Shofetim (parashah)

Not to be confused with Mishpatim or Book of Judges.
"Justice, justice shall you pursue." (Deuteronomy 16:20.)

Shofetim or Shoftim (Hebrew: שֹׁפְטִים, romanized: shofəṭim "judges", the first word in the parashah) is the 48th weekly Torah portion (פָּרָשָׁה‎, parashah) in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the fifth in the Book of Deuteronomy. It comprises Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9. The parashah provides a constitution, a basic societal structure, for the Israelites. The parashah sets out rules for judges, kings, Levites, prophets, cities of refuge, witnesses, war, and unsolved murders.

This parashah has 5590 letters, 1523 words, 97 verses, and 192 lines in a Sefer Torah.[1] Jews generally read it in August or September.[2]

  1. ^ "Devarim Torah Stats". Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  2. ^ "Parashat Shoftim". Hebcal. Retrieved August 12, 2014.