That’s the kind of question that pops up in Sifrei Devarim, a collection of legal interpretations and expansions on the Book of Deuteronomy. In section 209, we stumble upon a fascinating little argument about priorities.

It starts with a logical leap, a classic a fortiori argument, which is Hebrew for "how much more so!" The text observes that if dealing with someone's money requires a minimum of three judges, then surely, dealing with someone’s body – their health, their well-being – should require even more! After all, what's more important?

To prove its point, the Sifrei Devarim throws us a bone, quoting Leviticus (Vayikra) 13:3, which deals with plague spots. The verse states "...or to one of his sons, the Cohanim." The Cohanim, of course, are the priests descended from Aaron. And the text emphasizes that only one Cohein is needed to make a ruling on a plague spot. Wait, what? Isn't that the opposite of the point?

The implication is subtle, but powerful. The Torah is being very particular about the requirements of judgement. In some cases, a single qualified individual is sufficient. But in other cases, such as monetary disputes, more are required. Does this mean money is more important than our bodies? That's for you to decide.

But the text doesn't stop there. It moves on to another legal point, this time concerning the ritual of washing hands in the case of an unsolved murder, described in Deuteronomy 21.

Deuteronomy 21:6 states: "And all the elders of that city…" So, how many elders are we talking about? Remember, earlier in the chapter (Deuteronomy 21:2), when it came to measuring the distance to the nearest city, the text specified "three or five" elders. You might think the same rule applies here.

But, no! The text emphasizes, "...and all the elders of that city" means all of them. Even if there are a hundred! The Sifrei Devarim is driving home a crucial point: context matters. The Torah is precise. Where a specific number is required, it will be stated. Where "all" is stated, it is not to be taken lightly.

So, what are we to make of all this? It seems the Sifrei Devarim is pushing us to think critically about the nuances of Jewish law, reminding us that every detail, every word, is carefully chosen. It's an invitation to delve deeper, to question our assumptions, and to wrestle with the complexities of tradition.

And maybe, just maybe, to consider whether our society always gets its priorities straight.