Judges at Your Gates
"Judges and officers you shall place at all your gates." Chassidic masters read the gates as the senses — eyes, ears, mouth. Set a guard at each one and most of the courtroom cases never happen.
Devarim 16:18; Chassidic reading
Permanent Parsha Library
Divrei Torah on Parshas Shoftim
Looking for a Dvar Torah on Parshas Shoftim? This permanent library brings together the Torah For The Table selections for Parshas Shoftim from every available year, including quick vorts, material for children and families, stories, printable Torah sheets and longer pieces for deeper learning. Choose an individual selection below to read more about it before opening or printing the PDF.
Parshas Shoftim Divrei Torah at a Glance
The Torah For The Table archive currently includes 23 selections for Parshas Shoftim across 1 Jewish year. Use the year collections below to browse earlier material, or choose an individual Dvar Torah to preview and print.
Adults: 15Families: 5Children: 3Short Vorts: 3Essays: 13Stories: 6Questions & Answers: 1
Parshas Shoftim Collections by Year
Brief Insights on Parshas Shoftim
Quick Torah thoughts that can be shared at the Shabbos table.
Justice, Justice
"Tzedek tzedek tirdof" — justice repeated. The means must be as just as the end. A righteous outcome reached by a crooked road is not what the Torah is asking for.
Devarim 16:20; Rashi
Is a Tree a Person?
In a siege you may not cut down fruit trees: "is the tree of the field a man?" The Torah protects what quietly feeds people even in the middle of war — and warns against destruction that serves no purpose.
Devarim 20:19
Printable Divrei Torah for Parshas Shoftim
These selections are drawn from the Torah For The Table archive. Open any PDF directly in your browser to read it, then use the browser menu if you wish to print or save it.
The Weekly Dvar
Adults · Short Vorts · 2 pages · 5786
This publication provides a collection of short articles, stories, halacha, and weekly tidbits, offering insights and lessons from Jewish tradition applicable to daily life.
Zichron Avinoam
Adults · Essays · 1 page · 5786
This publication offers an essay on "connecting" with Hashem, delving into interpretations of Torah passages and the teachings of prominent rabbis like the Chofetz Chaim, Imrei Emes, and Rav Aaron Brafman.
Parsha Potpourri
Adults · Essays · 3 pages · 5786
This publication offers an in-depth exploration of weekly Torah portions, blending traditional commentaries with contemporary insights and stories, and includes 'Parsha Points to Ponder' for further thought.
Torah From Ashdod
Adults · Essays · 2 pages · 5786
This essay explores the spiritual work of the month of Elul, using the acronym 'Ani L'Dodi V'Dodi Li' (I am for my Beloved and my Beloved is for me). It explains that our task is to make even a tiny opening in teshuvah—like the eye of a needle—and Hashem will then open massive gates of opportunity for spiritual growth. The piece draws on the Midrash Rabbah and emphasizes that the Yetzer Hara is foolish because it cannot comprehend the Divine assistance that comes when we choose good.
Shabbos Table Torah Stories
Families · Stories · 3 pages · 5786
This publication presents three separate source-based stories for Parshas Shoftim, each illustrating a different Torah principle. The stories cover Rabbi Yishmael's refusal of a basket to avoid bias, Shimon ben Shetach confronting King Yannai in court, and the prophet Michayahu standing firm against pressure to change his prophecy.
Tzedek Tzedek - Rabbi Yehuda Zev Klein
Adults · Essays · 2 pages · 5786
This drasha for Parshas Shoftim explores the pasuk 'tzedek tzedek tirdof' (righteousness, righteousness you shall pursue), emphasizing that we must pursue righteousness through righteous means—not at others' expense. Through stories of Yaakov Avinu, Rav Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz's 'challah with an inferiority complex,' the Chazon Ish, and Rav Yisroel Salanter, the piece demonstrates that stringency or mitzvah observance becomes misplaced when it harms the people around us.
