The Torah portion describes the terrible calamities — disease, war, famine, and exile — that result when the Jewish people abandons the Torah. According to Talmudic tradition, one particular offense is the primary reason for punishment: corruption in the judicial arena.

"Due to the sins of delaying judgment, perversion of judgment, and neglect of Torah — sword, plunder, pestilence, and famine ensue. People eat, yet remain hungry; and they eat their bread by weight."  (Shabbat 33a)

Why do abuse and graft in the courts bring such harsh punishments upon society? What did the Sages mean by "neglect of Torah" ("bitul Torah"), and how is it connected to judicial corruption?

Uprooting Social Corruption

A corrupt court system that acquits the guilty and convicts the innocent, serves to increase social injustice. In essence, the entire structure of society has degenerated into gangs of rapacious wolves who prey upon the weak. In such a disastrous situation, the institutions of society need to be completely overhauled. If the nation refuses on its own to champion justice and fairness, Divine providence intervenes to uproot society, in order to rebuild it properly.

Neglect of Torah

What is meant by "neglect of Torah"? This refers to a decay in the inner spirit of society. The people reject the Torah as an inspiration to seek justice; its teachings no longer serve as a guideline for spiritual and ethical aspirations. Bereft of spiritual goals, life degenerates into crass materialism. The value of life is limited to the physical fulfillment of base desires and wants. This egocentric outlook undermines the striving for the communal good, and respect for the rights of others.

Hunger of the Soul

The Sages taught that people are penalized, as they "eat, yet remain hungry". Why this particular punishment? Our feelings of self-worth are based on our sense of honor and integrity. When law and order are abandoned, our positive self-image is damaged. The human soul naturally aspires to the ideals of good, enlightenment, and fairness; when our goals are limited only to that which the hand may grab and the tooth may chew, the soul feels unfulfilled and dissatisfied. We eat to fill our bellies, yet we remain hungry and discontented.

Bread by Weight

Additionally, they taught, "they eat their bread by weight." What is the nature of this hardship? Bread is usually sold by unit, not by weight. In times of famine, however, bread becomes such a scarce commodity that it is sold by weight. This helps reinforce a heightened sensitivity towards the property rights of others. Our former unconcern towards theft, our basic indifference towards the property of others, is corrected by a keen awareness of the ownership of every gram of bread.

(adapted from Ein Eyah vol. III, pp. 185-6)

Copyright © 2006 by Chanan Morrison