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     This week's Torah portion begins with the double admonishment, "Justice, justice, you shall persue." The word "justice" is used twice for no seemingly purpose. Now there are those who may ascribe this to the "literary prose style" of the Torah. However, those who seek deeper explanations realize that the Torah is the will of God revealed in print; there is no word or letter that is meaningless in the Torah; therefore, there must be a rational reason that the word justice is used twice when once would have sufficed.

     As we look around us at the various nations of the world, and as we study history, we are amazed and appalled at the concepts of justice. How many nations and civilizations have used means which were dishonest and violent to achieve their goals. Whether it was the Communist revolution, which proported to bring equality to the masses, or the French revelutions, or the many polictical coups in Latin America, etc; all used unjust methods to achieve their goals. But, do the "ends" justify the "means"? Can we also use non kosher means to achieve kosher ends? Can we use forbidden means as a manner to come close to God?

     "Justice, justice, you shall persue." The Torah is telling us that we must use only righteous means to achieve the righteous end. Do not think that lying and cheating will bring you closer to God. Don't think that the goal that you are persuing is so important to God that He will forgive an improper method of achieving that goal. God is not interested in your achieving a goal with no consideration to the means. The true method of becoming close to God is through using only those means which He, in the Torah, allows. To use a forbidden means to fulfil the desires of God is short circiuting the Torah commandments.

     "Justice, justice, you shall persue." To achieve justice, you must use justice means. The ability to succeed is totally in the hands of God. It is for us to try our best, yet to realize that He, and only He, can grant us success.

Wishing you all a Shabbat Shalom!