Shabbat Hazon is of course the final Shabbat of warning before 9 B’Av, which falls this year on Saturday night. When I read the eloquent opening words of the book of Isaiah, the principle message is one of misplaced priorities in society that has gone terribly wrong, even as people are living under the illusion that they are doing the right thing.

“Your new moons and holy days
Fill me with loathing.
Thea have become a burden to Me,
I cannot endure them.
And when you lift up your hands,
I will turn My eyes away from you;
Though you pray at length,
I will not listen.
Your hands are stained with blood-
Wash yourselves clean;
Put your evil doings
Away from My sight.
Cease to do evil;
Learn to do good.
Devote yourselves to justice;
Aid the wronged.
Uphold the rights of the orphan;
Defend the cause of the widow.”

(Isaiah 1: 14-17)

This is also the message of the Midrash on the Tower of Babel, which I wrote about yesterday, in which objects become more important than people. In a week in which the government has passed a budget with more attacks on the poor, even with the extra funds for social needs added by the Labor party; in a week in which an indigent single parent and victim of family violence almost lost her home because saving the state money was more important than due process, mercy or justice, let us hope that our reflections on this Shabbat and Tisha B’Av will strengthen us to create a society more in line with the words of our Torah portion:

“I further charged your magistrates as follows, ‘Hear out your fellow men, and decide justly between any person and a fellow Israelite or a stranger. You shall not be partial in judgement: hear out low and high alike…”

(Deuteronomy 1: 16-17)

Recent Articles by Rabbi Arik W. Ascherman

• Rosh HaShanah Thoughts: Sweetness comes from deeds that increase the Good in our world - September 29th, 2008
• Nizzavim: What will we stand for in the coming days and in the new year? - September 26th, 2008
• Balaq: Human Rights and adhering to a democratic process - July 10th, 2008
• Shavuot: Recognize and do what is right - June 6th, 2008
• Behuqqotay: Reward and Punishment - May 19th, 2008
• Yom HaAtzmaut: What gives me the Strength to Celebrate - May 7th, 2008
• Arik Ascherman: Rabbi-activist for the rights of Israelis, Palestinians, and foreign workers in Israel - June 4th, 2007
• The work that we do is not fun: Tikkun Olam and Human Rights - May 4th, 2007
• Tikkun olam: to make the world a little bit better - May 1st, 2007
• Passover, The Omer and Human Rights - April 5th, 2007
• Purim: Acts of justice bring us greater honor than the clothes of kings - March 1st, 2007
• Teruma: Building a human tabernacle united through the inner sanctuary that dwells with each of us - February 23rd, 2007
• Fakhri El-Diab Arrested - February 15th, 2007
• Beshallah: Building a society in which all can sing with joy - February 2nd, 2007
• Darkness has struck again - December 11th, 2006
• Hayye Sara: Needs common to all humanity - November 17th, 2006
• Lekh-Lekha: Living up to the moral heritage that Avraham and Sarah have bequeathed us - November 4th, 2006
• Sukkoth: Symbolic versus authentic homelessness - October 5th, 2006
• Selichot Ceremony - September 29th, 2006
• Tisha Bav: Justice, Law and Righteousness - July 28th, 2006
• Shabbat Hazon: What we must do to improve our situation - July 28th, 2006
• Devarim: Act with tzedakah and mishpat in all that we do - July 28th, 2006
• Tisha BAv: Human Rights and Self Criticism - July 21st, 2006
• Mase: Making an enemy into a Friend - July 21st, 2006
• Mattot: Human Rights and Collateral Damage - July 21st, 2006
• Why I Will Demonstrate - June 29th, 2006
• RHR Wins Court Victory: High Court Orders Security Forces to Protect Palestinian Farmers - June 26th, 2006
• Qorah: Clarity in arguments in defense of Human Rights - June 23rd, 2006
• Nizzavim: For what are we willing to stand up, and how? - May 26th, 2006
• Shavuot: A world based on righteousness, justice, goodness, mercy and faithfulness. - May 26th, 2006
• Bemidbar: Reaching out to the ones we would normally turn away - May 26th, 2006
• Behar: A vision of a just and caring society - May 19th, 2006
• Behuqqotay: Respect the moral order - May 19th, 2006
• Rabbi Arik W. Ascherman - May 12th, 2006
• Emor: Unity and equality between Jews and non-Jews in front of the law - May 12th, 2006
• Shemini: Partners with God - April 21st, 2006
• Va'era: Hear each other’s narratives - January 26th, 2006
• Miqqez: It is not too late to renew and fulfill the promises of old - December 30th, 2005
• Vayyeze: The Image of God in all - December 8th, 2005
• Noah: Knowing how to protest and to effect change - November 4th, 2005
• Sukkoth: Peace, justice, involvement and caring for all people - October 10th, 2005
• Ki-Tavo: Responsiblity to fulfill our Human Rights obligations - September 23rd, 2005
• Ki-Teze: We must stand in the breach and make sure that nobody is left behind - September 14th, 2005
• Shofetim: Pursue justice through mitzvot of commission - September 8th, 2005
• Devarim: You shall not be partial in judgement - August 12th, 2005
• Shabbat Hazon: Misplaced Priorities in Society - August 12th, 2005
• Mas'e: Expulsion, Democracy and Civil Disobedience - August 4th, 2005
• Mattot: Find the formulas allowing all of us to have our basic Human Rights and needs met. - July 28th, 2005
• Balaq: We cannot negotiate for peace on the one hand and violate Human Rights on the other - July 14th, 2005
• Shemini: Quench this strange fire and return to the fire commanded by God - April 1st, 2005
• Preventing Home Demolitions - March 22nd, 2005
• Pequde: Maintaining our belief in the goodness of people. - March 11th, 2005
• There Is A Kippah In The Rubble - April 15th, 2003

Categories: Devarim, Devarim / Deuteronomy
Tags: Bo, ease, fen, human rights, judge, magistrate, palestinians, settlers