Awhile back, I was reading Parashat Mishpatim along with some commentaries from Rashi and Rambam. On the verse, "And these are the ordinances that you shall set before them,” Rashi in Tanchuma 3 comments on ‘before them.’ "'Before them': But not before the Gentiles. Even if you know that they (The Gentiles) judge a certain law similarly to the laws of Israel, do not bring it to their courts, for one who brings Jewish lawsuits before The Gentiles profanes the (Divine) Name and honors the name of idols to praise them (to give them importance), as it is said: “For not like our Rock (G-d) is their rock, but (yet) our enemies judge (us)” (Deut. 32:31). When (we let) our enemies judge (us), this is testimony to (our) esteem of their deity.”
Next, I came across what Rambam had to say on the same verse:
"Whoever submits a suit for adjudication to Gentile judges in their courts, even if the judgment rendered by them is in accord with Jewish law, is a wicked man. It is as though he reviled, blasphemed and rebelled against the Law of Moses, our teacher, for it is said; 'Now these are the ordinances which thou shall set before them.' (Exod. 21:1) - 'before them', not before heathens, and not before laymen." (Rambam in Hilchos Sanhedrin, 26, 7)
The strong words of these two sages should be brought into serious consideration when it comes to court. I started to think about the prayer in the Amidah, Restoration of Judges, and how serious we really need to pray for this. How I wish our communities could be so much closer and united; brother accountable for brother, sister for sister. Over lookers would be appointed; our elders would be councilors to us, and a beit din would be established in every congregation. We would all strive to be a warm, welcoming, and holy community in Yeshua; each person seeking to be a vessel for His love.
I wondered how Rashi and Rambam’s commentaries could be applied to our own community of both Jews and non-Jews, then I read Paul’s letter to the Corinthians and realized that Paul was saying the same thing as the sages! There was a common law to all believers. The early messianic community began to crumble before Paul’s very eyes, and Meshikhim somehow found themselves going to secular courts instead of going to the righteous in their own community.
Paul in Corinthians 6:1-12 writes:
"Dare any one of you, having a matter against another, prosecute his suit before the unjust, and not before the righteous? Do you not then know that the righteous shall judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are ye unworthy of [the] smallest judgments? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? And not then matters of this life? If you then have judgments as to things of this life, set those [to judge] who are little esteemed in the assembly. I speak to you [to put you] to shame. Thus there is not a wise person among you, not even one, who shall be able to decide between his brethren! But brother prosecutes his suit with brother and that before unbelievers. Already indeed then it is altogether a fault in you that you have suits between yourselves. Why don't you rather suffer wrong? Why aren't you rather defrauded? But instead *you* do wrong, and defraud, and this [your] brethren. Don't you know that unrighteous [persons] shall not inherit [the] kingdom of G-d? Do not err: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who make women of themselves, nor who abuse themselves with men, thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor abusive persons, nor [the] rapacious, shall inherit [the] kingdom of God. And these things were some of you; but you have been washed, but you have been sanctified, but you have been justified in the name of the Lord Yeshua, and by the Spirit of our G-d."
Today we are a product of the broken communities, and we seem to be a far cry from how Paul wants us to be. The good news is that there seems to be a deep desire to walk in the footsteps of Yeshua; and to strive for unity, structure, and for accountability among our community. There is a hunger for Torah, tradition, and a fiery simchah for Yeshua! No matter how shy or non charismatic some of us may seem to be (definitely including myself) deep down, we want to go into wild mode for Mashiach. We all have a part in this restoration, and we each have unique giftings from Hashem to use in bringing about a beautiful unity and maturity to our movement and to all Israel.
As a tikkun for the broken communities of the past, let’s seek council and advice from the righteous in our communities, and steer clear of secular council. Practice mussar with a few close friends, and focus on the teachings of Yeshua and our sages. Seek peace always, love unconditionally, and don’t let anger overcome in trials. Most importantly…Daven! Everything starts with prayer. Prayer is the best defense against following our yetzer hara which leads to all that drama Paul was so busy and burdened with.
Maranata.
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