western world seem obvious, but which find their root in the Torah.
While this is not the only reason for the Giving of the Torah, it undoubtedly served as the basis for the modern Western way of life.
Ahora bien, en la parashá de ésta semana aparecen varias Mitzvot que están relacionadas con los jueces y líderes comunitarios que no parecen ser tan observadas… por supuesto, la intención no es hablar mal de nadie en particular, porque además, dicen nuestros sabios que uno no puede juzgar a otra persona hasta estar en su lugar. Simplemente para plantear un pensamiento, paso a presentar algunas de las ideas que aparecen en la parashá de ésta semana que no son muy tenidas en cuenta hoy en día:
1) «y juzgarán al pueblo con justicia» (Devarím 16:18), Rashi comenta: nombra jueces expertos y justos, para juzgar con justicia.
2) «No tuerzas el juicio» (íbid 16:19)
3) «No tomes soborno» (íbid)
4) «Y plata y oro no aumentará mucho» (íbid 17:17), este versículo habla del rey, expresando que no debe poseer demasiado dinero (más allá de lo necesario para mantener su ejército).
5) «Integro serás con Di-s tu señor» (íbid 18:13), este versículo habla sobre la prohibición de averiguar el futuro a través de los astros u otros métodos, uno debe ser íntegro, tener fe absoluta en Di-s.
Regarding the fourth point, when we analyze Jewish history we see that King Solomon, about whom the Torah itself testifies that he was the most intelligent man in history, did not fulfill this precept (which is associated in the verse mentioned with the prohibition of the king having many wives).
Why? The Torah says that if the king has many wives and/or seeks to increase his wealth beyond what is necessary, it will distract him from his duties and he will be unable to focus on his reign. King Solomon thought: that won't happen to me. I can have many wives and a lot of money and I won't fall into that trap.
However, we see that this was not the case. From this we learn that we should not fulfill (or fail to fulfill, God forbid) the Torah simply because we understand the reason for a particular mitzvah or because we think that a certain logic no longer applies. Solomon thought that, being the wisest man on earth, having more money than necessary would not affect him. But he was wrong (the same thing happened to him with having many horses and wives, see Deuteronomy 17:16).
How much more so we, who are far from Solomon's spiritual and intellectual level, must learn to trust that what the Torah says is correct and must cherish it, even when we think it does not apply to us.