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Why does the Torah (תורה) warn that shochad (bribes) blind judges when no upstanding judge would accept outright corruption? The shiur develops a chiddush that the most dangerous bribery occurs when someone gives money while explicitly asking for fairness, not favoritism. This apparent righteousness itself becomes blinding, as the judge becomes prejudiced toward someone who seems so ehrlich.
The shiur addresses a fundamental question about the Torah (תורה)'s warning that shochad (bribes) blinds the eyes of judges. Rabbi Zweig notes the apparent difficulty: why would the Torah need to warn upstanding judges about bribery when any respectable judge would be insulted by an obvious attempt at corruption and would likely rule against such a person? The answer lies in understanding a more subtle and dangerous form of shochad. Rabbi Zweig explains that the Torah is not referring to crude attempts at buying a judge's decision. Instead, it describes a scenario where someone approaches a judge and says, essentially, 'I know you have financial pressures - mortgage payments, tuition bills - that might distract you from giving this case your full attention. Here is money to alleviate those concerns so you can focus objectively on the case. I don't want you to favor me; if I'm wrong, rule against me, but if I'm right, I want what's rightfully mine.'
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Parshas Shoftim - judges and bribery
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