According to Rabbi Elazar, it's justice. That’s why, as Shemot Rabbah tells us, God gave us laws after the Ten Commandments.
Think about it. If justice is perverted, everything crumbles. God, in his ultimate justice, brings retribution. The fate of Sodom, a city so infamous it's become synonymous with wickedness, serves as a stark reminder. As Ezekiel (16:49) states, Sodom's downfall wasn't just about any single sin, but about a complete disregard for justice: "Behold, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom…pride, surfeit of bread and tranquil calm, but she did not support the hand of the poor and indigent." They had plenty, but their hearts were hard.
And it's not just Sodom. Jerusalem, too, faced exile because justice was twisted and ignored. Isaiah (1:23) laments, "They will not provide justice for an orphan, and the cause of the widow will not come to them." When the most vulnerable are denied justice, the foundations of society crack.
But what does it look like when justice is upheld? Well, let's consider the story of Judah. Why was he chosen to be the ancestor of kings? Shemot Rabbah asks a poignant question: Was he mightier than his brothers? Were Simeon and Levi, known for their strength, not equally capable? The answer, according to this Midrash, lies in his act of true judgment concerning Tamar.
You might remember the story. Tamar, Judah's daughter-in-law, was widowed and then tricked Judah into fulfilling his obligation to provide her with offspring. When Judah discovered she was pregnant, he initially condemned her to be burned. But then, confronted with the truth – that he was the father – he admitted, "She is more righteous than I" (Genesis 38:26).
Now, imagine the scene, as the Midrash paints it. Isaac and Jacob are there, along with all of Judah's brothers. They all knew the signet ring, cords, and staff belonged to Judah. But that alone didn't prove Tamar's innocence. It was Judah's courageous admission of guilt, his willingness to speak truth even when it shamed him, that made all the difference. He essentially exonerated her, finding merit on her behalf when it would have been easier to condemn her. He acknowledged the truth, even when it was painful.
And according to Shemot Rabbah, this act of justice is why God bestowed the crown upon him. Judah's willingness to confront his own failings and render a just verdict made him fit to be a leader.
This is like a judge, the Midrash continues, who hears the case of an orphan and finds in her favor. Judah, in a way, acted as a judge in Tamar’s case, and his righteous judgement paved the way for kingship.
The connection between justice in this world and our standing in the next is further explored through the teachings of ben Zoma. He emphasizes the importance of acknowledging our sins in this lifetime. Why? Because, as Psalm 32:6 says, "Therefore, everyone who is pious should pray to You at the time of searching." "The time of searching," the Midrash explains, refers to the day of death.
Ben Zoma understood that the shame we might feel in this world for admitting our wrongdoings pales in comparison to the shame of standing guilty before God in the World to Come. Confessing our sins, as Psalm 32:5 urges – "I acknowledged my sin to You; I did not hide my iniquity. I said: I will confess my transgressions to the Lord. And You forgave the guilt of my sin" – allows us to receive forgiveness and face the afterlife with integrity.
So, what does all this mean for us today? It's a powerful reminder that justice isn't just about grand pronouncements or legal rulings. It's about integrity, about confronting our own failings, and about standing up for what's right, even when it's difficult. It's about ensuring that the vulnerable are protected and that truth prevails. And perhaps most importantly, it's about recognizing that our actions in this world have profound consequences, not only for ourselves but for the very fabric of society and for our standing in the world to come. Are we striving to be like Judah, willing to speak truth and uphold justice, even when it's uncomfortable?