Times: Shabbat starts on Friday at 5:23pm and ends on Saturday night at 6:30pm. The weekly Torah portion is Shoftim.

Mincha in the CBD: Mincha is still virtual as we await people returning to work in the city. That means we all daven at an agreed time, which is 1.00pm. Details at the WhatsApp group.

Study: Weekly Shiur continues on Wednesday at 1:10pm via zoom, following mincha at 1.00pm. BYO lunch. Details here.

Thought of the Week with thanks to David Werdiger. This week’s Torah reading admonishes us “Justice, justice shall you pursue” (Devarim 16:20). Why the double expression? The Torah does not waste words, so it’s not for emphasis or artistic style. Several commentators suggest that it’s a directive to seek a reliable court for adjudicating a dispute between parties. Here is an alternative explanation: Usually, we understand justice as an outcome, and we therefore seek just outcomes.

The Torah goes one step further and suggests that our pursuit of justice itself should be just. That speaks to process as well as outcome. Often people claim they seek justice, but in doing so have scant regard for other consequences(foreseen or otherwise) or collateral damage. Their sole aim is justice (as they understand it) and they will stop at nothing to get it. The Torah is telling us that how you go about seeking justice is as important as the outcome. The ends do not justify the means.