Shoftim שֹׁפְטִים - Judges
Torah Portion:
Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9
Deuteronomy 18:1–5
18:1 The priests and the Levites—all the tribe of Levi—shall have no portion nor inheritance with Israel. They shall eat the offerings of Hashem made by fire and His portion. 2 They shall have no inheritance among their brothers. Hashem is their inheritance, as He has spoken to them. 3 This shall be the priests’ due from the people, from those who offer a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep, that they shall give to the priest: the shoulder, the two cheeks, and the inner parts. 4 You shall give him the first fruits of your grain, of your new wine, and of your oil, and the first of the fleece of your sheep. 5 For Hashem your Elohim has chosen him out of all your tribes to stand to minister in Hashem’s name, him and his sons forever.
Today’s Meditation:
Think about this. The only inheritance the Levites receive is Hashem (verse 2) and serving and loving Him. Can you imagine this in your life? Not needing land, or houses, or worrying about purchasing food. Your job would be to serve Hashem in the Temple. And everything else would be provided. And the very best part is that He would be all that you need. Isn’t that true for us today? Isn’t He all that we need? Yes, we need jobs to make money and houses to live in. But truly, when it comes down to it all, Hashem is sovereign.
Today’s Challenge:
With today’s reading, we should be thinking about those people around us who spend their lives serving Hashem. Whether they are Jewish or another religion, they are doing what Hashem has called them to do, and they should be financially supported. My challenge to you today is to think about who in your life or community is serving Hashem full-time. A rabbi or other spiritual leader may need your support. It might be good to pray and ask Hashem who you should support.