Maod - Rabbi Yehuda Zev Klein
Adults · Essays · 3 pages · 5786
This essay explores the Torah's restriction on a king accumulating excessive wealth, focusing on the word 'maod' (very/excessively) to teach that extreme pursuit of anything—wealth, desires, indulgence—distances a person from serving Hashem. The author develops themes of contentment, the Ta'anis HaRavid (leaving food over), and interpreting 'u'vchol me'odecha' as sacrificing our strongest desires for our relationship with Hashem.
Timely Torah Insights
Adults · Essays · 2 pages · 5786
This publication provides in-depth analyses of Halachic topics and broader Torah concepts, offering insights into Jewish law and thought with references to classical commentaries.
Toras Avigdor
Adults · Essays · 20 pages · 5786
This publication explores the topic of poverty through a Torah lens, discussing its causes, challenges, benefits, and the Jewish perspective on avoiding or coping with it, based on the teachings of Rav Avigdor Miller.
Torah Tavlin
Adults · Essays · 2 pages · 5786
This publication offers a variety of Torah insights, including Halacha, short explanations of the weekly Parsha, ethical teachings from Chazal, and contemporary stories.
Peninei Mechkerei Eretz
Adults · Essays · 2 pages · 5786
This publication provides in-depth analyses of weekly Torah portions, drawing connections between different Talmudic and Midrashic sources to extract profound insights and practical lessons for daily life.
Aderaba
Families · Stories · 2 pages · 5786
This publication presents real-life dilemmas and stories, prompting readers to consider halachic and ethical responses within a Jewish framework, often focusing on interpersonal relationships and positive thinking.
Zera Emes
Adults · Essays · 2 pages · 5786
This publication provides short, concise Torah insights and stories, focusing on the legacy of great Jewish scholars and their contributions to Jewish life and law.
Zera Shimshon
Adults · Essays · 4 pages · 5786
A publication featuring profound divrei Torah based on the teachings of Rav Shimshon Chaim Nachmani, offering insights into Torah passages and their relevance to contemporary life.
Toras Avigdor Junior
Children · Stories · 2 pages · 5786
A children's publication explaining Jewish concepts through engaging stories and relatable characters, often featuring two main characters, Anshel and Joel, who explore different aspects of Jewish life.
Torah Wellsprings
Adults · Essays · 15 pages · 5786
This publication provides collected thoughts from Rabbi Elimelech Biderman, offering insights on Jewish law and philosophy, including discussions on tzedakah, emunah, and teshuvah, with stories and commentary from various sources.
Torah Sweets
Families · Short Vorts · 4 pages · 5786
This publication offers a variety of Torah insights, including a deep dive into Ramchal's work, practical Halacha, and inspirational short stories, all aimed at enhancing Jewish family life.
The Sorts of Tidbits
Families · Short Vorts · 1 page · 5786
This publication provides a weekly summary of Jewish law and customs, including parsha insights, halachic guidelines, and reminders for upcoming events.
Sichos Yisroel
Adults · Essays · 6 pages · 5786
This publication explores the "shidduch crisis" in the Orthodox Jewish community, attributing it to ga'avah (arrogance) and the refusal to accept Hashem's will in finding a spouse, emphasizing the importance of humility and trust in divine providence over personal preferences.
Pirchei Weekly
Children · Stories · 4 pages · 5786
This publication offers a collection of short Torah thoughts, Halacha, and stories focusing on ethical behavior and lessons from great Jewish leaders for a weekly read.
Parsha Questions & Answers
Children · Questions & Answers · 2 pages · 5786
This publication provides a list of questions and answers related to the weekly Torah portion, with each answer sourced directly from Rashi's commentary.
ArtScroll by the Shabbos Table
Families · Stories · 4 pages · 5786
This publication provides weekly Torah insights adapted from classic ArtScroll titles, offering short essays and stories that draw lessons from the weekly Torah portion and Jewish holidays.
Mi Ka'amcha Yisroel
Adults · Stories · 3 pages · 5786
This publication uses parsha insights to discuss communication and positive speech, illustrating its points with a story about President Truman.
More Divrei Torah on the Parsha
Browse the full weekly-parsha directory for short vorts, family material, stories and printable Torah sheets on other parshiyos.
Browse all Parshiyos