Listen to the cases between one person and another, and judge righteously

between every man and stranger among you. (Deuteronomy 1:16)

Everything is written in the Holy Scriptures, and fortunate is a person who bases his conduct and lifestyle on the Scripture’s teachings.

There once were two merchants, one Jewish and one not, and they came before the village rabbi to settle a monetary dispute. The non-Jewish merchant claimed that the Jewish merchant had borrowed money from him, but the Jewish merchant denied that he owed him anything. The holy rabbi sensed that the non-Jewish merchant was truthful.

After hearing the arguments of both sides, he told them that he had to leave for a few minutes and asked them to discuss the matter between themselves in the meantime.

Both merchants had gone to the local synagogue, and both of them thought that the holy rabbi had left the synagogue.

But in truth, the holy rabbi had not left, he had gone up into the women’s section, and was listening to every word both of the merchants were saying.

A heated argument erupted between them, and the holy rabbi heard the non-Jewish merchant shouting at the Jewish merchant, “Are you not ashamed of yourself? You know very well that you borrowed the money from me, and how can you claim that you don’t owe me anything?”

“It’s true that I borrowed money from you,” the Jewish merchant responded, “but I am under a lot of financial stress right now, and I don’t have the money to pay you back.”

The holy rabbi went back down into the synagogue and ruled in favor of the non-Jewish merchant, rebuking the Jewish merchant for his contemptible behavior.

Later he explained that he had derived the strategy of leaving the merchants alone and listening to their conversation from the direction of, “Hear the cases between one person and another, and judge righteously between every man and stranger among you, (Deuteronomy 1:16) implies that in order to judge fairly, a judge has to listen to what both sides say to each other.

The simple meaning of the verse is that a judge has to listen to both sides equally and not give preferential treatment to one side. For we learn to “Execute truth, justice, and peace within your gates” (Zech. 8:16)

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3)

Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

Please share this story with family and friends and let us know what you think or feel about the stories in a comment or two.

Like us on Facebook or tweet us on Twitter

If the stories are not shared they will be lost.

Please share this story with others