(20) Justice, justice shall you pursue, that you may thrive and occupy the land that your God יי is giving you.
Why is the word "justice" repeated in this verse? At first glance, it appears to be an emphatic exhortation. In rabbinic thought, each word of the Torah is there to teach us something and they use this repeated phrase to discuss what it means to "pursue justice." Before we begin, what does the phrase "pursuing justice" mean to you?
As it is taught in an outside source, When the verse states: “Justice, justice, shall you follow,” one mention of “justice” is stated with regard to judgment and one is stated with regard to compromise.
Before you go on, can you rephrase the above sentence in your own words? The next paragraph talks about what it means to compromise.
Sanhedrin 32b
How so? Where there are two boats traveling on the river and they encounter each other, if both of them attempt to pass, both of them sink, as the river is not wide enough for both to pass. If they pass one after the other, both of them pass. And similarly, where there are two camels who were ascending the ascent of Beit Ḥoron, where there is a narrow steep path, and they encounter each other, if both of them attempt to ascend, both of them fall. If they ascend one after the other, both of them ascend.
Sometimes, relationships are broken because one or both parties must be 'right.' Have you ever seen a relationship fall apart this way?
How does one decide which of them should go first? If there is one boat that is loaded and one boat that is not loaded, the needs of the one that is not loaded should be overridden due to the needs of the one that is loaded.
If there is one boat that is close to its destination and one boat that is not close to its destination, the needs of the one that is close should be overridden due to the needs of the one that is not close.
If both of them were close to their destinations, or both of them were far from their destinations, impose a compromise between them to decide which goes first, and the owners of the boats pay a fee to one other, i.e., the owners of the first boat compensate the owner of the boat that waits, for any loss incurred.
Here the rabbis are giving an illustration of a fair compromise. Sometimes pursuing Justice means standing up for our values and making our voices heard. But, just as often, pursuing justice means arriving to a fair and equitable compromise, one that treats all parties fairly and allows them to move forward.
Shabbat Shalom