Be wholehearted with God your Lord.

Published: Tue, 08/26/25

Updated: Wed, 08/27/25

"Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land that the Lord your God is giving you."

Deuteronomy 16:20

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Hi friend,

This coming Shabbat's Torah portion, read on Saturday, Aug 30th, is Parashat Shoftim. This week’s reading, Shoftim, addresses fundamental issues pertaining to the leadership of the Jewish people. It begins with a discussion regarding judges, and later gives rules pertaining to kings, prophets and kohanim (priests). Many commandments are introduced in this week’s reading, including: appointing judges, the obligation to follow rabbinic law and the words of the prophets, the obligations of a king, the punishment for perjury, the laws of war, and the procedure for dealing with unsolved murders.

Please enjoy this teaching of our beloved Root Source teacher, Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz of blessed memory, about this week's Torah portion, Shofetim, and share your thoughts with us!

Last week, our popular Root Source teacher Rabbi Gedalia Meyer talked about Re'eh. Watch it below.

Participate in our enlightening lesson Teacher Rabbi Aryeh Leifert talked about Proverbs Chapter 3 a Watch it below.

Take part in the inspiring lesson Rivka’s Personality Characteristics with Teacher Dr. Rivkah Adler. Learn more below.

Check below to hear what Gidon Ariel and Dr. Richard Booker have to share.

We sign off with a nice comment and a beautiful photo of Haifa, Israel.

Shalom,

Gidon Ariel and Bob O’Dell
Root Source Founders

Parashat Shoftim

We are commanded to appoint judges in every city of Israel. These judges are instructed to adjudicate fairly. Capital punishment is prescribed for idolatry, and various idolatrous practices are banned. The sacrifices we offer to G‑d must be free of blemishes. We must follow the rulings of the Sanhedrin (the rabbinic supreme court) and of the Oral Law. Refusal to accept the Sanhedrin’s authority is a capital offense.

Parashat Shofetim: Making Room for Wholeheartedness

The Torah commands us to “Be wholehearted (tamim) with God your Lord,” yet we often misunderstand what this means. The first letter of the word tamim – the letter tav – in the verse “Be wholehearted (tamim) with God your Lord” (Deut. 18:13) is traditionally written in Torah scrolls larger than the other letters of the word. Rabbi Naftali of Ropshitz taught that the large tav in tamim creates space for everyone to enter into wholeheartedness, no matter how great they consider themselves.

Learn here

Re'eh:
Rabbi Gedalia Meyer's Weekly Torah Study

“The place that HaShem will choose.” The location of that place was unknown to Moshe’s audience when he first uttered that expression. But ever since King David purchased the land and King Solomon built the Holy Temple, the Temple Mount has become a place beyond any other place in heaven or on earth.

Watch the video

Proverbs Chapter 3 a

Rabbi Aryeh Leifert comments on 10 verses of Proverbs 3:1-4. We do not always see justice in this world. Is there ultimate justice? And how can we be better “ambassadors” for God in this world?

Learn here

Rivka’s Personality Characteristics

What personality characteristics can we see in Rivka as a result of her story? And what don't we know about her?

Learn here

Conversations:
Gidon Ariel and Dr. Richard Booker - December 27, 2021

Dr. Booker and Gidon spend a little time talking about the importance of communication, then review Nachmanides’ ethical will to his children.

Watch the video

Comments

We get so many comments!
Here is one from Kerry Lee Angel.

"Thank you for making the video from Rabbi Meyer available to watch. A good topic ..a ‘Wake up Call’. I praise G-d His plans for us are always for our good."

Haifa, Israel

Enjoy this photo of the Haifa, Israel by Yuri Kabisher.

Blessings and Shalom,
Bob and Gidon

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Be wholehearted with God your Lord.

Parashat Shoftim

Parashat Shofetim: Making Room for Wholeheartedness

Re'eh: Rabbi Gedalia Meyer's Weekly Torah Study

Proverbs Chapter 3 a

Rivka’s Personality Characteristics

Re'eh:
Rabbi Gedalia Meyer's Weekly Torah Study