By Rabbi Avraham Sani
“שופטים ושוטרים תתן לך בכל שעריך”
The opening pasuk in this week’s parsha lays down the mitzva to have judges and officers in every city, in order to maintain law & order of Torah. The Shl”a Hakadosh adds that this pasuk can also be teaching us another idea. The word “שעריך” can be understood as a city’s gates and entrances, but also as the entrances to one’s body. The eyes, ears, and mouth are all openings to bring new experiences to our senses. As such, Torah commands us to “construct” gates and safeguards around these entrances to limit our exposure. Not everything happening around us is intended for us to observe, hear, or taste. On the contrary, we are told to be extremely selective with our senses, and allow only the purest to enter or exit.
R’ Hillel Zaks ZT’L, grandson of the Chafetz Chaim, related a story that happened with a talmid of his grandfather. One Purim a certain bachur approached the Chafetz Chaim and asked for a promise to share his portion of Gan Eden with him. The Chafetz Chaim didn’t like to make such promises and tried sidestepping the demand, but eventually said that if he wishes to guard his mouth from any assur speech for life (Lashon Hara, Nivul Hapeh, etc.) , then he can guarantee a slot for him. When R’ Aryeh Leib Shteinman ZT’L was asked the same question, he answered emphatically “Shmirat Eyna’im“. That was his requirement to share a slot of Gan Eden with him! These two episodes show us clearly how vitally important the awareness in these areas is.